LA 336: American Liberties

Spring 2003

Crispin Sartwell

Bunting 435

410 225 2302

mindstorm@pipeline.com

This course is an exploration of the history of American political philosophy, with an emphasis on its liberatory and anti-authoritarian elements.

Required work for the course consists of weekly one-page essays and longer (five to seven-page) mid-term and final papers. The weekly essays will account for 40% of the grade, and each of the longer papers for 25%. 10% is reserved for participation and improvement through the semester.

All readings will be xeroxed handouts.

Schedule:

1.13: Introduction

1.27:Foundations

Declaration of Independence (Jefferson); The Articles of Confederation; the Constitution

2.3: Federalist/AntiFederalist:

Federalist X (James Madison); Federalist XXI (Alexander Hamilton); Federalist XXVII (Hamilton); Luther Martin, "The Genuine Information"; speeches of Patrick Henry

2.10: Non-Resistance and Abolition:

Chapters 2 and 3 of The Advocates of Peace in Antebellum America, by Valerie Ziegler

2.17: Josiah Warren and Steven Pearl Andrews

writings

2.24: Transcendentalism:

H. D. Thoreau: Civil Disobedience, R. W. Emerson: "Politics"

3.10: Free Love etc.

Ezra and Angela Heywood: writings

3.17: Individualism

Benjamin Tucker and Voltairine de Cleyre: writings

mid-term paper due

3.24: Communism

Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman: writings

3.31: Stylists

John Jay Chapman and Randolph Bourne: writings

4.7: Curmudgeons

H.L. Mencken and Albert Jay Nock: writings

4.14: Pioneer Women

Rose Wilder Lane and Isabel Paterson: writings

4.21: Yippies

Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin: writings

4.28: today

stuff. Final paper due.