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American Values

American Values, Duke Professor John H. Aldrich Professor Michael C. Munger American Values and Institutions Spring 2008—Political Science 112A

American Values Syllabus

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Course Description

Douglass North, the Nobel prize-winning economic historian, defined “institutions” as the humanly devised rules of the game that shape and direct human interactions.  The institutions of a nation and its people are the set of norms, values, rules, and laws that guide their choices and govern their disagreements.

This class is an introduction to the values and institutions of American politics.  In a way, it is an overview of a period of American political history, from 1770 through 1840.  But it is also an introduction to the political thought that animated larger events, including the two great revolutions of the 18th century, in America and France.  And it examines the creation of institutions that celebrated human freedom, while guaranteeing the “freedom” of some to keep others in human bondage.

The evaluation in the course will consist of attendance, two midterms, and a final, as well as a 1,200 word argumentative essay.

Main Themes

There are two main themes that organize the class.  We will return to the interplay between these themes over and over during the semester.

Theme 1:  Institutions  Preferences = Outcomes

This means, for one thing, that outcomes can change if preferences change.  That’s not too surprising, of course, and actually makes a lot of sense.  But the other alternative is really quite disturbing:  outcomes can change if preferences are held constant, but the decision rules change.

Theme 2:  Yours, Mine, and Ours

“Property” is in many ways a distinction between what is mine and what is yours.  But political rights often come down to complex domain restrictions:  what is mine to decide, and what is properly decided collectively  by the state, or agents appointed by the state?

Texts

The texts for the course are available in the bookstore:

Aldrich, John, Why Parties? University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Frohnen, Bruce.  American Republic:  Primary Sources, LF Press, 2002.

Hinich, Melvin, and Michael Munger, Analytical Politics.  Cambridge University Press, 1997.

Walker, David.  Appeal to the Coloured Peoples of the World, PSU Press, 2000 / 1825.

Attendance

Attendance in class is expected.  Pop quizzes will routinely be given.  The subject of the quizzes will be drawn equally from the readings and lectures.

Grades

Grades for this class will be derived from the students’ performance on two midterm exams, a final exam, attendance, and a 1,200 word argumentative essay.   These will have the following weights:

Item and weight:

  1. Midterm Exams I and II: 25% (Total 50%)
    • In class, 50 minutes, combination multiple choice & short answer.
  2. Final Exam: 25%
    • In class, in scheduled exam period:  TUESDAY 4-29, 2-5 pm.
  3. Argumentative Essay: 20%
    • These papers will be graded on both content and style, and will be discussed further in class at the beginning of the semester.  Must be typed.  1,200 word maximum.
  4. Class attendance/participation: 5%
    • The nature of the participation grades will be discussed more in class.  You are expected to attend class and to participate by asking and answering questions.  And your performance on “pop” quizzes will form an important part of your participation grade.

Schedule of Classes and Readings

January 9

  • Topic
    • Class Introduction, And The Rule of Law
  • Readings
    • From Plutarch’s “Lives”   Caesar
    • Plato’s Apology,      Apology
    • Plato’s Crito,            Crito
    • Montesquieu, Spirit of the Laws, Book IMunger, “The Thing Itself”, EconLib

January 14

  • Topic
    • Origins
  • Readings

January 16

  • Topics
    • Iriquois Constitution
    • Magna Carta
    • Legacy and Meaning

January 21

January 23

January 28

January 30

  • Topic
    • Rousseau and the“Social Contract”
  • Readings
    • Winthrop, “Little Speech on Liberty,” in Frohnen, p. 34
    • Williams, “The Bloody Tenent…”, in Frohnen, p. 42
    • The Stamp Act, 1765:  In Frohnen, p. 110
    • The Rights of the British Colonies….”, in Frohnen, p. 119
    • Repealing the Stamp Act, The Declaratory Act, 1766: In Frohnen, p. 135
    • Letter(s) from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, in Frohnen, p. 146

February 6

  • Topic
    • Declarations of Revolution: America
  • Readings
    • Virginia Declaration of Rights, in Frohnen, p. 157
    • Declaration of Independence, in Frohnen, p. 189
    • Common Sense, by Paine, in Frohnen, p. 179

February 11

February 13

  • Review for Midterm 1

February 18

  • Midterm 1

February 20

  • Topic
    • Institutions and Studying American Institutions
  • Readings
    • “Thoughts on Government,” Adams (Frohnen, p. 196)
    • Articles of Confederation (Frohnen, p. 200)
    • The U.S. Constitution (Frohnen, p. 234)Chapter 2, Hinich and Munger’s Analytical Politics

February 25

  • Topic
    • Why Rules Make the Difference
  • Readings
    • Federalist 10, 47-5, and 78 (Frohnen, p. 241)
    • Hinich and Munger, Chapter 3 (4 optional)

February 27

  • Topic
    • I Want, You Want:  What Do We Want?
  • Reading
    • Chapter 3, Hinich and Munger’s Analytical Politics

March 3

  • Topic
    • Different Rules, Different Outcomes
  • Reading
    • Chapter 5, Hinich and Munger’s Analytical Politics

March 5

  • Topic
    • The Liberty to Own Slaves
  • Readings
    • Laws Regulating Servants and Slaves, in Frohnen, p. 582
    • “Slavery” and “Agriculture and the Militia”, in Frohnen, p. 589David Walker, “Appeal”, Preamble and Article I

March 10 – 12: NO Class, Spring Break

March 17

  • Topic
    • Is Democracy Good, and How Would We Know?
  • Readings
    • Madison, “Speech Introducing Proposed Constitutional Amendments,” in Frohnen, p. 332
    • Debate over First Amendment Language, Frohnen, p. 348
    • Bill of Rights, Frohnen, p. 349
    • Michael Munger, “Democracy is a Means, Not an End” Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798, in Frohnen, p. 396

March 19

  • Topic
    • Walker’s “Appeal”
  • Readings
    • Walker, “Appeal”, Articles II and III

March 24

March 26

  • Review for Midterm 2

March 31

  • Midterm 2

April 2

  • Topic
    • Endogenous Institutions:  Parties and American Parties
  • Readings
    • Opinions for and Against the National Bank (Jefferson and Hamilton), 1791, in Frohnen, p. 474
    • Aldrich, Why Parties?  Chapter 1

April 7

  • Topic
    • Why Parties?
  • Readings
    • Aldrich, Why Parties?  Chapter 2

April 9

  • Topic
    • Founding the First Parties
  • Reading
    • Aldrich, Why Parties?  Chapter 3

April 14

  • Topic
    • Jacksonian Democracy
  • Readings
    • Aldrich, Why Parties?  Chapter 4
    • Andrew Jackson, “Veto Message,” 1832, in Frohnen, p. 491

April 16

  • Topic
    • The Courts and Public Policy:  Aid to Democracy, or Barrier?
  • Readings
    • Dahl, Robert A.  1963.  Decision-Making in a Democracy:  The Role of the Supreme Court as a National Policy-Maker.  Journal of Public Law. 6: 279-95.
    • Marbury v. Madison, John Marshall, 1803, in Frohnen, p. 366
    • Barron v. Baltimore, John Marshall, 1833, in Frohnen, p. 375

April 21

  • Topic
    • American Values

April 23

  • Review for Final, last day of class

FINAL EXAM:  Tuesday, April 29, 2:00 – 5:00 pm

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