Fall, 2014 *** PLS 309
Joanna Vecchiarelli Scott -- Professor, Department of Political Science
jscott@emich. 601 PH. Office Hours: M/W 12:15-2:200 and online
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ENDURING AMERICAN THEMES: Liberty, Equality, Democracy
[Pres. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Second State of the Union Address. 1944]
"In our day…we have accepted a second Bill of Rights, under which a new basis of security
and prosperity can be established for all--regardless of station, race or creed. Among these
are: The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or ships or farms or mines of the
Nation; The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; The right
of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a
decent living; The right of every businessman large and small to trade in an atmosphere of
freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad; The right of
every family to a decent home; The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve
and enjoy good health; The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age,
sickness, accident and unemployment; The right to a good education. All of these rights spell
security."
[Former Pres. Herbert Hoover, 1936]
"I gave warning against this philosophy of government 4 yrs. ago…based on my knowledge of
ideas that Mr. Roosevelt and his bosom colleagues had covertly embraced…I rejected the notion
of great trade monopolies and price fixing through codes. That could only stifle the little business
man by regimentation…I rejected the schemes of 'economic planning' to regiment and coerce the
farmer. That was born of a Roman despot fourteen hundred years ago and grew up into the AAA;
I refused national plans to put the government into business in competition with its citizens.
That was born of Karl Marx; I vetoed the idea of recovery through stupendous spending to
prime the pump. That was born of a British professor (J. Maynard Keynes); I threw out
attempts to centralize relief in Wash, D.C. for politics and social experimentation; I defeated
other plans to invade State rights, to centralize power in Washington. Those ideas were
born of American radicals…"
COURSE STRUCTURE AND REQUIREMENTS:
Graded Assignments and Presentations:
 2 Essays—Short essay tests taken either in-class, or as a take-home. Questions
will be distributed beforehand. Completed essay exams MUST be handed in on
time, or taken on the day scheduled. No exceptions will be allowed, unless an
emergency has arisen and I have given my permission beforehand. This applies
to ALL students, including athletes.
 2 group presentation in class: Topics will be based on the readings and assigned
by me.
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[Note: Dates may change, based on how class discussion progresses. You will be
notified in advance of adjustments to the schedule]
Scoring:
Each exercise will represent 30% of your grade. Each individual exercise will be scored
with a letter grade (not numeric). Your grade on each exercise, and your
final grade, will reflect my evaluation of: your demonstrated written and oral
understanding of the assigned readings, handouts and videos, class lectures and
discussions. Class participation, not only in the group projects but also as individuals in
class is very important and will contribute to your final grade.
All presentations, written and oral, must be based primarily on your own ideas and words
which, in turn, are generated from the source text which has been assigned. Any other
information, including especially online texts and analysis, are OK but must be fully
cited and searchable. Using ideas and texts which are not yours without attribution is
called plagiarism, and will result in a “0” for the assignment and, at my discretion, for
the course.
REQUIRED READINGS, CALENDAR OF CLASS DISCUSSIONS AND EXAMS:
 Required Book --MUST be purchased: Prices on Amazon: $51.76 (new)
$38.32 (used -- OK if it is the 2009 edition).
Isaac Kramnick and Theodore Lowi. American Political Thought: A Norton
Anthology. 2009. New York: Norton & Norton.
A word to the wise: First skim through the readings to understand the points being made
and to be ready for class. I will be discussing most, but not all, of them in class. If you
have not skimmed them beforehand, you will not be able to get much out of class
sessions, or understand those I do not get to in class. Then read them through for detail,
otherwise you will find it hard to succeed on the short and long essay tests, and do your
part in the group presentations. There is a summary before each excerpt, and a very good
general introduction. Read both!
Unit I: Sept 3 – Sept 29: Back to the Future:
Introduction: What are “American” Political Values?
From The Mayflower Compact to FDR and Hoover: Enduring themes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower_Compact#Reasons_for_the_Compact
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The New Colony becomes a New Nation
Kramnick Anthology: Part I
John Winthrop (1630-1639)
Roger Williams (1644)
John Wise (1717)
Benjamin Franklin (1758-84)
Kramnick Anthology: Part II:
John Adams (1775-1776)
Thomas Paine (1776)
Alexander Hamilton (1780); Federalist #23, #84
James Madison (1787-88); Federalist #10, #39, #51
**FIRST SHORT ESSAY EXAM – Oct. 1
_________________________________________________________________
Unit II: Oct. 6—Oct. 27:
1.Kramnick Anthology: Part III: Civil War
President Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Roger Taney (1837, 1857)
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John C. Calhoun (1837, 1838)
George Fitzhugh (1854, 1957
President Abraham Lincoln (1854/Peoria; Wisconsin/1859; New York, 1860; New
Haven, 1860) + “Lincoln” the film….if time permits
**GROUP PRESENTATIONS: Oct 29-Nov. 3
Themes: NATIONAL POWER, STATES RIGHTS, RACE AND THE
CONSTITUTION _____________________________________________________________
Unit III. Capitalism and Class Conflict: Nov. 5 – Nov. 19
Kramnick Anthology: Part IV: Capitalism, Individualism and Populism
William Graham Sumner (1884-1892)
Henry George (1879)
Andrew Carnegie (1889)
Emma Goldman (1907)
Eugene V. Debs (1904-1918)
President Theodore Roosevelt (1889; 1910))
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Langston Hughes (1938)
Lincoln Stephens (1904)
Jane Addams (1909)
John Dewey (1910)
Louis Brandeis (1915)
President Woodrow Wilson (1913)
**SECOND SHORT ESSAY EXAM: Nov. 24 (Monday before Thanksgiving)
__________________________________________________________________
Unit IV: Nov. 6 – Dec. 18 – Back (Again) to the Future
20th c. Liberal / Radical Left—Kramnick Anthology: Part V:
President Franklin Roosevelt (1932-1944)
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS--1962); M
Mario Savio (1964) Mills (1956, 1960)
Robert Dahl (1961)
Michael Sandel (1996)
Jerry Rubin (Yippie Manifesto--1969); Carmichael (1966),)
20th c. Conservative / Radical Right—Kramnick Anthology: Part V:
Pres. Herbert Hoover (1932-1941)
Milton and Rose Friedman (1980);
Irving Kristol (1973);
Young Americans for Freedom (YAF),
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Whittaker Chambers (1952);
William F. Buckley Jr. (195)
Barry Goldwater (1960);
21st Century Politics Since 2008 – Libertarians and Tea Partiers.
Online sources TBA -- The New York Times, Washington Post, . Politico, etc.
LAST TWO DAYS OF CLASSES: FINAL GROUP PRESENTATIONS -______________________________________________________________________
*Always be tolerant and respectful of classmates’ contributions to class: American values and the way
they are put into practice are controversial and generate heated debate. That’s all to the good. Rudeness is
always bad.
*Do not arrive late. If you can’t avoid it, take a seat in the back of class, not in the front. Do not
walk out of the classroom before the class is over; and do not walk in and out while class is in session.
*No laptop computer, text messaging, email and other viewing devices may be used in this class for
any reason
*There will be no unscheduled make-up examinations in this class. Missing an essay exam or class
presentation, or submitting a late final essay, without my specific prior permission (for an emergency
which I think warrants your absence) will result in a “0.”
*Don’t steal: Using someone else’s written work without an acknowledgement is called plagiarism and
will result in a “0” for the essay test/presentation, and possible failure for the course .
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