First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country

by Thomas E. Ricks

“Where classical republicanism went wrong”

Public virtue as egalitarian in colonial times (aristocrats did not need to maintain public esteem or a consistent willingness to self-sacrifice)

First Peoples preferred generally the French because they were more interested in trade than settlement.

Washington’s lessons learned in the military prior to the revolution

Washington with power (G Wood’s comment on W and power)

attempts to alter perceptions of the past: emphasizing heroes and generals as destroyers of lives and futures rather than glorious figures

Early idea of popular sovereignty; echoes in 18th century American colonial language and thought

Witherspoon On conflict between interest and moral theory in government

Adams on liberty in America

Jefferson: Americans’ Saxon roots?

Jefferson: we do not seek the king’s favor or supplicants before him. We remind him of our rights.

All men are equal—comes from Plato?? 😂

Jefferson on Decl: like Warren on Brown: an appeal to a broad audience, requiring direct, plain and vigorous language.

The echoing of Jeffersons words in the Declaration of Independence throughout generations by progressive movements

Murray on the difference between a government by The rule of law and one governed by party and faction

VA plan

Summary of Virginia plan

Madison: a reference to gravity in law and politics

The difficulty in the 1790s of conceiving a loyal opposition: opposition to the government was conceived as sedition, and seen as conspiracy with France to undermine the legitimate government

Sedition law of 1798 as the end of classical republicanism, and its last gasp against rising populism

Is this an insinuation that Jefferson had someone murdered to keep the secret is oppressive sexual relationship with Sally Hemmings?

A new social order, providing the death knell for the federalists: the rejection of social rank and all of the classical Republican baggage that went along with it

John adams on extravagant wealth and extreme poverty

Jefferson and Madison on the possible advent of a Donald Trump

7 of 39 were born abroad

Sandel on freedom: LOOK BACK HERE

I’m on the crimes of the King is attempting to curtail immigration and naturalization