Paul Jones

Mrs. Quinn
G.A.L.R.E.
November 18, 2010
Chapter 3: Reviewing and Using the Lesson
1. How would you describe the difference between the classical republican idea of civic virtue and
Judeo-Christian ideas of morality?
Classical republicanism is built around concepts such as civil society, civic virtue and mixed
government. Civic virtue is defined as “the cultivation of habits of personal living that are
claimed to be important for the success of the community.” Judeo-Christian morality, although
it takes many forms, is ultimately following the ways of their prophet, Jesus of Nazareth, and
their scripture, the Bible. This is widely thought to garner humility, discourage judgement of
others, and a personal struggle to be godlike. Civic virtue espouses healthy habits of helping
neighbors for the common good, whereas Christianity should be a personal and private matter.
There are many facets of modern Christianity that seem innately opposed to the success of a
community.
2. How did the Judeo-Christian heritage contribute to the Founders' understanding of human
rights?
The original Constitution as written in 1787 included nothing on the immorality of slavery, and
wouldn't until the Emancipation in 1862. This now obvious conclusion on human rights was
retarded by Biblical verses on the logistics of keeping slaves. The original Constitution as
written in 1787 only garunteed men the right to full citizenship and protection under the law,
and wouldn't until the Suffrage movement in 1920. This now obvious conclusion on human
rights was retarded by Biblical verses on the superiority of men.
3. What feature of society in the Middle Ages contributed to the view that rights belonged to
groups rather than to individuals.
Feudalism in the Middle Ages contributed to the view that rights belonged to groups rather than
to individuals because the principle was, “Some parts of society, like some parts of the human
body, are more important than others, but all are necessary for the good of the whole.”
4. How did feudalism contribute to the idea that government is based on contractual
relationships?
Feudalism was a contractual relationship: serfs were owned by lords who also owned land, the
serfs worked the land and gave the majority to the lords, the remaining crop was enough to live,
 the lord's majority went to market.
5. What modern ideas about rights were developed during the Renaissance? How did the
Reformation contribute to the development of these ideas?
The Renaissance contributed things: (1) the economic system of capitalism, (2) the importance
of education, free-thought and free-inquiry, (3) the Greek and Roman philosophies, (4) the
mathematics of the Arabs, and (5) the concept of a sovereign city-state/nation-state. The
Protestant Reformation was a liberal period of overcoming religious reigns. The Papacy were
using religion as a means of social control, and those controlled began to realize and overthrew
the chains of Roman Catholicism. Similar to the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation
espoused free-though and free-inquiry as opposed to an authority based worldview.
6. How did the rise of nation-states help to stimulate thinking about principles of government such
as constitutionalism, individual rights, and republicanism?
The concept of a nation-state fostered sovereignty of states, the right of states to pick their
institutions, and the right to an independent existence.
7. How did the development of capitalism encourage new thinking about the individual and
society?
Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are
controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. This encouraged new thinking
about the individual's relationship with society because it let the collective individual decide on
prices, goods, and business as opposed to states.
8. Why was the invention of the printing press with movable type important in promoting the spirit
of individualism?
The invention of the printing press led to advances in literacy and, by corollary, an increase in
the amount of free-inquiry. Those that are uneducated cannot overcome shackles. It is not
surprise that immediately following the popularization of the printing press and Bibles in the
vernacular that half of the religious community overthrew the established authority in lieu of a
largely self determined interpretation.
9. How did the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment influence the Founders?
The Founders believes that reason and observation, complemented by the study of history and
writes, would enable them to understanding the workings of governments and social
institutions.