The Founding Debate Reading Group #1 - Inherited Framework

​In 2026, the United States turns 250. To mark the anniversary, we're reading the arguments the founders had with each other — particularly the Federalists and Anti-Federalists — about the system of government they were building. We'll spend eight weeks in primary sources and a little scholarship, trying to understand how they were thinking and what they were afraid of. 30–50 pages a week. Small group, weekly discussion, works best if you can come for most of the sessions.

Please come with an annotated copy of the paper readings for this week.

​During the first meeting, we will start with an overview of the timeline of the American Founding Era. This will help place all the following documents in their proper context with what was going on at the time.

​Here are the readings for this week:

• ​Locke, Second Treatise of Government (Ch. 2, 9, 19)

• ​Montesquieu, Spirit of the Laws (Book XI, Ch. 1–6)

​Both works (and most in the reading group) are public domain, so you can find them online and print them or order the physical books (they're very nice!). I've prepared a packet you can easily download here.

See the larger schedule here