Lesson 2: A Moral People Make A Moral Government and a Moral Country

Apprentice Scholar:  Advanced Personal Research Challenge 

If you find you are ready to advance past pre-scholar activities 

and feel challenged to "know" more, here are some activities 

at the Apprentice Scholar Level. 

How Does Morality Affect Colonization?

Botany Bay?  Penal Colonization - Australia 

During the 18th century, stealing a crust of bread could send you to the gaol; consequently there was extreme overcrowding in the prisons.  King George  sent prisoners to colonize "New South Wales," now Australia.

QWIKI:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botany_Bay

http://www.australianhistory.org/who-convicts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_Xll2gzsp0  1953 movie staring James Mason

Molokai Leper Colonization - Hawaii

  About 8,000 people were exiled there since 1865, when King Kamehameha V instituted an "Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy," that forced people with leprosy or anyone suspected of having the disease to be secluded on land that was set apart. The law remained in effect until 1969, when admissions to Kalaupapa ended.

QWIKI:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molokai

2009  The Last Leper:  Reminiscences of a teenager sent to Molakai
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-204_162-545392.html

Youtube movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpnee2hbY4w   Part 1,  All 12 parts available online.


Can you think of other colonies which were affected by good/bad colonization?

Red Scarf Girl Reading

Our first book for discussion for our Freedom class, Key of Liberty is Red Scarf Girl.

Purpose of this book:  Children have power.  Government can be corrupted quickly.

The plan is to have this book read before our first class.




As you read, think to yourself this question:  "What Am I Learning about Me?"

Extra Credit Article:   Current Events WSJ August 16, 2013   Mao revisits China Leadership

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424127887323455104579014960827162856-lMyQjAxMTAzMDEwODExNDgyWj.html?mod=wsj_valettop_email

Simulations link

http://lemikeyofliberty.blogspot.com

Apprentice Scholar Challenge

April 17, 2014

Are you ready to move into the Apprentice Scholar Group?  You will know if you can understand the ramifications of news like this.


What Repercussions could this have?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/

Sept. Candy Challenge

BONUS QUESTION:    What is gerrymandering? Who was it named after?

Gerrymandering 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerrymandering

 

Moral people make good government

http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/salomon.html

 Deliberating Democracy in the
Americashttp: //www.dda. deliberating. org/index. php?option= com_cont&# 92;
ent&view=section&la yout=blog&id= 5&Itemid= 37&lang=en

http://www.crf- usa.org/foundati ons-of-our- constitution/ foundation&# 92;
s-of-our-constituti on.html

Mayflower Compact

Here's an essay written by a student on the subject. It might help you get started on your presentation for class.

As the western United States were being settled by pioneers, miners, and ranchers, the absence of government showed that the people are the true source of governmental power and influence.

The new citizens of the untamed wilderness quickly learned to govern themselves. They demonstrated a high work ethic and a respect for the property rights of their neighbors. Those who came out west with low self-discipline and inability to govern themselves soon proved to others that they couldn’t be trusted. The formal laws of government weren’t in place to prevent their vices and they often violated others rights in favor of their own interests.

Conflicts between law-abiding citizens and rogue groups of individuals became the stuff of legends. Stage coaches and mail carriers were robbed. Cattle were stolen with impunity. The citizens who desired peace began to communicate with each other and form agreements for mutual protection. They formed their own justice system until formal laws were established and a police force organized.

The rogue groups looked for ways to benefit from others without working in traditional ways. They argued with others over conflicting desires and often took matters into their own hands to exact revenge. They tried to evade just punishments for their crimes.

The circumstance of this lawless region demonstrate that abiding under law is a choice made by a moral and virtuous people. The laws and government we now have only formally express the values held by the society as a whole. They protect the rights of the majority from those whose roguishness motivates them to violate and disrupt the peace.

It is my opinion that without a moral people to stand behind the laws all of society would suffer from the unrestrained selfishness of their neighbors. The government would be unable to enforce laws preventing every possible vice unless the government reduced all people to slavery. Individuals would need to protect their own interests if they couldn’t trust others to keep the peace.

Trust is earned. Through consistent exercise of self restraint, people come together to build neighborhoods, cities and national governments for the promotion of civilization. Without trust, anarchy and tribalism prevent the cooperation of people on a large scale. The current and continuing conflicts between law-abiding citizens and rogue individuals proves that freedom will always lie in the virtuous actions of each individual of society.