Lesson
Ancient Republics and European Charters
Guiding question
What influence did Plato have on James Madison and the writers of the Constitution? In what ways did they agree?
Founding Principles
Guiding Questions
- What influence did Plato have on James Madison and the writers of the Constitution?
- In what ways did they agree?
- In what ways did they disagree?
Objectives
- Students will identify how Madison and Plato differ in their understanding of human nature, and how Plato and Madison would remedy faction.
- Students will understand the government under Madison’s remedy, which would solve the problems faced by ancient republics.
Materials
Educator Resources
Student Handouts
Lesson Components
The Founders were students of history. From ancient to recent times, history was full of examples of experiments in free republics which ended in dictatorship. Establishing safeguards against this natural and on-going threat would be vital to the new American republic. They combined their knowledge of the past with the tested ideas of philosophers and their own inventions in political science new political theories to create a new system of republican government.
Lesson plan
Key Terms
- John Jay
- republic
- John Adams
- separation of powers
- Founders
More Information
Listen to the National Constitution Center podcast “Plato, Aristotle, and the Constitution“.
Standards
Related materials
During the “critical period” after the American Revolution, many were concerned that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate for the states to grow commercially and economically. The Confederation Congress announced a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation, but not everyone was convinced that the Articles needed revision—or even that the goals of the Convention were admirable. Divisions emerged among the delegates regarding centralized power, executive power, representation, and slavery. This lesson plan includes six activities. The activities may be taught in sequence as a comprehensive overview of the Constitutional Convention or individual activities may be taught as stand-alone lessons.