Legacy of Revolution (Open Yale Course)

1.        Professor Freeman discusses that there is a difference between war and revolution. She quotes Rush and Adams to demonstrate her point. According to these Founders and Professor Freeman, when is a revolution over and won?

2.        Professor Freemen discusses that many people (and states) feared participating in the Constitutional Convention. Why? What were their fears?

3.        Professor Freemen discusses how many of the Founders felt they were on "unstable ground" and uncertain of the nation's future. How did the Federalists try to attack this problem? What two examples does Professor Freemen offer?

4.        Professor Freemen comments that the Fisher Ames' quote she reads confirms what both John Adams and Benjamin Rush were suggesting (from quotes earlier in the class).  According to Ames and Professor Freemen's quote, how do we know when a revolution has ended?

5.        Though George Hughes was not a famous founder, he did leave behind rich documentation on how he felt during the Revolution. What do we learn from his writings?

6.        Professor Freemen says that the Founders did not want to be seen as "demigods" or that the period was to be remembered as a "divine strike of providence " or a "golden age of patriotism".  Why do you think the Founders felt this way?

7.        Why do you think it was important to Adams for people to understand that there wasn't this unanimous, patriotic, glorious moment when we declared independence?

8.        Wow!  What observation does Adams make about some of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

9.        Why didn't Adams and others NOT want people to see this period as "perfect" and the Revolution as finished?

In the end, it's all about _________. That's what supposed to keep it running in the end.