U.S. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS, SPRING 2011

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

& ITS ORIGINS

Declaration of Independence (OSY pp. 436-7); Woll selection 1 (John Locke, excerpts from Second Treatise, of Civil Government)

Wednesday, February 9

PLEASE NOTE: Chris will bring copies of this handout (and all future handouts) to class; you do not have to print it out unless you want to!

Declaration of Independence key terms: inalienable rights; know the core concepts in/significance of the second paragraph and the final paragraph

BRIEF ASSIGNMENT to turn in at the START of class on Wednesday: If you are reading this prior to 11:30 am Wednesday morning, thanks for checking the course website as requested at the end of Monday’s handout! Here is your reward: Write a short response (about one page, typed or handwritten, should be just fine) to these questions: Why are you taking this course, what specific areas of U.S. government and politics are you most interested in learning about this semester, and are there any particular areas of U.S. government and politics that you find especially confusing (based on what you know so far)?

QUESTIONS for Wednesday’s discussion – consider these in advance as you read; you do not have to write out answers but thinking about the answers would be useful in advance of our class discussion Wednesday.

1. What are the main purposes of the Declaration of Independence? List two or three.

2. How is personal freedom described in the Declaration? What did the authors intend to say about personal freedom and government’s responsibility toward it?

3. What specific ideas of Locke are found in the Declaration? Does the Declaration alter or change the meanings of any of Locke’s ideas (and if so, how)?

4. What obligations does the Declaration suggest that citizens have? What obligations of citizens does Locke discuss?

5. Is there anything in the Declaration that surprises you? Ponder and discuss.