American Political Thought
Political Science 514
Spring 2016
Mondays 9:00 a. m. – 11:40 a.m., 313 Hickman Hall
Andrew Murphy
309 Hickman Hall, (848) 932-1830
armurphy@polisci.rutgers.edu
This course provides an overview of some of the most influential and important works of
American political thought. For the purposes of our discussions, “American political thought”
will refer to the more or less explicit attempts on the part of the inhabitants of the United States
or its colonial precursors to think systematically about the meaning of their common political
project and its theoretical foundations. As we shall see, American political thought has always
been characterized by a number of contentious and overarching debates, including the
relationship between religion and politics, the foundations of political legitimacy, the legacy of
chattel slavery, and the ongoing contention between defenders of centralized (federal) power and
those who have sought to preserve the rights of the states.
Course assignments
Either one seminar paper of approx 25-30 pp., due at the end of the semester; OR two 10-12 pp.
critical essays (topics TBA), with one due before spring break and the other at the end of
the semester.
One 1,000-word book review of a recent work of secondary scholarship in American political
thought. Due at student’s discretion at any point during the semester, no later than May
15. The review should emulate professional conventions of book reviewing in political
science. (Book must be approved by the instructor.)
Active engagement and participation is expected of all members of the seminar.
Assigned Texts (additional readings on Sakai)
John C. Calhoun, Disquisition on Government and Selections from the Discourse, ed. C. Gordon
Post (Hackett)
John Dewey, Liberalism and Social Action (Prometheus)
W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folks (Dover)
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance and Other Essays (Dover)
The Anti-federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates, ed. Ralph Ketcham
(Signet Classics)
The Federalist Papers, ed. Clinton Rossiter (Signet Classics)
William Graham Sumner, What Do Social Classes Owe Each Other (Caxton)
Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience and Other Essays (Dover)
Thorstein Veblen, The Theory of the Leisure Class (Oxford)
David Walker, David Walker’s Appeal, ed. Hinks (Penn State)
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF READINGS
January 25
Introduction
John Winthrop, “Model of Christian Charity” (1630)
Winthrop, “Little Speech on Liberty” (1645)
William Penn, “Preface” to Pennsylvania Frame of Government (1682)
February 1
John Adams, Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law (1765)
Thomas Jefferson, Summary View of the Rights of British North America (1775)
Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776)
Jefferson, Declaration of Independence (1776)
February 8
Federalist Papers, selections TBA (1787-88); and Antifederalist selections TBA
NO CLASS MEETING FEBRUARY 15
Feb 22
David Walker, Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World (1830)
*Frederick Douglas, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” (1852)
Feb 29
Angelina Grimke, Letters on the Equality of the Sexes, selections TBA (1838)
Lucretia Mott, Discourse on Woman (1849)
Seneca Falls Declaration (1848)
March 7
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays RBA
MARCH 14: SPRING BREAK
March 21
Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” (1849)
“Life Without Principle” (1854)
NO CLASS MEETING MARCH 28
April 4
John C. Calhoun, Disquisition on Government (1850s)
Seventh Lincoln-Douglas Debate, at Alton (1858)
Lincoln, Gettysburg Address (1863)
Lincoln, Second Inaugural (1865)
April 11
Walt Whitman, Democratic Vistas (1870)
Victoria Woodhull, “On the Principles of Social Freedom” (1870)
April 18
Sumner, What do Social Classes Owe to Each Other (1889)
Frederick Jackson Turner, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”
(1893)
April 25
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “The Solitude of Self” (1892)
W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk (1903)
Booker T. Washington, “Atlanta Exposition Address” (1895)
May 2
Thorstein Veblen, The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899)
May 9
John Dewey, Liberalism and Social Action (1935)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address (1933)
Roosevelt, Acceptance Speech for the Renomination for the Presidency (1936)
Roosevelt, Annual Message to Congress, January 6, 1941 (Four Freedoms)
[Final (extra?) meeting: Martin Luther King, Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963)]