Hi class,
Good luck!
Just posted a new module for this coming week
Please start working on Module 7.
Tomorrow in class I will go over some of the key ideas from the modules that were assigned until now – especially the section on social class and its effect on the US Constitution.
Discussion Board 7.1
- Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government, among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.
- Briefly explain how you understand the system of division of power.
- How does the federal government shape the actions of state and local governments? Write your answer based on doing a bit of research on how the federal government has influenced the actions of NY state and local governments, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still sick today
Hi class!
Unfortunately, I am still too sick to make it to class today.
Looking forward to resuming our conversations next Monday.
In the meantime, continue working on the modules for this week.
Sick today; class is canceled
Hi class,
Unfortunately, I’m sick with a fever today and not well enough to make it to class.
I will try to be there for class tomorrow (as we’re on a Monday schedule tomorrow), but please check here again tomorrow morning for updates.
Just as a reminder, keep working on the modules for this week.
Our modules for this coming week
Hi class!
Reminder: tomorrow, Monday, we don’t meet in class, CUNY is closed due to the President’s Day holiday.
You should be working on the Module 4+5 from last week, as well as our new module, Module 6.
Discussion Board 6.2
- What concept that we have already discussed does “faction” remind you of?
- According to Federalist #10 (written by James Madison), what is the source of wealth (private property)? What factor explains why some people get to possess wealth by owning private property, and others don’t (thus remaining poor)? This is a key question, because it shows how the authors of the Constitution thought about the difference between different classes of Americans! HINT: focus on the passage that begins: “The diversity in the faculties (WHAT DOES FACULTIES mean or refer to?) of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not les….”
- Do you agree with this explanation of wealth and poverty?
- What is the core mission (“first object”) of the US government? Does this surprise you, does it sound different from what our society today seems to suggest the core mission of the government is? Explain.
- Given the discussion in questions 1-4, are you surprised that Federalist #10 is not in favor of democracy, and supports a Republican (representative) form of government? Why would d the author dislike a (pure) democratic form of government? Hint: think about how this question connects with the social classes…
Discussion Board 6.1
- Based on the arguments presented in Readings 6.1 and 6.2, which social class wrote the Constitution, and which class was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process? In your comment, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings.
- Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.
- Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy? Hint: think about how to answer this question by discussing it in terms of social classes.
New modules have been posted!
Hi class!
First, a few reminders about this coming week:
- There is no class meeting tomorrow, Monday, 2/12/2024 – CUNY is closed due to Lincoln’s Birthday.
- This coming Wednesday (2/14/24), we won’t have class as well, as I’ll be presenting at an academic conference.
You’ll be following the course schedule and working on our two new modules: Module 3 and Module 4+5
Take your time working on Module 4+5, as it has readings that are a bit more challenging than Module 3. If you cannot finish Module 4+5 by this coming Sunday, that’s OK, as you’ll have the following week to work on it as well.
I highly recommend your watch the Module 4+5 summary video and summary notes, once you finish working on it, it’ll help you prepare for the exam questions from this module.
Next time we meet in class, we will go over some of the key ideas in these modules, but remember, since this is a short semester, we won’t cover everything from the modules in our class meeting: bring any specific questions you have that you want me to clarify in class, as well!
Discussion Board 5.2
- As we learned thus far, the capitalist class consists of people who own wealth, as well as the means of production in American society. An important question in understanding how this class works is to ask: how does a capitalist remain wealthy? The answer to this question depends largely on understanding the diagram M-C-M’. So, let’s practice by explaining what happens in this diagram in our own words (but basing our ideas on Reading 5.1). Respond to the following question: Explain M-C-M’ to show how capitalists maintain and increase their wealth. (hint: your answer should weave a summary that includes what you reviewed in the self-assessment exercise question 1-7)
