#  Gov 1074 Political Thought of the American Founding 

 





 Semester:   Fall 

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 Year offered:  2016 

 

 

 

John Adams observed that the American Revolution took place, not on the battlefield, but rather “in the minds of the people...before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.” This course will examine the political debates leading to American independence, and, later, to the ratification of the Federal Constitution. Famous works of the period, such as Paine’s *Common Sense* and *The Federalist,* will be placed in the wider context of American political writing from 1763 to 1789.