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Plate "Massachusetts State House"
Teapot - "Lafayette at the Tomb of Franklin"
Rowland Stebbins (1794-1848)
Washington Memorial
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Summary and Objective
Class will understand that our Founding Fathers' ideas of democracy were steeped in classical antiquity. Excerpts from "A World of Ideas: A Dictionary of Important Theories, Concepts, Beliefs, and Thinkers" or other text will be used to discuss the concepts of democracy and republicanism. Classical motifs occur in textbooks, pictures, and artifacts. The website can be used to view the influence of classical thinking and ideas in Early American society.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Discuss democracy and republicanism with the class after reading an excerpt from "A World Of Ideas: a Dictionary of Important Theories, Concepts, Beliefs, and Thinkers," by Chris Rohman, Ballatine Books, 1999, or other text.
Step 2.
View as a class the picture of Lady Liberty with her Roman tunic and olive wreath from the textbook.
Step 3.
Where else can we see a classical influence around us? Our printed money and even the names of our cities and towns show the influence of the classical period.
Step 4.
Bring the students into the computer lab to show them the classical motifs in Lafayette's Teapot, the portrait of Rowland Stebbins, the Washington Memorial, and the Massachusetts State House Plate.
Step 5.
Students will then be asked to find other pictures in the textbook or in art and architecture around us which shows the classical influence in government, architecture, and art.
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