POLI 2342 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: New England Town, Town Meeting, Alexis De Tocqueville
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The Colonial Covenant !
each member is responsible for the whole community!•
suffer with others, sympathy with people, infuse a desire to defend other people!◦
but we resist this, Adam's nature of the fall !◦
Puritan notion!‣
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town is where people live their public life, where they interact and get along with people!•
the community has to help us overcome our selfish nature -> humans are "fallen"!◦
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part of humans but can be overcome with the right spiritual practice and community!•
we are naturally isolated!◦
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fulfillment of nature is the classical ideal -> the noblest citizens are the ones that fulfill what •
nature has called them to do!
the Puritans had a much different conception!◦
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for the puritans, nature consist of things that need to be overcome, not indulged!•
need the community to help us!◦
no life outside community!‣
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notion of nature rights!•
when the puritans built communities these principles a political and religion merged into ◦
one!
church and government were intrinsically linked!‣
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result of this merger is the New England town -> Tocqueville said that Puritans founded •
American!
Puritans governed themselves peacefully with words and debate!◦
it was the first place where free people agreed to tax themselves!◦
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this notion is foreign to us -> political community is important!•
Puritans were different !◦
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they didn't insist on rejecting the material world!•
the temporal world is where we live!◦
there, Christian love is made manifest!‣
if something is wrong, they will know!•
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the purpose of civil and ecclesiastical power -> improve lives, serve the lord, preserve posterity •
of evil world, work out salvation!
this town has responsibilities that the townspeople undertake!◦
all freemen sit in the town meeting and made decisions!‣
send delegates to court!◦
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all men issued land in accordance with children and preeminence !•
didn't allow continuous land properties!◦
scattered land prevents people from being the best!•
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who governs in this place?!•
