3rd Principle of Freedom – Virtuous and Moral Leaders
This principle focuses on the importance of virtuous leaders and discusses the issue of compensation for public officials.
KEY POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
- Discuss Samuel Adams view on the survival of free people. (pgs 59-60)
- Discuss the “natural aristocracy” and what Thomas Jefferson thought would be the greatest threat to our new government. (pgs 60-62)
- Describe the Founders perspective on politics. (pgs 62-64)
- Discuss Benjamin Franklin’s view on the 2 weaknesses that tempt people to public office and his opinion on salaries for public officials. (pgs 64-67)
- Discuss Benjamin Franklin’s amazing prophetic statements made to the Constitutional Convention and his remarks regarding George Washington. (pgs 67-71)
- Discuss the Founders methods and formulas for producing virtuous leaders. (pgs 71-73)
Are we electing virtuous and moral leaders? Are they over compensated? Do you believe our leaders think it’s and honor to serve or are they serving soley to be in a postition of power?
“There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharoah – get first all the people’s money, then all their lands and then make them and their children servants forever.” — Benjamin Franklin
Source: The 5,000 Year Leap Study Guide
4th Principle of Freedom – The Role of Religion
This principle discusses the importance the Founders placed on religion and how religion was mandatory for a free people. They wanted all religion to be equal. But to that end, they did not support a non-religious society.
KEY POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
- What were the three areas of learning that the Founders wanted taught in school. (pgs 75-76)
- Discuss the 5 principles of all sound religion. (pgs 77-79)
- Discuss in depth, De Tocqueville’s view of the role of religion in American life. (pgs 79-84)
- Discuss our Founders Campaign for equality of religion. (pgs 84-85)
- Discuss why the Founders wanted the federal government excluded from matters of religion and Justice Story’s comments on the issue. (pgs 86-89)
- Discuss the origin and meaning of the phrase “A wall of separation between church and state”. (pgs 89-90)
- Discuss how he states were encouraged to deal with matters involving religion. (pgs 90-92)
After reading this chapter, it is abundantly apparent that the Founders believed in a religious society. Discuss how the secularization of America has been detrimental to the republic, and when this move toward secularization started.
Would the Founders approve of the fact that religion has been all but eradicated from our public school?
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports…. And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” — George Washington
Source: The 5,000 Year Leap Study Guide
