Summary: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+2.mp3 Focus Thomas Jefferson wrote that in drafting the Declaration of Independence he meant to give expression to "the American mind." What does the Declaration tell us about the American mind as it related to the foundations, forms, and purposes of the newly sovereign United States? What is the political logic of the argument of the Declaration? What is the philosophical and historical heritage on which the Declaration draws? Reflections on the course of human events, people, the laws of nature and of nature’s God, decent respect for the opinions of mankind, self evident truths, equality, rights, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, consent, prudence, the ends of government, the right to abolish government and institute new government, facts submitted to a candid world, sacred honor, and more. Readings Kurland and Lerner, The Founders' Constitution Chapter 14, Document 6: Bill of Rights(1689) John Locke, Second Treatise (1689), §§ 1–15, 25-51; 61-63; 123-126, 54, 95–99, 119–126, 149, 155, 163, 168, 207–10, 220–31, 240–43 Kurland and Lerner, The Founders' Constitution Chapter 2, Document 2: Thomas Gordon,Cato's Letters (1721), No. 38 The post Session 2: The American Mind, Part 1 appeared first on Teaching American History.
