The Jeffersonian Era chapter 2 Political Economy Ideology

The Jeffersonian Era (chapter 2) Political Economy Ideology Schooling

Political economy in the 13 colonies Pilgrims (tribal societies) Merchants (diversity & individualism) Plantation owners (caste system & slavery) 15/12/2021 2

The end of Feudalism in Europe • Feudalism: A military, political, and religious system which developed in Europe during the centuries after the collapse of the Roman Empire • The end of feudalism in Europe: – 12 th and 14 th century renaissances (ideas from the Byzantine and Arab worlds stimulated European thinkers) – Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, and Newton – International commerce, emergence of the middle class (bourgeoisie) – Introduction of explosive powder from China – Rebellions in England France – The development of the ideology of liberalism 15/12/2021 3

Classical Liberal Ideology: Fundamental Tenets • • • 15/12/2021 Faith in Reason Natural Law Republican Virtue Progress Nationalism Freedom 4

Fundamental Dimensions of Classical Liberalism From Feudal Ideology To Classical Liberal Id. State control of economy State religion Capitalism Separation of church and state Republican (representative) government Divine right of king 15/12/2021 5

Faith in Reason • A better guide than tradition, custom, and dogmatic faith • Mind as “blank slate” • Humankind capable of great feats • Galileo, Copernicus, Newton 15/12/2021 6

Natural Law • “Universe is a machine” • Understanding yields control • Science replaces theology as guide to action 15/12/2021 7

Republican Virtue • • 15/12/2021 Perfectibility of the individual Duties to God and to nature The work ethic Men’s virtues/ Women’s virtues 8

Progress • Continual individual and societal progress toward perfection • Changing the world to what ought to be • Revolution as an option • Commitment to social meliorism (society has an innate tendency toward improvement and this tendency may be furthered through conscious human effort) • Education as the vehicle 15/12/2021 9

Nationalism • Allegiance to a nation, not a state • A new national identity • Uneasy balance between national government and local selfdetermination 15/12/2021 10

Freedom • “Negative freedom” Ø Intellectual • Free from external coercion of church and state Ø Political • Representative government Ø Civic • Freedom to “live as one pleases” • Bill of Rights Ø Economic • “Laissez-faire” economy • The Wealth of Nations 15/12/2021 11

Natural Rights / Social Contract Theories Hobbes, 1588 -1679 & Locke, 1632 -1704 – Locke describes humans as “by Nature, all free, equal, and independent. ” – To have natural rights means to act according to one’s will and without external constraint, like in the state of Nature – Social contract is a hypothetical situation in which rational human beings agree to limit some of their liberties and confer power to a sovereign government. They do so in order to protect the remaining of their liberties (civil rights). – Natural rights are inherent, self-evident, and inalienable. 15/12/2021 12

“Laissez Faire” Utilitarianism Bentham, 1748 -1832 & J. S. Mill 1806 -1873 – Bentham's criticism: “Natural rights are simple nonsense: natural and imprescriptible rights, rhetorical nonsense, nonsense upon stilts. ” – Mill: Freedom is good (in a moral sense) because it produces happiness. – A civil society is the best arrangement for the maximization of happiness – Law that limits freedom is a prima facie (i. e. , unless there is further evidence to the opposite) moral evil because inhibits happiness. 15/12/2021 13

Jefferson’s Liberal Ideology • His commitment to happiness (property as a means to happiness, not an end in itself) • His notion of happiness (reason has to be the governing force of human appetite) • The exclusion of women and Blacks • Intellectual freedom (free press, the “wall of separation” between church and state, etc. ) • Truth is a property of the natural world (waiting to be discovered by human inquiry) • His political ideal: representative republic composed of educated, informed, and rational citizens • His conception of government: too weak to aid the wolves yet strong enough to protect the sheep 15/12/2021 14

Jefferson’s Educational Philosophy • See Jefferson’s quotations about education, available at http: //etext. virginia. edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff 1350. htm 15/12/2021 15

Jefferson’s Plan for Popular Education Elementary Schools Grammar Schools University Self-Education 15/12/2021 16

First Tier—Elementary Schools • • • Foundation of entire education structure Decentralized districts Three years of free education Screening for future leaders Preparing citizens for effective functioning 15/12/2021 17

Second Tier—Grammar Schools • • 15/12/2021 Boarding schools Languages, advanced curriculum Developing local leadership Preparation for university 18

Third Tier—University Education • Common education from grammar schools allowed for advanced instruction • Specialization in a “science” • Preparation for leadership—law, government, the professions • Education for meritocracy 15/12/2021 19

Fourth Tier—Self-Education • Lifelong learning as the culmination of educational aims • Jefferson’s support of public libraries • “Knowledge is power; knowledge is safety; knowledge is happiness” 15/12/2021 20

Concluding Remarks • Political economy and ideology influenced early education processes, inside and outside of schools • Jefferson’s thinking reveals the tensions in classical liberalism 15/12/2021 21