Seminar in Classical Literature: Classics and the Founding Fathers

Patrick Henry once said, “I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.” For the Founding Fathers the study of the political past, especially that of the Greeks and Romans, provided the ways and means for establishing a stable and enduring government. In this course we shall examine the classical sources that were most important for the Founders. As we trace the history of classical republicanism, we shall pay particular attention to the importance of free speech and oratory for creating and maintaining republics. Readings will include selections from Thucydides, Aristotle, Polybius, Cicero, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison.