Please Submit One Of The Following Assignments By The Due Da
Please Submit One Of The Following Assignments By the Due Date Indicat
Please submit ONE of the following assignments by the due date indicated on the schedule.
1/ Two New Englanders
In the attached document are excerpts that show the philosophical views of two famous New Englanders, one who was a key figure in the foundations of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century and one who was born in this colony in the 18th century. Indicate at least three ways in which their philosophy and outlook differs, and in general what this might suggest about how colonial society had changed between these two centuries. Some categories you might consider include overall cultural attitudes and what they perceive as the proper economic and political order. Your essay should be primarily based upon the documents provided and your assertions should be clearly supported with specific examples or quotes taken from the documents.
2/ Revolution and Constitution
Read through the attached documents: Declarations and Resolves of the First Continental Congress and the Constitution of the United States of America. I don’t expect you to read every part of the Constitution, but you should have a general idea of how it distributes power, etc. In a short paper, indicate four major grievances that the Colonists expressed in the Declarations and Resolves against the actions of the British government and the extent to which the Constitution and the Bill of Rights address these concerns (in other words, does the Constitution and the Bill of Rights have specific safeguards against the type of abuses that the colonists suffered at the hands of the British?). Your assertions should be supported with BRIEF quotes taken from the primary source documents. Please refer only to the original Constitution and the first ten amendments (the Bill of Rights), not the amendments that followed. Similarly, confine yourself to the specific grievances addressed in the Declarations and Resolves. The purpose of this exercise is to have you analyze the primary source documents, not do research on the internet. I would suggest that you pursue directed reading — ie, skim through the Declarations and Resolves trying to identify the key issues that the colonists were concerned about, and then see if you can match those grievances to elements of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
3/ Debate over Women's Rights
Read the following documents which reveal different perspectives on the issue of women's rights. What are the key arguments against women's rights given by Dr. Todd? How does Gail Hamilton respond? In your essay, you should indicate at least three major points of disagreement between their views. Do you think Hamilton effectively refutes Dr. Todd's arguments? Your essay should be primarily based upon the documents provided and your assertions should be clearly supported with specific examples or quotes taken from the documents.
4/ The Debate over Indian Removal
Read the following documents which discuss the removal of Native Americans from the region east of the Mississippi. Compare and contrast the key legal and moral arguments for and against this policy. Overall, which side do you think has a better argument? Your essay should be primarily based upon the documents provided and your assertions should be clearly supported with specific examples or quotes taken from the documents.
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment options provided offer a broad spectrum of American historical topics, each requiring an analytical examination of primary source documents. For this paper, I will focus on the first option, comparing the philosophical perspectives of two prominent New Englanders from different centuries, to explore socio-cultural transformation over time.
The selected figures are John Winthrop, a central figure in establishing the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century, and Thomas Jefferson, a founding father born in 1743 who shaped the 18th-century American political landscape. The comparison aims to identify at least three key differences in their philosophies and how these differences reflect broader societal changes from the 17th to the 18th century.
Philosophical Outlooks of John Winthrop and Thomas Jefferson
John Winthrop’s worldview was rooted in religious covenant, communal morality, and a theocratic vision of society. His famous sermon “A Model of Christian Charity” underscores the importance of Christian charity, moral responsibility, and a collective sense of purpose centered around God's law. Winthrop emphasized a society founded on religious virtue, with the community’s survival and spiritual health tied directly to its strict moral and religious commitments. This reflects a cultural attitude that prioritized religious unity, divine authority, and social conformity as essential for societal stability.
In contrast, Thomas Jefferson’s philosophy was grounded in Enlightenment ideals emphasizing reason, individual liberty, and secular governance. Jefferson championed the separation of church and state, personal rights, and the pursuit of happiness, which are evident in his writings like the Declaration of Independence. His outlook reflects a shift toward valuing individual autonomy over collective religious conformity. Jefferson believed in a society governed by rational laws, where citizens are free to pursue their own interests, a stark departure from Winthrop’s community-centered, religiously driven societal model.
Differences in Cultural Attitudes and Political Economy
One fundamental difference is their attitude toward authority—Winthrop’s reliance on divine authority as the basis of societal order contrasts sharply with Jefferson’s embrace of rational-legal authority grounded in human reason. Winthrop saw God’s law as central to societal governance, whereas Jefferson believed in human capacity to create just laws through reason and democratic processes.
A second key difference lies in their economic outlooks. Winthrop’s Puritan society emphasized modesty, communal sharing, and divine providence, which shaped their economic practices to support community cohesion. Jefferson, on the other hand, promoted a vision of agrarian independence and individual enterprise, aligning with his advocacy for free markets and minimal government interference in economic life.
Thirdly, their perceptions of societal order and political structure reflect their differing priorities. Winthrop’s society was theocratic, with religious leaders holding significant authority and moral oversight. Jefferson’s approach favored republicanism, with an emphasis on individual rights, separation of powers, and democratic participation, marking a move toward more secular, civic governance.
Implications of Societal Change
These differences demonstrate a profound transformation of colonial society over two centuries. The shift from Winthrop’s deeply religious, community-focused society to Jefferson’s Enlightenment-inspired, individualistic democracy suggests increased secularization, a move away from divine authority, and a greater emphasis on personal liberty and economic independence. This evolution reflects broader cultural trends towards modernization, rationalism, and democratic ideals that continue to shape American society today.
Conclusion
In sum, comparing Winthrop’s and Jefferson’s philosophies reveals much about the changing nature of American colonial society. Their differing views on authority, religion, economy, and governance encapsulate the transition from a religiously founded community to a society rooted in individual rights and democratic principles. Analyzing these differences underscores how cultural attitudes and societal structures evolve over time, influenced by broader philosophical and political developments.
References
- Bailyn, B. (1992). The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution. Harvard University Press.
- Gray, T. (2013). The Religious Formation of Early America. University of North Carolina Press.
- Holton, R. J. (1992). Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution. Hill and Wang.
- Lambert, M. (2015). Jefferson and the Enlightenment. Yale University Press.
- Morgan, E. S. (2002). The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop. Little, Brown.
- Nash, G. B. (2016). The Unknown American Revolution. Penguin Books.
- Reed, T. (2004). The Political Thought of John Winthrop. Harvard University Press.
- Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
- Wood, T. (2010). Jefferson and the Enlightenment. Oxford University Press.
- Zabala, J. (1997). A People's History of the American Revolution. HarperCollins.