FF Seminar Guided Questions Things to think about as you read/discuss each set of packets!! What is the main theme/idea of each document? How does each document relate to the guided prompt/questions/quotes? How do “philosophical ideas” of the documents relate to American culture today? How did author’s backgrounds impact their ideas?

FF Seminar #1 Guided Prompt The colonists based their protests on their interpretation of the British Constitution and on the higher authority that came in the form of natural laws and natural rights

FF Seminar #2 Questions According to these Founders, was the American desire for independence a noble venture? Are there causes today in America that would be considered noble to fight for? Did these Founders morally, politically, or socially justify rebellion? If so, how? If not, why? How justifiable is rebellion in today’s society? Is there ever a time when violence/war is a necessity?

FF Seminar #3 Guided Prompt The basic principles found in the Declaration of Independence, which at some level were the foundations of the Revolution itself, create a country that seeks to preserve the delicate balance between “ Life” (natural rights), “Liberty” (religion, civil [governmental] rights) and “the pursuit of happiness” (virtue, knowledge).

FF Seminar #4 Group 1 “Democracy is more than a political experiment: It is a spiritual and moral enterprise. And its success depends upon the virtue of the people who undertake it. Men who would be politically free must discipline themselves.” -John Courtney Murray

FF Seminar #4 Group 2 1) What are factions? 2) How do Washington and Madison vary in terms of the importance of factions within society? 3) How do factions help men “discipline themselves”? 4) Should government promote factions or promote unity of vision?

FF Seminar #4 Group 3 “The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” -Federalist No. 51

FF Seminar #4 Group 4 1) What is the important question Hamilton mentions that is reserved to the people of America? 2) What is considered good government (according to Fed.1, Fed.10, and yourself)? 3) Is the role of government to make people good/help men discipline themselves?

The Founders in Retrospect Joseph Ellis states that the Founding Fathers can be viewed through 2 core principles: “individual liberty” and “ collectivistic rather than individualistic” Divide the Founders we studied under the core principle that they would most agree with

Generalization #1 “They [The founding Fathers] were America’s first and, in many respects, its only natural aristocracy.” –Joseph Ellis

Generalization #2 “They [The Founding Fathers] created the American republic, then held it together throughout the volatile and vulnerable early years by sustaining their presence until national habits and customs took root.” –Joseph Ellis

Generalization #3 “..the achievement of the revolutionary generation was a collective enterprise that succeeded because of the diversity of personalities and ideologies present in the mix.” -Joseph Ellis

Generalization #4 “In my opinion, the central events and achievements of the revolutionary era and the early republic were political.” -Joseph Ellis

Concluding Discussion “Men make history, and the leading members of the revolutionary generation realized they were doing so, but they can never know the history they are making.” -Joseph Ellis What does Ellis mean by saying “they can never know the history they are making”? What is the most important historical legacy of the revolutionary generation?