This is a very exciting week in our history class! Not only do I inherit a great group of students, but we get to examine a very important theme in American History - the Natural Rights Philosophy.
Central to the framing of the U.S. Constitution is the idea of citizenship and what that means for everyday people. The Founding Fathers were strongly influenced by the Natural Rights Philosophy of John Locke, who had died decades before the American Revolution. His ideas were a central part of the Enlightenment which helped usher forth a new dawn in the Western world.
The idea that everyone is born with certain rights: life, liberty, and property; implied more than just possessions and freedoms. It meant that the old way of ruling - monarchies, where the common folk were less important than the ruler(s) - was about to be transformed into something else completely. Locke's philosophy helped to shape the foundations of the U.S. Constitution, which is a document that does not disseminate power but, rather, limits the power of the government and ensures the natural rights of all citizens.
Over time that idea would expand to include those who were excluded at the time, and even go as far as helping to shape the world that we know today. It all started with Locke's philosophy, but it is continued in the everyday lives of the citizens of America. Those unalienable rights that we all enjoy are lived each and every moment of each and every day. Many of us don't even think about that when we get up and go about the business of the day.
Citizenship is central to the whole system working. Our participation in government, whether it be by taking part in voting, running for office, being a part of the political conversation, or passing on our ideas is all part of the whole. Citizenship is the single most important function in our society. It is the citizens who can change society, can alter the course of our republic. It is citizenship that offers the greatest rewards. If society has problems it is citizens who can make the changes needed whether it be through charitable organizations, garnering government resources to help, or even being kind to one another. There is no greater role than being a citizen.
This week we took a quick peek into antiquity - visiting the Greek democratic model and the Roman Republic. The Founding Fathers of our nation new that these models were the best humans had innovated to use in forming a government which emanated from the people. Understanding both the strengths and weaknesses of these ancient models, the U.S. Constitution was developed in a comprehensive manner in order to promote and protect the common good and basic rights.
Students were asked to develop and justify their own ideas about the responsibilities of citizens and ways in which citizens participate in government. They were given background information regarding who citizens of the ancient democracies and republics were and what their responsibilities were. Having a strong context for comparison, the students were able to demonstrate not only a strong understanding of the ethos of their own democracy, but how different civilizations have different ideas about citizenship.
Next week we will continue to engage the concept of citizenship and elevate our understanding further as we begin to learn about what Natural Rights are and how the philosophy is integrated into the structure of American citizenship as defined by the Constitution.
No comments:
Post a Comment