The United States, a City upon a Hill?
The Foundations of American DemocracyBy Virgile Rivet Samba-Moussinga
Length5h 41m
About this audiobook
For nearly four centuries, the idea of America as a “city upon a hill” has shaped the nation’s self-understanding and inspired generations worldwide. But has the United States truly lived up to this lofty vision? In The United States, A City upon a Hill? Virgile Rivet Samba-Moussinga offers a sweeping, penetrating exploration of the moral, philosophical, and political foundations of the American experiment, and the enduring tensions that define it.
Drawing on the Puritan covenantal tradition, classical natural law, Enlightenment political philosophy, and the debates of the Founding era, this book traces how ideals of liberty, virtue, and self-government took root in the early colonies and evolved into the constitutional order that still governs the nation today.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★★ 5.0 (1)
GenreHistory, Education and Learning
Length5 hrs 41 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 13, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1DEDICATION
2ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
3Part I
4CHAPTER ONE
5Section 1.1: The Puritan Migration to New England (1629-1640)
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6Democratic Participation and Town Meetings
7Biblical Law and Natural Law in Puritan Governance
8Puritan Influence on American Constitutional Principles
9Section 1.2: The Royalist South and Virginia Colony (1640-1675)
10Natural Law and Property Rights
11The Paradox of Liberty and Slavery
12Virginia’s Contribution to Constitutional Principles
13Section 1.3: Quaker Delaware Valley and Religious Tolerance (1675-1725)
14Democratic Participation and Merchant Culture
15Natural Law and Religious Liberty
16Quaker Influence on Constitutional Principles
17Section 1.4: Scots-Irish Backcountry (1718-1775)
18Honor Culture and Local Autonomy
19Natural Law and Frontier Justice
20Scots-Irish Contribution to Constitutional Principles
21Section 1.5: How These Folkways Shaped American Constitutionalism
22Relevance to Federalism Debates
23Conclusion
24CHAPTER TWO
25Section 2.1: Classical Foundations—Plato and Aristotle
26Aristotle’s Human Nature as Political Animal
27The Classical Legacy: Reason, Nature, and Justice
28Section 2.2: Roman Contributions—Cicero’s Universal Law
29Roman Law and Christian Synthesis
30Section 2.3: Augustine and the Christianization of Natural Law
31Divine Law as the Foundation of Natural Law
32Natural Law and the Problem of Slavery
33Augustine’s Legacy for American Constitutionalism
34Section 2.4: Thomas Aquinas—Synthesis of Classical and Christian Thought
35Natural Law as Participation in Eternal Law
36Reason Reflecting God’s Law
37Aquinas’s Influence on the American Founding
38Section 2.5: Reformation Thinkers and Natural Law
39John Calvin and God’s Sovereignty in Law
40Richard Hooker and the Anglican Via Media
41Section 2.6: Reformation Impact on American Constitutional Thought
42Limited Government as a Christian Principle
43Individual Conscience and Liberty
44Conclusion
45CHAPTER THREE
46Section 3.1: The Declaration of Independence as a Natural Law Document
47The Preamble: Self-Evident Truths
48Unalienable Rights and Their Foundation
49The Indictment of King George III
50Section 3.2: Revolutionary War and Constitutional Necessity
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