Foundations of American Political Thought

Session Submission Type: Virtual Full Paper Panel

Session Description

What does it mean to be a US citizen? These papers explore foundational questions in American Political Thought, taking up concepts like equality, citizenship, trust, and civic engagement. Examining primary documents like the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, as well as early policies like the Naturalization Act of 1790, these papers together explore the promises—made and broken—of American political life.

Sub Unit

• Division 2: Foundations of Political Theory

Cosponsor

• Division 56: American Political Thought

Individual Presentations

• Not Eligible But Still Fitted?: Naturalization and the Asian Question, 1882-1906 - Juman Kim, Towson University

• The Inegalitarian Equality of the Declaration of Independence - Emma Rodman, Princeton University

• Tocqueville and Bad Civil Society - Jennet Kirkpatrick, Arizona State University

• 'To Hope and To Wait': Roger Williams and the Apocalyptic Roots of Toleration - Matthew H Young

Chair

• Nolan Bennett University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Discussant

• Gordon R Arlen Goethe University Frankfurt