HIST 420

Sr. Seminar: John Hope Franklin

Roger Williams University

GHH 205

M, TH 3:30 - 4:50

Fall, 2009

Michael R. H. Swanson Ph. D.

Office:  GHH 215

Hours: T, 11:00-12:30

M, W, F,  1:00-2:00

Phone:  (254)-3230

E-mail:  SenSemFranklin@gmail.com

We will have a final meeting during the assigned period for our exam, Thursday, December 10, 10:00 - Noon, to finish up essay presentations.

Tom Bushell will lead a discussion on the essay, Lincoln and the Public Morality.   He would like us to think about these questions and issues: 

When is it acceptable to "dispense the patronage," and do you agree with how Lincoln went about doing it?

Did Lincoln make the right decision by appointing Simon Cameron as his secretary of war?

How do you feel about the moral requirements of public servants today? (forced to sever business ties, sell stocks etc. before assuming office)

Is this, as Franklin suggests, "superficially virtuous" and "equating poverty with virtue"

  We will have concluding presentations.  I expect those who have already presented to show your classmates the courtesy of attending.  I will, of course, pass the attendance sheet around.

If you would like me to post discussion information, please get it to me early enough so that class members can have some time to think about it.  Thank you.

We will have have at least one more presentation, depending on who is ready.