A HTG 100American Heritage

Section 201/ 3 Semester hours Clayne Pope, Ph.D. Copyright 2012 Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. Published by the Department of Independent Study Division of Continuing Education Brigham Young University 120 MORC Provo, Utah 84602-1514 USA

Introduction to this Lessons Packet

Thank you for purchasing the lesson packet for AHTG 100: American Heritage. Included in this packet, you should have received these items: this introductory letter copies of the readings from each lesson (the pages following this letter)

Begin your online course by reading the syllabus; it contains the information you need to successfully complete the course. As you begin, you will notice that each lesson includes a brief introduction, learning outcomes for the lesson, reading assignments, and lesson reading material. The reading material for each lesson is included in this packet, as well as in the online course. The lessons also have Reading Quiz and Lesson Quiz exercises associated with them, as well as fifteen instructor-graded assignments; these are available only through the online course. This packet is designed to give you the best experience for reading the detailed lesson content and taking notes. To complete the course, you will need access to the online assignments and exams. Best wishes for your success in this course!

A HTG 100: American Heritage

Table of Contents
Lesson 1: Problem of Government...................................................7
Key Concepts and Main Points...........................................................9 Application Assignment.................................................................... 19

Lesson 2: City upon a Hill................................................................21

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................23 Application Assignment....................................................................27

Lesson 3: The English Legacy.........................................................29

Key Concepts and Main Points......................................................... 31 Application Assignment....................................................................33

Lesson 4: A Conflict of Interests, Founding of a Market Economy..35

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................37 Application Assignment....................................................................43

Lesson 5: The American Revolution...............................................45

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................47 Application Assignment.................................................................... 51

Lesson 6: Designing Government...................................................53

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................55 Application Assignment....................................................................59 Preparing for the First Midcourse Exam.......................................... 61

Lesson 7: Starting the Engine of Government...............................63

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................65 Application Assignment................................................................... 69

Lesson 8: From Unity to Political Parties......................................71

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................73 Application Assignment....................................................................75

Table of Contents

Lesson 9: The Founding and Historical Change............................77

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................79 Application Assignment................................................................... 83

Lesson 10: Empire of Liberty..........................................................85

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................87 Application Assignment.................................................................... 91

Lesson 11: Finishing the Founding................................................93

Key Concepts and Main Points.........................................................95 Application Assignment.................................................................. 101

Preparing for the exam................................................................. 103

Preparing for the Second Midcourse Exam....................................103

Lesson 12: The Rise of the Government/Market Weaknesses.105

Key Concepts and Main Points....................................................... 107 Application Assignment.................................................................. 113

Lesson 13: America and the World............................................. 115

Key Concepts and Main Points........................................................117 Application Assignment.................................................................. 121

Lesson 14: Living with Judicial Review....................................... 123

Key Concepts and Main Points....................................................... 125 Application Assignment.................................................................. 131 Opinion Paper ................................................................................ 133

Lesson 15: Americans Founding Heritage................................. 135

Application Assignment.................................................................. 137

Preparing for the exam................................................................. 139

Preparing for the Final Exam......................................................... 139 References....................................................................................... 141

Lesson 1

Problem of Government

HIS LESSON INTRODUCES THE BASIC ELEMENTS FOR THE DESIGN OF A

government. These elements were present in the founding and are shared in an analysis of all governments. The assumption about human nature is a key element in the design of any social institution. Should we be optimistic and assume that people are basically good putting the welfare of the group or others before their own interest? Or should we be more pessimistic and assume that people will usually follow their own self-interest at the possible expense of the welfare of others? Finally, this lesson introduces an important theme of this coursethe use of structure and human nature to achieve the desired outcome.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to do the following: 1. Define the primary problem we are considering in American Heritage. 2. Give a working assumption of human nature and how it influences creating a government.

A HTG 100: American Heritage

Reading Assignment
Read chapter 1, City upon a Hill Rights and Responsibilities, Dallin H. Oaks, course packet

Reading Quiz
Complete the lesson 1 reading quiz in BrainHoney. You must pass the quiz with 100 percent before you can move on to the Key Concepts and Main Points.

Key Concepts and Main Points

The following bolded headings are the key concepts and main points from the lesson. Each concept/point may be accompanied by a video clip that shows a visual example of the concept/point. Watch the video clip to help your understanding of the concept/point.

Sovereignty
Clip 1.1 illustrates the luxury that contributed to the tyranny of the French people. This illustrated the dominance and supreme authority that the French government wielded against the people.
2006 Columbia Pictures

Clip 1.1. Example of tyranny in the cycle 1675299439001

A HTG 100: American Heritage

The Cycle of Anarchy and Tyranny or the Human Predicament Anarchy

Nature, as you will observe in this clip, is often cruel and difficult. Thomas Hobbes, the political philosopher, said the state of nature would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short (Hobbes 1886). Life for the animals on the savannas of Africa is just as Hobbes described itnasty brutish and short (See clip 1.2). The predators prey on each other to reduce their competition. When a new male lion takes over the pride, he kills the young lions that carry the genes of others. The grazing animals live in constant fear of the predators. They are all subject to the whims of nature through drought and storms. To avoid the state of nature, humans organize ourselves into society with government.
Courtesy of NegativeSpaceMedia

Clip 1.2. Battle at Kruger 1675299437001

When humans organize into a government, the need to balance anarchy and tyranny arises. On the one side is anarchy with disorder and chaos. Anarchy is a threat to our material well-being and takes away predictability and control from us like the water buffalo that is subject to the whims of nature and any imposing force. As depicted in clip 1.3 from Star Wars, those in the cantina were wary of Luke and his droids because they were uncertain of what chaos the newcomers would bring. The uncertainty left all groups having to look out for themselves.

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Lesson 1: Problem of Government

Clip 1.3 Example of anarchy in the cycle 1675230940001

Tyranny
As Schindler points out in clip 1.4, they fear us because we can [make decisions, impose punishments, and] kill arbitrarily (Spielberg 1993). This leaves its subjects to the whims of an individuals wants and desires like a mother having to choose between her children (See clip 1.5) or an individual being pardoned or killed at will. The arbitrary nature of a tyrant engenders fear and submission.
1993 Universal Studios

Clip 1.4. Example of tyranny 1675264229001

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2004 Lucasfilm Ltd & TM

A HTG 100: American Heritage

Clip 1.5. Example of tyranny 1675230938001

Example of the Different Stages in the Cycle of Human Predicament

The following clips and depictions show the entire Human Predicament cycle through the French Revolution.

Tyranny
Weve seen this clip before, but lets look at clip 1.6 again. This scene illustrates the luxury that drove the tyranny of the French people. The luxurious living of the monarchy combined with the poverty of most people and a financial crisis led France to a revolution in the summer of 1792.

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1982 MCMLXXXII ITC Films, Ltd

Lesson 1: Problem of Government

Clip 1.6. Example of tyranny in the cycle 1675230934001

Revolution
Clips 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9 illustrate the storming of the Bastille and eventual execution of the king and queen. These two events are symbolic that the revolution was going to have lasting effects on the landscape of French culture and history.

Clip 1.7. Storming of the Bastille 1675230928001

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2005 A&E Television Networks

2006 Columbia Pictures

A HTG 100: American Heritage

Clip 1.8. Versailles 1675264201001

Clip 1.9. Trial and execution (King and Queen) 1675213543001

Anarchy
The revolution was successful in removing the king, but not in establishing order without the monarchy. Anarchy ensued with mass hunger and rioting. In 1793, a Committee for Public Safety was organized under the

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2005 A&E Television Networks

2005 A&E Television Networks

Lesson 1: Problem of Government

leadership of Maximillien Robespierre, which led to a reign of terror (see clip 1.10) with various groups competing for control of government.
2005 A&E Television Networks

Clip 1.10. The Reign of Terror 1675230882001

Competing Groups
The Reign of Terror ensued. Many groups competed for power, including Jacobins, Dantonists, Hebertists, Girondists, and so on (see clip 1.11). In 1799, there was a coup called 18 Brumaire (second month of the revolutionary calendar).
2005 A&E Television Networks

Clip 1.11. Competing groups 1675230872001

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A HTG 100: American Heritage

Tyranny (AGAIN)
Out of these competing groups, one rose out of the ashes to promise order. Napoleon Bonaparte, a military officer who had distinguished himself, was part of the group staging the coup (see clip 1.12). He eventually headed the government and declared himself emperor, ending the disorder but restoring a government with dictatorial power. Napoleon brought many beneficial reforms to France, but he did so as someone with absolute power.
2000 David Gruben Productions, Inc

Clip 1.12. Napoleon, an example of tyranny 1675230864001

Human nature and its importance to government Self-interest

Enlightenment thinkers said that most human beings were motivated by self-interest most of the time. Clip 1.13 shows an instance of self-interest with a piece of cake. What does this part of human nature make you believe about the reliability of self-government?

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Lesson 1: Problem of Government

Clip 1.13. Self-interest 1675213511001

Public virtue (see clip 1.14)

Assumption: Human beings are primarily motivated by their own selfinterest or the collective interests of their close kin, but they are capable of public virtue and of self-restraint.
Brigham Young University

Clip 1.14. Public virtue 1675213510001

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Brigham Young University

A HTG 100: American Heritage

Clip 1.15 shows the use of structure and human nature to achieve public virtue and self-restraint. Think about how self-interest (wanting the biggest piece of cake) contributes to overall fairness when simple rules are applied.
Brigham Young University

Clip 1.15. Down the middle 1675230860001

Additional Concepts to Know

In addition to the material discussed in this lesson, you should be familiar with the following concepts related to Alternative government philosophy and human nature: Autocracy Classical republicanism Libertarianism Liberalism

These concepts are explained in more detail in the reading assignments.

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Application Assignment
If you have not viewed the How to Complete the Application Assignment video, go to the Application Assignment Portfolio in Brainhoney and watch it before doing the following application assignment: Find and document a recent story detailing the operation of a program that attempts in some way to control or manipulate peoples behavior. In your one-page essay (no more than 250 words), describe exactly how the program controls behavior and discuss the extent to which it relies on self-interest for control and the extent of the use of public virtue for control. For example: the cake clip shown in this lesson. This program of cutting the cake uses self-interest in conjunction with the rule that the person cutting the cake gets the last piece to control the behavior so that the cake is cut equally. To a lesser degree, it uses virtue in that the individuals involved have to accept the rule and not resort to force or theft to get a larger share of the cake. You can submit your paper electronically to the TA for review. The TA will provide feedback to make sure you understand the concept. See the syllabus for How to Submit Your Assignment for Review by TA under the Application Assignment heading. The individual application assignments will not be graded until you submit all the papers electronically as the application assignment portfolio at the end of the course. See the Application Assignment Portfolio section for instructions on how to submit your application assignment portfolio.

Lesson 1 Quiz
After you finish your application assignment, complete Lesson 1 Quiz in BrainHoney.

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