Logo: Project Citizen

Lesson 2: What Ideas about Civic Life Informed the Founding Generation?

Image

Lesson Purpose

People frequently make judgments about governments or acts of governments, praising them as "good" or criticizing them as "bad." Those judgments may reflect ideas about human nature, the proper function and scope of government, the rights of individuals, and other values. Political philosophers have discussed these matters for thousands of years. This lesson examines concepts such as the common good, civic virtue, the state of nature, natural rights, consent, and the social contract. These concepts are central to discussions about government.

Lesson Objectives

When you have finished this lesson, you should be able to
  • describe how and why natural rights philosophy differs from classical republicanism and how both systems of thought influenced the founding generation in America,
  • explain the kinds of challenges that a society faces when it strives to preserve the rights to life, liberty, property, and “the pursuit of happiness” while at the same time promoting the common good and civic virtue, and
  • evaluate, take, and defend positions on the importance of civic virtue today and the role of political philosophy in thinking about government.

Lesson Terms

civic virtue
The dedication of citizens to the common welfare of their community or country, even at the cost of their individual interests. Traditionally considered most relevant to republics, since republican citizens are responsible for the well-being of their country.
classical republicanism
common good
consent of the governed
divine right
inalienable rights
natural rights
political legitimacy
popular sovereignty
pursuit of happiness
right of revolution
social contract theory
state of nature

Lesson Biographies

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)
Cicero (106-43 BCE)
Hobbes, Thomas (1588-1679 CE)
Locke, John (1632-1704 CE)
Washington, George (1732-1799 CE)

Lesson Court Cases

Luther v. Borden (1849)
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Minersville v. Gobitis (1940)
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff (1984)
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Bush v. Gore (2000)
Kelo v. City of New London (2005)

Lesson Primary Sources

A Modell of Christian Charity ("City Upon a Hill" sermon)--John Winthrop, 1630

Believed to be written and delivered en route to Massachusetts, Rev. Winthrop, who would be the first governor of the Masachusetts Bay Colony, warned his Puritan colonists that their new community would be a "city upon a hill," watched by the world and must therefore keep their community strong in faith and thrive against the hardships of their new and untamed land.

Access the Material

Aristotle--Politics, 350 BCE
Two Treatises of Government--John Locke, 1689
The Social Contract, Or Principles of Political Right--Rousseau, 1762
Tocqueville--Democracy in America, 1835, 1840
Cicero--De re publica (The Republic or On The Commonwealth), 54-51BC
Pericles' Funeral Oration
About

CCE LogoThis site is brought to you by the Center for Civic Education. The Center's mission is to promote an enlightened and responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. The Center has reached more than 30 million students and their teachers since 1965. Learn more.

Center for Civic Education

5115 Douglas Fir Road, Suite J
Calabasas, CA 91302

  Phone: (818) 591-9321

  Email: web@civiced.org

  Media Inquiries: cce@civiced.org

  Website: www.civiced.org

© Center for Civic Education