Mcmillan, Nora Project 1

FOCUS ON THINGS GREEK The purpose of this brief overview of Greek words, concepts and ideas is to attempt to expand today’s community college students’ limited world view. Beginning with Greek words and phrases that are familiar to the average American, and illustrating how they impact American language and culture, the second part of the overview introduces a few great Greek men and discusses how they might have influenced American men of genius. Even if there was no direct influence, the figures of the American Enlightenment had great knowledge that extended to the Greek philosophers. Broadening our students’ view of the world and their knowledge of what came before is, hopefully, accomplished in a simplistic but provocative manner.

American History 1301 *Supplemental material on Greek Contributions to American Language and Culture to be introduced in Unit Two “The Federalist Era: Nationalism Triumphant”

Topics of Discussion: Inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation Daniel Shays’s “Little Rebellion” To Philadelphia, and the Constitution The Great Convention The Compromises that produced the Constitution Ideas that shaped the Constitution Ratifying the Constitution Hamilton and Financial Reform Revolution in France Federalists and Republicans: The Rise of Political Parties

*Supplemental lecture material in BlackBoard Vista: --An Overview of Greek Contributions to American language and culture --An Overview of a few great Greek ideas and the Men who proposed them that preceded and provided substance to the minds of American Founding Fathers and other men of genius --student assessment of material introduced and learned (exam questions)