1. What were the Issues in 1787?
The Constitution

2. The “Great National Discussion”: The Discourse of Politics in 1787 by Isaac Kramnick
- political scientist at Cornell University….
Explores the problems that the language of 1787 presents if we are to understand what the Framers sought and what they achieved.
1. Liberalism
2. Civic Republicanism
3. Protestantism Work Ethic
4. Industry

3. Four Paradigms at work 1.Liberalism 2. Civic Republicanism
The belief that the purpose of government is to set individuals free to make the most of themselves…This may be what Jefferson meant by “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”
2. Civic Republicanism
A pattern of thought that reached back from Revolutionary America to England in the 17th century…the central point that a good citizens find the fullness of being human not by pursuing self-interest but rather by taking part in something much larger, even if it means self-sacrifice…
Men can create their own governments from reflection and choice
Reflection = “Civic Republicanism”
3. Protestantism Work-Ethic
Also seen as a “virtuous republicanism”
This found virtue less in public political activity than in private qualities such as “industry, frugality, and economy.”
Self-reflection
4. The Language of Power and Glory
An awareness among Americans that the future looked bright

4. Reality
The whole point – the meaning (actual meaning) of the Constitution contradicts the words –
The new
Liberty
Equality
All words from the ENLIGHTENMENT
Not all were equal
Not all were worthy
Not everyone was suited for life, liberty and prosperity (land ownership)

5. Federalist Paper #1 Uses words such as:
“Americans were proving that men could create their own governments from ‘reflection bad choice,’ instead of forever having to depend in ‘accident and force.’”

6. Civic Humanism and Liberalism in the Constitution and Its Critics
The Constitution reflects the language of the time: 18th century ideals: the Enlightenment and Puritanical combined….
To live in a Civic Manor – the Civic Humanistic Tradition
Civic life is what is important
The language of Republican Virtue
Still Puritan in our roots
The Federalist tendency was to depict America in amoral terms as an enlarged nation that transcended local community and moral conviction as a focus of politics
The Federalists seemed to glory in an individualistic and competitive America, which was preoccupied with private rights and personal autonomy – this is associated w/ James Madison more than any other
America is Greatly influenced by John Locke
The idea of Justice
Checks and balances….Madison called “umpires”
Locke is very Liberal…personal rights, and most dramatically, RIGJTS to property
James Madison is considered to be the Father of the Constitution
Promoted a heterogeneous community where all are NOT the same
He believed that the only way to protect the rights of minorities was to enlarge the political sphere and thereby divide the community into so great of interests and parties, that in the first place a majority will not be likely at the same moment to have a common interest separate from that of the whole of the minority; and in the 2nd place, that in case they should have such an interest, they may not be apt to unite in the pursuit of it.
AntiFederalists…fears over the absence of homogeneity

7. AntiFederalists
Held that religion was crucial – a crucial support of government
Richard Henry Lee
Religion is the guardian of morals
Exchange principles of commercial society as threats to civic and moral virtue
The problem for many Antis was the inadequacy of its vision of community based on mere interests and their protection…a proper Republican community required similarity, familiarity, and fraternity