American Political Thought

GOVERNMENT 446
AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
Dr. Donald N. Schroeder

Office: D. Rich #107
Phone: 893-1486
E-mail: schroeder@campbell.edu
Office Hours: 3-4 MW; 2-3 TTh, or by appointment

Fall, 2008

Course Objectives

This course is a survey of some of the more important American political thinkers from our revolutionary period to the present. Recurring themes throughout the course will be the American character imposed on many ideas with European origins and the various approaches to the ideology of liberalism. One purpose of this course is not only to understand the contribution of these thinkers to the American political culture, but also their significance in the history of political thought. Another purpose is to encourage the student to develop his\her powers of reason and observation to critically evaluate political ideas and value-assertions. These purposes are consistent with the purpose & mission of Campbell University which is committed to helping students develop an integrated Christian personality characterized by a wholeness that includes: a method of critical judgment; an appreciation of our intellectual, cultural, and religious heritage; and a sensitive awareness of the world and society in which they live and work.

Course Requirements

Your grade will be based on three essay exams, including a comprehensive final, and a formal term paper due on November 21^st.

Essay Exams: Your questions will come from a list of possible questions distributed in advance. On exam dates, the student will write one essay from the advance list chosen by chance (tossed die). The Final, however, will require two essays, one from the last segment of the course and another from a comprehensive list.

Term paper: You are required to write a formal 15- to 20-page term paper, typed. Students are allowed to go beyond the maximum, but there will be a severe penalty for papers below the minimum. Your topic must be chosen only after consultation with me. On the due-date, you must turn in the (1) finished paper, (2) a photo copy, and (3) your research notes. The paper researched and written for this course must be done exclusively for this course. Papers written for other courses are not to be used to fulfill this requirement. In addition, the paper written for this course is not to be used to fulfill similar requirements in other courses. Any attempt to use this paper in more than one course will be treated as an academic integrity violation. Again, your paper is due on November 21^st.

All papers will be uploaded to turnitin.com for analysis. Turnitin.com is an on-line service that matches student-written work against a huge data-base of published and other student-written material to determine whether portions of an assignment were improperly copied. Additional information about plagiarism.com can be found on its web-site, Turnitin.

Grades: Each essay counts as 1/6 of your grade (4 essays including 2 from the final) and the term paper 1/3.

Absence Policy

Consistent with the recommendation of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the student must attend at least 90% of the classes scheduled. If athletics or another University sponsored activity make this impossible, discuss it with me within the next two weeks.

Academic Integrity

All students are subject to the academic integrity and behavioral expectations of the University.

Learning Disabilities

Students with documented disabilities who desire modifications or accommodations should contact Laura Rich, director of Student Support Services in the Hight House at 814-4364 or richl@campbell.edu.

Texts

The Portable Thomas Jefferson, edited by Merrill D. Peterson
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, The Federalist Papers,
Clinton Rossitor, editor.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays on Nature & Essay on Politics (on-line)
Henry David Thoreau, Essay on Civil Disobedience (on-line)
John C. Calhoun, A Disquisition on Government, C. Gordon Post, editor.
John Dewey, The Public and Its Problems.
Walter Lippmann, The Public Philosophy.
John Rawls, A Theory of Justice, Revised Edition.
Selected Articles on reserve to be announced periodically throughout the course.
The Style Manual: Standards for Written Work, by the Faculty of the Department of Government, History & Justice, on-line

COURSE OUTLINE

I. INTRODUCTION
   A. Main Characteristics of American Political Thought
   B. The European Background
   C. Puritanism

II. REVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT
   A. Thomas Jefferson
   Required: The Portable Thomas Jefferson, selections beginning on the following pages:
1, 235, 251, 281, 300, 316, 395, 398, 423, 428, 435, 438, 454, 477, 479, 490, 517, 533, 540, 544, 552, 564, 567, 569, 583, 584.
    B. The United States Constitution
   Required: Federalist Papers

III. 19th CENTURY POLITICAL THOUGHT
    A. Ralph Waldo Emerson
   Required: Essays on Nature & "Politics"
    B. Henry David Thoreau
    Required: Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
    C. John Calhoun
    Required: Disquisition on Government
    D. Social Darwinism: William Graham Sumner

IV. 20th CENTURY POLITICAL THOUGHT
    A. Pragmatism and Liberal Fragmentation
    Required: Dewey, The Public & Its Problems
    B. Traditional Conservatism
    Required: Lippmann, The Public Philosophy
    C. John Rawls
   Required: Selections from A Theory of Justice

FINAL