ANLA201T AMERICAN CIVILIZATION ELEANA SANCHEZ –

[email protected]
WEEK 4 February 21st

CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS OF FOUNDATIONAL AMERICAN

TEXTS

Course outline

January
W1 (calendar week 3)
W2 (4)
February
W3 (7)
W4 (8)
Winter break
March

W5 (7)
midterm exam March 14th
W6 (8)

Midterm: question choice and justification + commentary introduction + questions on two underlined
passages in the text
> Question choice and justification: choose one commentary question (or « problématique ») from a
list of three and justify why you chose this one over the two others. Then write the introduction, and
analyze two underlined passages from the text.
W7
W8
W9
W10

April
W11 final exam APRIL 4TH

Final exam: full commentary on a given text

IRIS BEST OF
-What is the purpose of the Republican Party's criticism of Barack Obama's policies in promoting its
ideas and agenda?
> How is the Republican Party criticizing Barack Obama's in its 2010 Pledge to America?
-What process did the Republican party use to win votes in the 2010 mid-term election against
Obama?
-How does the Republican Party try to convince voters (to vote for them) in the 2010 mid-term
election by criticizing Barack Obama's policies?
-How are the Republican Party members proceeding to attract the great majority of voters in order to
win the 2010 mid-term election against Barack Obama?
-How does the Republican Party convince voters that voting for them will improve the country (a bit
vague) and give the people a government that listens? This is too vague
-What is the purpose of the Republican Party's criticism of Barack Obama's policies? The RP wants to
win the election that’s why, what is more interesting is how they are trying to do it
-How did the Republican Party's "Pledge to America" use the founding principles of American
independence to (convince citizens to vote for them in order to) try to win the mid-term election of
2010?
-How does a text released by the Republican Party in a hardware store try to attract voters? This is
more of a part you can comment on: part of the elements the RP is using but not global enough for a
commentary question.
-In what ways is the Republican Party criticizing Barrack Obama’s government in the midst/middle of
the campaign for the 2010 mid-term election to promote their own one?

Part 2 – From Colonies to States

Historical context
 Historical landmarks Year(s) Brief explanation
A text based on John Dickinson’s draft for the
constitution, which was changed to produce
The Articles of Confederation the Articles of Confederation: the Articles
1777
(“league of friendship”) provided that each State would remain
sovereign, and no government would have too
much power over them
The colonies were not the United States yet,
exactly, they were an alliance of States bound by
The Confederation 1777-1787
the Articles of Confederation. It takes time to
create a Nation.
The Constitutional Convention (= the Debates around the Constitution and the form of
May 1787
“Philadelphia Convention”) government the USA would adopt
Two plans were suggested: the VP was
organized around a central government and
representatives were given to States according
to the population vs. the NJP, which
The Virginia Plan vs. the New
July 2nd suggested that each States would have equal
Jersey Plan  the “Great
1787 vote. No one could agree, so it was finally
Compromise”
agreed that there would be two chambers, the
lower house, based on the population of each
State, and the upper house, where every State
would have an equal vote
A draft was made by John Dickinson, which was
The U.S. Constitution is drafted 1776
never approved as such
Approved
in
Septembe
The U.S. Constitution is ratified r 1777,
but
ratified in
1787
George Washington is inaugurated The first ever presidential campaign took place
April 1789
first President (on the Internet) after 1787 and the ratification of the Constitution
A text that outlined certain freedoms that lay
The Bill of Rights is ratified (after beyond the control of any government: it is a way
1791
page 23) to safeguard the freedom of the people if the
government goes crazy

Important politicians / intellectuals / activists for part 2:

 Years
Name What was his/her contribution?
active
John Dickinson 1770s/1780s Drafter the US Constitution

James Madison Came up with the Virginia Plan

William Paterson Came up with the New Jersey Plan

George Washington First President of the USA

TEXT 3 - The US Constitution

1) What is a constitution?
It is a legal document that structures the principles of life, or laws within a State: it decide on the
rights, duties of the people of the country. It allows to have timeless foundations or values. The current
French constitution was drafted in 1958 under the organization of Charles de Gaulle.

4) What does the U.S. Bill of Rights refer to? Why was it added?
A text that “outlined certain freedoms that lay beyond the control of any government”: it is a way to
safeguard/protect the freedom of the people if the government goes crazy, as is said in the first
paragraph: “as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government”.

Choose your favorite amendment and explain it:

First (5) The most important amendment? Because it is necessary in any occasion. Protects/guarantees
people’s freedom of speech, religion and the press: it protects people’s freedom to think.
Second The right to an army and to have arms
Third No soldier can stay at my house if I don’t want them to
Fourth (2) It protects the safety of people at home and to have intimacy. It is about respect for private
life, and protects people from illegitimate persecution.
Fifth (2) It guarantees a fair justice system, it protects people against self-incrimination (doing justice
yourself instead of the law), also called “mob justice” (a mob is a group of people becomes violent and
uncontrolled)
Sixth (2) Gives the right to a trial, to a proper defense if someone is accused of a crime, and to be
judged by an impartial jury.
Seventh If the person accused cannot pay to be bailed out, a trial will take place. If a jury has given a
verdict on a case, this verdict cannot be overturned or changed.
Eighth Torture is forbidden, and asking too much money for bail (to get out of jail before a trial) or as
fines (what you pay if you are found guilty) is forbidden as well
Ninth (4) Certain rights are not mentioned in the US Constitution, those other rights shall be decided
upon by States and people = it also means that the US (Federal) Constitution does not replace the
rights given by State Constitutions, they do not mean that other rights are less important.
Tenth Power to the people or to the States

Let’s find some definitions

Popular sovereignty: an ideology according to which the people decide on the type of government that
organizes society
Republican (in latin res publica decisions made publicly) system of government: The powers are
separated between the executive branch (the President), the legislative branch (Congress) and the
judicial power (the Judges and the most powerful of them are the Supremes Judges of the Supreme
Court).
Federalism, Federalists v. Antifederalists: Shared power between the federal and the State levels of
government in order to place limits on each and have a balance between the two. Antifederalists are
people who reject the idea of a federal government and want the State to choose for them.
James Madison: 4rth President of the USA (1809-1817), a member of the then Republican Democratic
Party, known as the father of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and was a founding father (a
framer of the Constitution).
Bill of Rights:
George Washington: One of the founding fathers/framers. First President of the USA (1789-1797) and
commander in chief of the continental army. A member of the Independence Party.

Now let’s write a Constitution, and a Bill of Rights.

A name for our country?
Wise Land 1 vote
Erasme Land 0 vote

The United
Seats of
Erasme 13 votes

Our Bill of Rights (it got 100% of votes!)

First
In this class, everyone should be able to think and to speak freely in mutual respect. Every opinion, be
it political or religious should be considered. Thoughts and speech can continue after the class, even
on Iris or Scoot.
Fourth (our Second)
The right of the students to be safe in their persons, their seats, their equipment, against unreasonable
searches and seizure shall not be violated. But in the case of unsuitable or abusive use of the
equipment students will be asked to put such equipment away.
Fifth (our Third)
Each member of the class has the right to be protected by a fair justice system. The teacher, as the
students must evolve in mutual respect. If respect if not maintained, an organization composed by
delegates and randomly a chosen jury will analyze the views of each side and give a verdict.
Sixth (our Fourth)
In case of fraud or misjudgment, the accused shall enjoy the right to be defend or/and to explain
themselves, to be listened to and to be judged impartially by class representatives.
Eighth (our Fifth)
Excessive cost of university registration shall not be allowed, nor the expensive costs of class
equipment, nor persecutions and harassment (be it moral or physical) between students and teachers,
or between students and students.
Ninth (our Sixth)
The rights enumerated in the ANLA201 TD03 Constitution shall not be written to deny or substitute
others retained by students and the teacher; those rights are evolutive and can be adapted when
necessary.

>A preamble? 4 lines

For Next Next Week:
Study what we’ve done on the U.S. Constitution, finish writing the preamble to our Constitution of the
United Seats of Erasme and post it on Iris and have a nice break!