Core 102History and the Modern World

The Idea of Democracy

Roger Williams University

Section 01 LLC T, TH   09:30AM-10:50 AM GHH 205

Section 04 ELI  T, TH   12:30PM- 02:00 PM  GHH 106

Spring  Semester, 2016

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.

Office: GHH 215

Hours: M, W, F, 12:00-1:30

Or By Appointment

Phone:  ext 3230

E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu

For Tuesday, March 15

For Thursday, March 17

No New Readings for Today. 

We will conclude watching the play, Marat/Sade which we started the Thursday before Spring Break (Welcome Back!), and with what time is left, we'll consider the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which was on our agenda before the break.  For your convenience, I've copied the assignment as it appeared on the website of March 1.

From the Core Cannon:  Declaration of the Rights of Man   French Parliament after the French Revolution   (1789)

Take a few minutes to read the Declaration of the Rights of Man.  The revolution didn't last very long.  I'd like to have you watch the video below on the left before class. The documentary will provide background for this very short reading.  I don't expect much marking up. 

• First Highlight your favorite "right of man"
  

• Second.  In a sticky note, write "I read this document, I really did".
  

In our class we will finish the musical Marat/Sade   There's a a bit of music sung by the legendary Judy Collins in the video on the right, below.

Susan B. Anthony Arrested for Illegal Voting, 1873.  Click on the image to read all about it.

Download and Read, Markup, (sticky notes for reflections) and and Place in Your Dropbox

• Three Letters Between John and Abigail Adams  (1776)
  

• From, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, by Mary Wollstonecraft (1792)
  

  Chap. IX.  Of the Pernicious Effects Which Arise from the Unnatural Distinctions Established in Society

Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, second President of the United States, could be called the first of a long line of women who fought for equal rights.  In an age where many men and women married according to social station, John and Abigail were also in love, as the tone of the letters between the two will demonstrate.  Abigail didn't get her way at the meeting writing the Declaration of Independence, but I think she often got her way at home. 

Mary Wollstonecraft, whose daughter, Mary Wollestoncraft Shelley would go on to write Frankenstein, was one of Europe's first Feminists.  She didn't play soft with her ideas, either.  Not many of her era agreed with her.  Her personal life was not always happy.  Read the short biography of her provided by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) by clicking here.   In many ways, she was a true equalitarian.  She not only wrote A vindication of the Right of Women, but two years earlier she wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Men. 

St. Patrick's Day is Today--and everyone becomes Irish whether or not he/she wants to.  The Chicago River will be dyed bright green.  Many places, Newport Rhode Island, for example, move the parade to Saturday.  In fact, they held it on the 12th. 

In the year 2007-2008, This song in the video to the right was quite popular.