Examination #1

 

 Open-book, in-class examination for Thursday, February 18th.  You are to write a speech given by a delegate (see list below), other than James Madison, or from the point of view of a particular state of your choice supporting or challenging ONE of the two resolutions below.  You may select the state your represented in the Convention or any other state. You need not agree or disagree with the resolution as a whole--you may support it in part, and reject it in part.  You are encouraged to study with other class members.  You may bring to class the documents that have been distributed (or from Sakai), print-outs of the constitutional debate, and Bailyn’s Origins.  You may also have a prepared one-page outline of your answer, and references to any documents you plan to cite.  You may not bring a prepared answer. 

 

If you wish to speak for a specific delegate, it should be one who played a significant role in the Convention; such a list might include – Mason, Gerry, G. Morris, Wilson, King, Pinckney, Sherman, Williamson, Hamilton, Martin.  If you wish to speak as some other delegate, please check with me.

 

The Constitutional convention split along numerous fault lines –  large states and small states,  nationalists v. states' rights, fear of democratic excess v. belief in the "people,” slave owning states v. commercial states — but ideologically, most delegates continued to use the language of republicanism (virtue, corruption, power, liberty, luxury, conspiracy, tyranny, anarchy) even as they groped toward a new “Madisonian” conception of constitutional order (energy, stability, separation of power, popular sovereignty, representation, checks and balances).   You speech should incorporate, as appropriate to the delegate or state you are speaking for, the language of republicanism, while taking account of the Madisonian purpose of the proposal you are addressing.  Your speech should define your point of view (ie, as a delegate and/or a state) and relate the position you take on the specific proposal to your more general feelings about the nature of government and society.  

 

You can use short quotes, from the Whig writings of Paterson and Cato, the 10th Federalist, but most importantly the debate itself to explain your position and support your argument.  When you cite, it is only necessary to include a parenthetical reference to the document (for example: (Paterson)) or to the date in the debate (for example: (June 15)).  You can use a quote or statement from Bailyn if it is relevant. 

 

You are to write on ONE of the following two proposals:

 

1. Resolved that the right of suffrage in the first branch of the National Legislature ought to be proportional to the number of inhabitants and that members of the first branch ought to be elected by the people of the several states. (Assume that there has been agreement on a two branch legislature but no decision on the nature of the second branch or mode of election of members of that branch. You may, if you wish, include discussion of the nature of the second branch in your speech if it is relevant to the question of the first branch).

 

2. Resolved that a National Executive should be chosen by the People for a  term of 7 years. (Assume that no decision has been made on eligibility for additional terms. You may discuss eligibility if it is relevant to your discussion of the primary motion).

 

Your speech should make clear your ideas about the nature of government and society, the relationship of your views about government and society to the specific proposal, and how alternative proposal might improve or weaken government (and society).  In discussing your point of view.  You speech should incorporate the vocabulary of republican/Whig thought, as appropriate, and keep in mind the Madisonian alternative (embodied in his speeches at the Convention and the 10 and 51st Federalists) – which you may defend or reject.