The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It Overview & Chapter Abstracts for Teachers

Chapter Abstracts

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be an excellent refresher of the text for either a student or teacher.

Chapter 1, The Founding Fathers: An Age of Realism Abstract

* The Founders believe that most men are evil, self-interested, and cannot easily change.
* The Founders form the Constitution based on their observances of tyranny across the globe and in history.
* Despite being members of the aristocracy, the Founders have sympathy for...
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