SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic

1. Thomas Paine states in Rights of Man:

   When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend, because I am a friend of its happiness: when these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and its government.

   We can certainly say that it was the hope of Paine and the Founding Fathers that that statement could be said of the United States. To what extent do you think the statement holds true today?

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - Thomas Paine states in Rights of Man:When it shall be said in any country in the world my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want; the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend, because I am a friend of its happiness: when these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and its government.We can certainly say that it was the hope of Paine and the Founding Fathers that that statement could be said of the United States. To what extent do you think the statement holds true today?
2. Native Americans are central figures in William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians (p. 369), the painting by Benjamin West, and also in the speech by Chief Tecumseh (p. 430). Compare the attitudes of West and Tecumseh toward their subjects. Pay particular attention to the intended audience for each piece.

   Question

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - Native Americans are central figures in William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians (p. 369), the painting by Benjamin West, and also in the speech by Chief Tecumseh (p. 430). Compare the attitudes of West and Tecumseh toward their subjects. Pay particular attention to the intended audience for each piece.
3. In this chapter, we have two exchanges by letter: one between Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson (p. 426) and one between John and Abigail Adams (p. 385). Compare and contrast the exchanges, taking particular note of their appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos.

   Question

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - In this chapter, we have two exchanges by letter: one between Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson (p. 426) and one between John and Abigail Adams (p. 385). Compare and contrast the exchanges, taking particular note of their appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos.
4. It might seem peculiar that despite being such a dramatic period in American history, we begin and end the chronological section of this chapter with humorous pieces, that is, Benjamin Franklin’s “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” (p. 349) and Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” (p. 435). How effectively does humor frame the serious content of the chapter? Is the contrast appropriate? Explain.

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - It might seem peculiar that despite being such a dramatic period in American history, we begin and end the chronological section of this chapter with humorous pieces, that is, Benjamin Franklin’s “The Speech of Miss Polly Baker” (p. 349) and Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” (p. 435). How effectively does humor frame the serious content of the chapter? Is the contrast appropriate? Explain.
5. Compare and contrast the uses of irony in the satirical pieces in this chapter by Franklin, H. L. Mencken (p. 423), and Irving. Which delivers the most sardonic tone? Which is mildest in its use of irony? Which is the most successful satire? Explain.

   Question

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - Compare and contrast the uses of irony in the satirical pieces in this chapter by Franklin, H. L. Mencken (p. 423), and Irving. Which delivers the most sardonic tone? Which is mildest in its use of irony? Which is the most successful satire? Explain.
6. This chapter contains several speeches and addresses: those by “Miss Polly Baker,” Patrick Henry (p. 373), George Washington (p. 452), Red Jacket (p. 484), Tecumseh, Jane Addams (p. 460), John F. Kennedy (p. 486), and Michael Bloomberg (p. 496). Compare and contrast three of the speeches in terms of how effectively they address the components of Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle.

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - This chapter contains several speeches and addresses: those by “Miss Polly Baker,” Patrick Henry (p. 373), George Washington (p. 452), Red Jacket (p. 484), Tecumseh, Jane Addams (p. 460), John F. Kennedy (p. 486), and Michael Bloomberg (p. 496). Compare and contrast three of the speeches in terms of how effectively they address the components of Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle.
7. Women and women’s rights are central to the selections by Franklin, Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (p. 393), and Judith Sargent Murray (p. 419). Compare and contrast how three of these writers use rhetorical strategies to establish their positions regarding women in America.

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - Women and women’s rights are central to the selections by Franklin, Abigail Adams, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (p. 393), and Judith Sargent Murray (p. 419). Compare and contrast how three of these writers use rhetorical strategies to establish their positions regarding women in America.
8. Now that you have carefully read the Second Amendment to the Constitution, how do you interpret its meaning as it relates to current discussions and arguments regarding firearms?

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - Now that you have carefully read the Second Amendment to the Constitution, how do you interpret its meaning as it relates to current discussions and arguments regarding firearms?
9. In a 1933 speech, Alfred E. Smith said, “All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.” What might be some of the “ills” of democracy? How would James Madison (p. 407), Alexander Hamilton (p. 404), Jefferson (p. 389), and Paine (p. 375) respond to Smith’s remark? Compose an imaginary discussion among the four about this topic.

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   SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - In a 1933 speech, Alfred E. Smith said, “All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.” What might be some of the “ills” of democracy? How would James Madison (p. 407), Alexander Hamilton (p. 404), Jefferson (p. 389), and Paine (p. 375) respond to Smith’s remark? Compose an imaginary discussion among the four about this topic.
10. In the November 30, 2012, issue of the New York Times, historian and law professor Paul Finkelman wrote,

    We are endlessly fascinated with Jefferson, in part because we seem unable to reconcile the rhetoric of liberty in his writing with the reality of slave owning and his lifetime support for slavery. Time and again, we play down the latter in favor of the former, or write off the paradox as somehow indicative of his complex depths… . There is, it is true, a compelling paradox about Jefferson: when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, announcing the “self-evident” truth that all men are “created equal,” he owned some 175 slaves. Too often, scholars and readers use those facts as a crutch, to write off Jefferson’s inconvenient views as products of the time and the complexities of the human condition.

    But at that same time there were some men—for example, Paine—who would not own slaves and spoke out against slavery. Finkelman reminds us that many of Jefferson’s contemporaries freed their slaves during or after the Revolution—even Washington freed them in his will—while Jefferson did not. Even after his death, his will emancipated only five of his slaves. Write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies Finkelman’s ideas regarding Jefferson.

    Question

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    SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - In the November 30, 2012, issue of the New York Times, historian and law professor Paul Finkelman wrote,We are endlessly fascinated with Jefferson, in part because we seem unable to reconcile the rhetoric of liberty in his writing with the reality of slave owning and his lifetime support for slavery. Time and again, we play down the latter in favor of the former, or write off the paradox as somehow indicative of his complex depths… . There is, it is true, a compelling paradox about Jefferson: when he wrote the Declaration of Independence, announcing the “self-evident” truth that all men are “created equal,” he owned some 175 slaves. Too often, scholars and readers use those facts as a crutch, to write off Jefferson’s inconvenient views as products of the time and the complexities of the human condition.But at that same time there were some men—for example, Paine—who would not own slaves and spoke out against slavery. Finkelman reminds us that many of Jefferson’s contemporaries freed their slaves during or after the Revolution—even Washington freed them in his will—while Jefferson did not. Even after his death, his will emancipated only five of his slaves. Write an essay that defends, challenges, or qualifies Finkelman’s ideas regarding Jefferson.
11. How have the readings in this chapter expanded your understanding of early American history of the founding fathers? Refer specifically to several selections to support your answer.

    Question

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    SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING A New Republic: - How have the readings in this chapter expanded your understanding of early American history of the founding fathers? Refer specifically to several selections to support your answer.