C&E Student Guide Unit One: The Philosophical Origins of American

Constitutionalism: Natural Rights and Classical Republicanism

Outside Readings, Lessons One and Two in the We the People textbook

Date Assignments
Mon., Aug 14 Introduction to Political Philosophy

Tues., Aug 15 Due: Read Lesson One, reading questions Lesson one,
1-4

Wed., Aug 16 Due: Read Lesson Two, reading questions Lesson two,
1-2
Thurs., Aug 17 Due: Aristotle reading and questions 1-2
In Class: Discuss the reading

Fri., Aug 18 Due: Cicero reading and questions 3-4

In Class: Discuss the reading

Mon., Aug 21 Due: Hobbes reading and questions

Tues., Aug 22 Due: Locke reading and questions

Wed., Aug 23 Due: Receive readings and instructions for Philosophers

Forum on Tuesday

Thurs., Aug 24 Due: Prepare for Philosophers Forum and Review for the
Test

Fri., Aug 25 Due: Philosophers Forum

Mon., 28 Test Unit One

Review Session from 8:10 (Outside Readings, Lessons One and Two: Natural
8:40 Rights and Classical Republican Philosophies)

Lesson One reading questions: (pages 5-9)

1. Identify several influences upon the Founders understanding about government. List
them and explain WHAT they learned from the particular influences.
2. Explain Aristotles forms of government in their right and corrupt forms. Which form is
the best one to achieve stability? Explain his reasoning.
3. How were the British Parliament and the colonial legislatures examples of representative
government?
4. Explain at least three features of a constitutional government.

(over)
Lesson Two reading questions:
1. Summarize the three aspects of classical republicanism: uniform communities, citizenship
and civic virtue, and moral education (bullet points are fine).
2. Summarize the four aspects of natural rights philosophy that influenced the founding
generation: individual rights, popular sovereignty/consent, limited government, and human
equality (bullet points are fine).

Reading Questions: Aristotle and Cicero

1. To Aristotle, what is a good citizen?
2. To Aristotle, is there any citizen that must also be a good man?
3. To Cicero, what is the one thing that moves itself and will never die?
4. To Cicero, how will one achieve excellence?

Reading Questions: Hobbes

1. What is needed to ensure the protection of the covenant?
2. Explain several reasons that, according to Hobbes, mankind cannot live sociably with
another. (pages 113-114)
3. What is the only way to create a commonwealth?
4. Record Hobbes oath that every man should say to every man to form the
commonwealth.

Reading Questions: Locke

1. Describe Lockes state of equality.
2. According to Locke, what governs a state of nature?
3. What power(s) do/does everyone have in a state of nature? Explain.
4. How does mankind take himself from a state of nature to a politic society?
5. What is the purpose of the political society?

Terms and Concepts to Know Very Well

You may choose to make notecards for each of the terms below, or you can add information
about these terms to your notes (both your homework and class notes). Either way, youll
need to know as much as possible about each one of the following. How do they connect to
each other and/or to the overarching ideas in the unit?

Absolute monarchy Oligarchy Democracy

Enlightenment Civic Virtue Natural Rights/Inalienable Rights
Mixed Constitution State of Nature Social Contract
Aristotle Cicero Thomas Hobbes
John Locke Polity Representative Government
Executive Power Judicial Power Legislative Power