TheSocietyoftheFourArts

CurriculumGuide

The Founders & Us:

AliciaParks,M.A.&RobertWatson,Ph.D.

The Relevance of Our Origins

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“Weoughtnottolookback,unlessitistoderiveusefullessonsfrompasterrors,andforthepurposeofprofitingbydearboughtexperience.”

- GeorgeWashington(March26,1781)

CONTENTSAbouttheSeries 2Programs 4StudentLearningObjectives 9LearningExercises 10QuestionsforDiscussion 11BiosoftheFounders 12FoundingTimeline 13America’sFoundingDocuments 14SuggestedReading 14

ABOUTTHESERIES

TheFounders&Us

JosephJ.Ellis“TheFounders&Us:TheRelevanceofOurOrigins”isanewfive-partprogramthataimstobeginabroaderconversationaboutAmerica’srevolutionarygeneration,thosepoliticalleaders“presentatthecreation”whofirstframedtheargumentsthatcontinuetoechothroughtheagesandintoourowntime.Itisastoryforallofus,andaboutallofus.

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WehavechosentofocusontheAmericanFoundingbecauseitistheBigBanginAmericanhistoryfromwhichourcoreideas,values,andpoliticalinstitutionsradiate.Itisthetimewemustperiodicallyrevisittorediscoverouroriginalintentionsasapeopleandanation.Thereareseveraltruths,asJeffersonsaid,weholdtobeself-evident:thatthelegacyofthefoundersdoesnotfitneatlyintoourcurrentpoliticalcategories(i.e.Republican/Democrat,liberal/conservative);thattheirstoryisbothtriumphantandtragic;andthatourgoalisnottoprovideanswerstoourcurrentdilemmassomuchastocreateaframeworkinwhichmorecogentandproductivediscussionscanproceed.Wemustalsoacknowledgetheproblemsofourpresent-dayAmericansociety:ourcitizenslackknowledgeabouthistory;thescholarlyworldhaslargelyabdicateditsresponsibilitytocommunicatebeyondthecloisteredgrovesofacademe;politicalcorrectnessisatepidemiclevelsinmanycolleges,makingseriousengagementwithcontroversialissuesvirtuallyimpossible;andourpoliticalculturehasbecomesopolarizedandpartisanthatcommunicationacrossideologicallinesisvirtuallynon-existent.Thisseriesaimstobridgethosegaps.Wehopetowalkawaywithagreaterunderstandingofouroriginsasapeopleandanation,andakeenersenseoftheexpansiveimplicationsof“WethePeople”fromthentonow.Ourfondesthopeistolaunchavitalconversationthathelpstogenerateanationaldialogue.Theseriespresentsspeakersofunquestioneddistinctionwithaprovencapacitytobringahighdegreeofintellectualsophisticationandcontagiousenthusiasmtotheaudience.OurlistincludesfourwinnersofthePulitzerPrize,andaformerheadoftheNationalEndowmentfortheHumanities.

CurriculumGuide

AliciaParks,HistoricalSocietyofPennsylvaniaRobertP.Watson,LynnUniversity

Aseducators,youareonthefrontlinesofthebattletokeephistoryalive.Thechallengeofengagingstudentsinwaysthatbothmotivatethemtodevelopapassionforhistoryandfostertheirintellectualcuriosityisadifficultone.Butitismadeallthemorechallengingbythecurrentpoliticalclimate,oneplaguedbyhyper-partisanshipandpolarizationaswellastheabsenceofcivilityanddialogue.Weknowthatthepastispreludetothefuture.However,thelate,greatwriterGeorgeOrwellwarnedusthatthepresentcanshapethepast,asthoseinpoliticalpowercanreimagineandrewritehistory.Itisthusvitallyimportanttoreclaimanaccurateaccountofthenation’sfounding,especiallyinadayandagewhensound-bitesandtweetssomehowpassasnewsandwheremuchofthepoliticaldebateandmediacoverageofitisfact-optional.

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OnbehalfoftheSocietyoftheFourArtsandProfessorJosephEllis,wearedelightedtoofferthiscompanioncurriculumguidetotheseriesontheFounders.Wehopeyouwillfindittobeahelpfultoolforyourclassrooms.VideosofallthelecturesandinterviewsareavailableonthewebsiteoftheSocietyoftheFourArts.Theyprovideanopportunityforstudentsstudyinghistory,government,andcivicstohearfromsomeofthemostimportantvoicesinourlifetimesontheissueofAmerica’sfounding.AsProfessorEllisnotedintheintroduction,theseriesandtheaccompanyingcurriculumguidedonotendeavortoanswerallthequestionsbeforeusoraddressthepressingpolicyissuesoftheday.However,theydoattempttopromptameaningconversationaboutouroriginsasapeopleandasanation,andtothenuseourunderstandingofandappreciationforthefoundingtoguideamoremeaningful,constructive,andcivildialogueaboutthestateoftheAmericanpoliticalexperimenttoday.Asyourstudentswillnote,manyofthechallengesfacingthefoundersarestillpresentandthereareimportantlessonstobelearnedfromtheiraccomplishments.

PROGRAMSJosephJ.EllisJanuary5,2017

Theauthorof11books,JosephJ.ElliswasawardedthePulitzerPrizeforFoundingBrothers:TheRevolutionaryGenerationandwontheNationalBookAwardforAmericanSphinx:ABiographyofThomasJefferson.Hisin-depthchronicleofthelifeofourfirstpresident,HisExcellency:GeorgeWashington,wasaNewYorkTimes’best-seller.Ellis’snewestbook,TheQuartet:OrchestratingtheSecondAmericanRevolution,1783-1789(2015),wasreleasedtogreatpraise.

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Ellis’sessaysandbookreviewsappearregularlyinnationalpublications,suchasTheNewYorkTimes,TheLosAngelesTimes,TheWallStreetJournal,TheChicagoTribune,TheNewRepublic,andTheNewYorker.HiscommentarieshavebeenfeaturedonCBS,C-SPAN,CNN,andPBS.EllisistheFordFoundationProfessorEmeritusatMountHolyokeCollegeandmostrecentlytaughtintheLeadershipStudiesProgramatWilliamsCollege.HelivesinAmherst,MassachusettswithhiswifeEllenWilkinsEllisandisthefatherofthreesonsand,sofar,grandfatheroftwogirlsandaboy.GordonS.WoodJanuary12,2017

GordonS.WoodisAlvaO.WayUniversityProfessorEmeritusatBrownUniversity.HereceivedhisB.A.fromTuftsUniversityandhisPh.D.fromHarvardUniversity.HetaughtatHarvardandtheUniversityofMichiganbeforejoiningthefacultyatBrownin1969.Woodistheauthorofmanyworks,includingTheCreationoftheAmericanRepublic,1776-1787(1969),whichwontheBancroftPrizeandtheJohnH.DunningPrize,TheRadicalismoftheAmericanRevolution(1992),whichwonthePulitzerPrizeandtheRalphWaldoEmersonPrize,andTheAmericanizationofBenjaminFranklin(2004),whichwasawardedtheJuliaWardHowePrize.Wood’svolumeintheOxfordHistoryoftheUnitedStatestitledEmpireofLiberty:AHistoryoftheEarlyRepublic,1789-1815(2009)wasgiventheAssociationofAmericanPublishersAwardforHistoryandBiography,theAmericanHistoryBookPrizebytheNewYorkHistoricalSociety,andtheSocietyoftheCincinnatiHistoryPrize.In2011,WoodwasawardedaNationalHumanitiesMedal,theChurchillBellbyColonialWilliamsburg,andtheArthurM.Schlesinger,Jr.AwardfromtheSocietyofAmericanHistorians.

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In2015,hereceivedtheCentennialMedalfromtheHarvardUniversityGraduateSchool.WoodisafellowofboththeAmericanAcademyofArtsandSciencesandtheAmericanPhilosophicalSociety.RonChernowFebruary9,2017

Chernowhasbeenhailedas“oneofthepreeminentbiographersofhisgeneration”bytheSt.LouisPost-Dispatchand“American’sbestbusinessbiographer”byFortuneMagazine.HisbookTheHouseofMorganwontheNationalBookAwardasthebestnonfictionbookof1990andisconsideredamodernclassic,whileTheWarburgswontheprestigiousGeorgeS.EcclesPrizeforthebestbusinessbookof1993andwascitedbytheAmericanLibraryAssociationasoneoftheyear’stenbestworks.Chernow’sbiographiesofJohnD.Rockefeller(Titan,1998),AlexanderHamilton(Hamilton,2004),andGeorgeWashington(Washington:ALife,2010)haveallbeenmetwithcriticalacclaimandwonnumerousawards.TitanandHamiltonbothreceivednominationsfortheNationalBookCriticsCircleAward.In2010,Washington:ALifewashonoredwiththePulitzerPrizeandtheAmericanHistoryBookPrize,endowinghimwiththehonorarytitleAmericanHistorianLaureate.ChernowwasthehistoricaladvisortotheTonyaward-winningmusical“Hamilton,”whichwasinspiredbyhisbest-sellingbiography.Chernowistherecipientofsixhonorarydoctorates,recentlyservedaspresidentofPENAmericanCenter,andsatontheexecutiveboardoftheSocietyofAmericanHistorians.DavidMcCulloughMarch9,2017

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McColloughhasbeenacclaimedasa“masteroftheartofnarrativehistory.”HeistwicewinnerofthePulitzerPrize,twicewinneroftheNationalBookAward,andrecipientofthePresidentialMedalofFreedom,thenation’shighestcivilianaward.McCollough’smostrecentbook,thewidelypraisedTheWrightBrothers,wasa#1NewYorkTimes’best-sellerandremainedonthelistforninemonths.TheGreaterJourney:AmericansinParis,alsoa#1best-seller,hasbeencalled“dazzling”and“historytobesavored.”Hisbook1776isconsideredaninstantclassic,whileJohnAdams(2001),remainsoneofthemostpraisedandwidelyreadAmericanbiographiesofalltime.InthewordsofthecitationaccompanyinghishonorarydoctoratefromYale,“Asanhistorian,hepaintswithwords,givinguspicturesoftheAmericanpeoplethatlive,breathe,andaboveall,confrontfundamentalissuesofcourage,achievement,andmoralcharacter.”McColloughisalsotwicewinneroftheFrancisParkmanPrizeandhasbeenhonoredbytheNationalBookFoundationwiththeDistinguishedContributiontoAmericanLettersAward,theNationalHumanitiesMedal,andtheGoldMedalforBiographygivenbytheAmericanAcademyofArtsandLetters.Hehasreceived54honorarydegrees.LynneCheneyApril11,2017

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LynneCheneyholdsaPh.D.fromtheUniversityofWisconsinandwasamemberoftheCommissionontheBicentennialoftheU.S.Constitution.Cheney,aseniorfellowattheAmericanEnterpriseInstitute,hasspentmuchofherprofessionallifewritingandspeakingabouttheimportanceofknowingAmericanhistory.AschairoftheNationalEndowmentfortheHumanitiesfrom1986to1993,shewroteandspokeabouttheimportanceofteachingchildrenabouttheleaders,events,andideasthathaveshapedourworld,andsheworkedtoprovideopportunitiesforeducatorstogainin-depthknowledgethatliesbehindoutstandingteaching.CheneyhasworkedtobringtalesoftheAmericanpasttoawideaudience,writingarticlesabouthistoryfornumerouspublicationsontopicsrangingfromwomen’ssuffrageintheWesttothewayAmericanscelebratedthecountry’scentennial.Shehasalsoturnedherattentiontochildrenandtheirfamilies,writingsixbest-sellinghistorybooksforthem,includingWethePeople:TheStoryofOurConstitution(2008).Hermostrecentbook,anin-depthbiographytitledJamesMadison:ALifeReconsidered(2014),isaNewYorkTimesbest-seller.EachnotedhistorianisinterviewedbyRobertWatsonRobertP.Watson

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Watsonhaspublished40booksandhundredsofscholarlyarticlesandessaysontopicsinpoliticsandhistory.HealsoservesastheserieseditorforSUNYPress’spopularbookseriesontheAmericanPresidencyandhaseditedtwoencyclopediasetsonthepresidentsandfirstladies.Dr.Watsonhasco-convenedahalf-dozennationalconferencesontheAmericanpresidency,moderatedpoliticaldebates,hostedhundredsofciviceducationworkshops,voterregistrationdrives,andtownhalls,andisafrequentcommentatorfornumerousmediaoutletsincludingWPTV5NBCinsouthFlorida.Hehasappearedonhundredsofmediaoutlets,includingCNN,Fox,MSNBC,theBBC,andC-SPAN.ProfessorWatsonhaswonnumerousawardsforhisteaching,communityservice,andscholarlycontributionstothestudyofthepresidencyandpolitics.HisrecentbooksincludeAffairsofState(2012),ThePresidents’Wives(2014),TheNaziTitanic(2016),theforthcomingTheGhostShipofBrooklyn(2017),andAmerica’sFirstCrisis(2014),whichwontheGoldMedalinHistoryattheIndependentPublishers’Awards.HeisProfessorofAmericanStudiesatLynnUniversity.

STUDENTLEARNINGOBJECTIVES

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•StudentswillbeabletounderstandtheidealsoftheFounding•StudentswillgainanappreciationforthegreatpersonalconvictionittooktosupporttheRevolution,Founding,andnewexperimentindemocracy•StudentswillbeabletodiscussthedifferencesamongtheFounders,intermsoftheirvisionforthenation,theirideologyandinspiration,andtheirpersonalities•StudentswillbeabletoassesshowtheFoundersworkedthroughthemanyinterpersonalhurdlesandpoliticalobstaclestoAmerica’sFounding•StudentswillbeabletogiveexamplesofhowAmericanhistoryisoftenmisunderstoodandinterpreteddifferently,andisachallengingandongoingprocessofdiscovery•StudentswillbeabletodemonstratehowtheworkandvisionoftheFoundersisstillrelevanttodayandhelpfulinaddressingcurrentpoliticalproblems

LEARNINGEXERCISES

ManyofthechallengesfacingtheFoundersandthewaysinwhichtheysometimesdidandsometimesdidnotaddressthemarestillapplicabletoday.Considerthefollowingquestionsandexercisesandexaminetheprimarysourcedocuments.1.HowdotheFoundingFathersrepresenttheAmericandream?HowdotheynotrepresenttheAmericandream?2.HowdidJohnAdamsdealwithimmigrationandimmigrants?Howdoesthisrelatedtoimmigrationtoday?Identifyanimportantlessonyoulearned.

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http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/idno/1514http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/140143.Compareandcontrasttheelectionof1796and1800totheelectionof2016.Howweretheyrun?Weretherepoliticalpartiesandwhatwastheirfunctioninelections?Whatwerethekeyissuesforvoters?http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/91884.ReadGeorgeWashington’sfamousFarewellAddress.Didwefollowhisadvice?Whyorwhynot?Arehiswordsstillrelevant?http://nibleycitycouncil.com/farewell_address_today.html5.ThefirstabolitionsocietyintheUnitedStateswasfoundedin1775.Howisslaveryacontradictoryinstitutionevenbeforeweclaimedourindependence?http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/5656http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/75216.HowdidtherelationshipwiththeNativeAmericansshapeournation’sfounding?http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/119627.Howdocountriesfundwars?Howdoyoufundawarifyouareindirectrebellionwithyourgovernment?HowdidtheFoundersaddresstheproblemoffundingtheRevolution?http://hsp.org/education/unit-plans/the-bank-of-north-america-our-nations-first-central-bank

QUESTIONSFORDISCUSSION

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1.WhoisyourfavoriteFounder?Why?2.HowdidtheFoundersovercometheirsometimesbitterdifferences?3.WhataresomecommonmisconceptionsoftheFounders?4.IsthereapartoftheConstitutionyouwouldchange?Whyandhowso?5.IfyouweretoproposeanamendmenttotheConstitution,whatwoulditbe?

BIOSOFTHEFOUNDERSWhoweretheFounders?Theterm“FoundingFather”generallyreferstotheleaderspresentatthebeginning–therevolutionaryperiod.Theywerethemenwhofoughtforindependence,servedintheFirstandSecondContinentalCongresses,andcobbledtogethertheinitialdocumentsoffreedom.TheFirstContinentalCongressmetinthesummerof1774andwasfollowedthenextsummerbytheSecondContinentalCongress.ThisSecondCongresswouldlatersigntheDeclarationofIndependence.Ontheotherhand,the“Framers”werethosewhogatheredatthePennsylvaniaStateHouse(nowknownasIndependenceHall)inthehot,humidsummerof1787toframeaconstitution.ThesetermshavebeenusedthroughoutAmericanhistory,butdoneglectthecontributionsofthemanywomenwhoservedinvariouscapacitiesandsacrificedmuchforthecauseoffreedom.TheFramersselectedGeorgeWashingtontobethepresidingofficerandbehindcloseddoorstheytoiledfromMaytoSeptembertoproducetheframeworkforanewtypeofgovernment.TheseextraordinaryleaderscamefromalltheoriginalcolonieswiththeexceptionofRhodeIsland.ManyofthemhadfoughtintheRevolutionaryWarandothershadservedintheContinentalCongress.Nearlyallofthemhadexperienceincolonialgovernmentandhadheldlocalpoliticaloffices.Inthewinterandspringof1786and1787,thestatesselectedatotalof74

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delegatestoattendtheconventioninPhiladelphia.Nineteendelegatesdecidednottoattend,includingPatrickHenryofVirginia,whowouldlaterclaim“Ismelledarat.”Ofthe55originaldelegates,therewereonly41presentonSeptember17,1787,thedatewenowcelebrateasConstitutionDay.JohnDickinsonofDelawarewasunabletoattend,butgavefellowdelegateGeorgeReedhisproxyvoteandReedsignedtheConstitutiononbehalfofDickinson.Threedelegatesrefusedtosignwhattheybelievedwasaflaweddocument(ElbridgeGerryofMassachusettsandGeorgeMasonandEdmundRandolphofVirginia),foratotalof39signers.ClickherefortheNationalConstitutionCenter’spageontheFramers:http://constitutioncenter.org/learn/educational-resources/founding-fathers/ClickherefortheNationalArchiveswebsite“MeettheFramers”https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/founding-fathers

FOUNDINGTIMELINEDate EventApril5,1764 SugarActpassedbyBritishParliamentMarch22,1765 StampActpassedbyBritishParliamentMarch24,1765 QuarteringActpassedbyBritishParliamentSeptember-October1768 BritishtroopsoccupyBostonMarch5,1770 BostonMassacreDecember16,1773 BostonTeaPartyMarch23,1775 PatrickHenrydelivers“Givemelibertyorgivemedeath”speechApril19,1775 BattlesofLexingtonandConcordJuly1,1776 DeclarationofIndependenceissignedJuly4,1776 DeclarationofIndependenceadoptedDecember25,1776 GeorgeWashingtonbeginsthecrossingoftheDelawareRiverDecember19,1777 Washington’sarmywintersinValleyForge

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October19,1781 BattleofYorktownSeptember3,1783 TreatyofParisendsRevolutionaryWarAugust1786 Shay’sRebellionMay25,1787 ConstitutionalConventionbeginsJune19,1788 InaugurationofPresidentGeorgeWashingtonJune21,1788 ConstitutionisratifiedMarch4,1789 OfficialdateforUSCongressandgovernmenttoconveneSeptember25,1789 BillofRightsapprovedbyCongressSeptember19,1796 Washington’sFarewellAddressAugust19,1803 Marburyvs.Madisoncourtcase

AMERICA’SFOUNDINGDOCUMENTSDeclarationofIndependencehttps://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declarationConstitutionhttps://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitutionBillofRightshttps://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights

SUGGESTEDREADINGThefollowingbooksarediscussedintheseries:ByJosephJ.Ellis

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ByGordonS.Wood

ByRonChernow

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ByDavidMcCollough

ByLynneCheney

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