High School Government Level 6 Year 2 Course

Course Description

Students read works on leadership, economic systems, and American history to understand governance, citizenship, and moral responsibility in society. Through Plutarch’s Lives, students examine the character and decisions of Demetrius, Agis, Cleomenes, and Timoleon to understand principles of leadership and statecraft. Charlotte Mason’s Ourselves incorporates personal development of self-discipline, willpower, and understanding of the role of citizens contributing to society. The course includes study of economic principles through Kirk’s Work and Prosperity, exploring money, government’s role in the economy, and comparing market and command economies. Students also read primary source documents covering civil rights, Vietnam, the Cold War, and modern political economy, while examining Catholic social teaching through Pope John Paul II’s Centesimus Annus.

Books and Resources

Mater Amabilis participates in affiliate programs with Amazon and Living Book Press.

Civics:

• Plutarch’s Lives, Plutarch – translation of your choice, but we recommend one by Bernadotte Perrin [online version]
  • OR The Plutarch Project, White – None of the volumes by White match the Plutarch Lives selected for Level 6 Year 2, but you could substitute any volume you wish.
• Ourselves, Charlotte Mason [Amaz][LVP][online at Ambleside Online]
  • Ourselves is made up of two books published in a single volume. Be aware that the page numbering begins again at 1 for the second book.
  • Ourselves pp. 1-135 are assigned within the Health plans. A student would not need to read these pages twice.

Economics:

• Economics: Work and Prosperity, Kirk [Amaz]
• Honors selection: Economics in One Lesson, Hazlitt [Amaz][online PDF] – This book is not more difficult to read, but could earn an Honors designation because of the additional reading time.

Government:

• The American Cause, Kirk (with introduction by Whitney) [Amaz]
• Major Problems in American History Since 1945, Griffith and Baker, second edition [Amaz]
  • Ad lib selections (not scheduled)
    • Term 1
      • The Grunt Padre: Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, Vietnam, 1966-1967, Mode [Amaz]
    • Term 2
      • A Pope and a President, Kengor (for the ambitious or motivated student) [Amaz]
    • Term 3
      • Small Is Still Beautiful, Pearce [Amaz]
      • Third Ways: How Bulgarian Greens, Swedish Housewives, and Beer-Swilling Englishmen Created Family-Centered Economics — And Why They Disappeared, Carlson [Amaz]
• Centesimus Annus, Pope St. John Paul II [Vatican website]
• Honors selections – Adding these selections could make a course Honors level
  • All the King’s Men, Warren [Amaz] (ad lib)
  • OR Democracy In America, de Tocqueville [Amaz] (ad lib, could be read through all of Level 6)

Lesson plans

All readings are narrated, orally or in writing.

TERM 1

Week 1
Day 1: Work and Prosperity, Ch 9 What Money Is Good For & The Difficulty of Getting Along without Money & The Pine-Tree Shillings
Day 2: Honors (Optional), Economics in One Lesson, Ch. 22 The Mirage of Inflation pp. 154-158
Day 3: Plutarch, Demetrius, 1-5
Day 4: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 7, “The New York Times Reports a Murder in Georgia, 1946”, “Malcom X Recalls Getting a ‘Conk,’ 1964”, “Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954” pp. 249-254
Day 5: Ourselves, Part I Conscience. Chapter XV. Some Instructors of Conscience: Nature, Science, Art pp. 97-103

Week 2
Day 6: Work and Prosperity, Ch 9 The Four Functions of Money & Metallic Money
Day 7: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 8: Plutarch, Demetrius, 6-10
Day 9: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 7, “Franklin McCain Remembers the First sit-In, 1960”, “Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘I Have a Dream,’ 1963”, “Stokely Carmichael Explains “Black Power” pp. 254-263
Day 10: Ourselves, Part I Conscience. Chapter XVI. Some Instructors of Conscience: Sociology, Self-Knowledge pp. 104-108

Week 3
Day 11: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 12: The American Cause, Ch 7 Economic Principle: The Free Economy pp. 89-92
Day 13: Plutarch, Demetrius, 11-15
Day 14: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 7, “A Senate Committee Reports on Campaign Against Martin Luther King, Jr., 1976” pp. 263-265 and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
Day 15: Ourselves, Part I Conscience. Section III. The Function of Conscience pp. 109-114

Week 4
Day 16: Work and Prosperity, Ch 9 Paper Money & The Duel of Randolph and Clay
Day 17: The American Cause, Ch 7 Economic Principle: The Free Economy pp. 92-95
Day 18: Plutarch, Demetrius, 16-18
Day 19: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 7, Essays “King As Disturber of the Piece” pp. 265-271
Day 20: Ourselves, Part I Conscience. Chapter XVIII. Temptation pp. 115-120

Week 5
Day 21: Work and Prosperity, Ch 9 Most Money Is neither Coins nor Notes & The Treasury and the Federal Reserve System
Day 22: Honors (Optional), Economics in One Lesson, Ch. 23 “The Assault on Saving” pp. 159-171
Day 23: Plutarch, Demetrius, 19-22
Day 24: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 7, Essay “The Continuing Racial Crisis” pp. 272-278 and Optional Video: Ta-Nehisi Coats and John McWhorter Discuss and Debate Black Hip-Hop Culture and Racism
Day 25: Ourselves, Part I Conscience. Chapter XIX. Duty and Law pp. 121-125

Week 6
Day 26: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 27: The American Cause, Ch 7 Economic Principle: The Free Economy pp. 95-98
Day 28: Plutarch, Demetrius, 23-27
Day 29: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 8, “The Vietnamese Declare Their Independence, 1945”, “State Department Advisors Debate U.S. Support for French in Vietnam, 1949”, “President Dwight D. Eisenhower Explains the Domino Theory, 1954” pp. 281-287
Day 30: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter I. The Will-Less Life pp. 126-128

Week 7
Day 31: Ch 9 The Use and Abuse of Money & Midas of the Golden Touch & Paul of Tarsus on Money
Day 32: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 33: Plutarch, Demetrius, 28-31
Day 34: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 8, “Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference on Indochina, 1954”, “Nguyan Tan Thanh, a South Vietnamese Peasant, Explains Why He Joined the Vietcong (1961), 1986”, “The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, 1964” pp. 287-290
Day 35: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter II. Will and Wilfulness pp. 129-136

Week 8
Day 36: Ch 10 Government and the Economy & How Much Should Government Do? & Gold Rush Days
Day 37: The American Cause, Ch 7 Economic Principle: The Free Economy pp. 98-104
Day 38: Plutarch, Demetrius, 32-35
Day 39: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 8, “President Lyndon Johnson’s Advisors Debate Expanding the War, 1965” pp. 291-296
Day 40: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 9
Day 41: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 42: Honors (Optional), Economics in One Lesson, Ch. 24 The Lesson Restarted pp. 173-183
Day 43: Plutarch, Demetrius, 36-40
Day 44: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 8, “Lieutenant Marion Lee Kempner, a Young Marine, Explains the War, 1966” and “Wrong Rambo! A Vietnam Veteran Looks Back, 1985” pp. 296-299
Day 45: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 10
Day 46: Ch 10 The Meaning of Macroeconomics & American Attitudes toward Government in the Economy
Day 47: The American Cause, Ch 7 Economic Principle: The Free Economy pp. 105-107
Day 48: Plutarch, Demetrius, 41-44
Day 49: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 8, Essays “The Cold War and American Intervention in Vietnam” pp. 299-310
Day 50: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 11
Day 51: Work and Prosperity, Ch 10 How Governments Can Damage Economic Systems
Day 52: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 53: Plutarch, Demetrius, 45-48
Day 54: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 8, Essay “The Meaning of Vietnam” pp. 310-320
Day 55: Plutarch, Demetrius, 49-52

WEEK 12: DAYS 56-60 MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four of the questions to answer.

1. Define money and explain how it is used.
2. Retell the life of Demetrius and show how his example is relevant in civics and government today.
3. Tell what you know about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
4. What were the events that led to the Vietnam War and its effects on the political world we have today?
5. What does Charlotte Mason have to say about Conscience and how does she define the Will?
6. If you read any of the honors or ad lib reading (The Grunt Padre, All the King’s Men, or Democracy in America), tell about one of the readings for this term.

TERM 2

Week 13
Day 61: Work and Prosperity, Ch 11 Successes and Difficulties in the Market Economy & What the Market Economy Has Achieved & Opportunity Costs and Comparative Prices
Day 62: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 63: Plutarch, Agis, 1-8
Day 64: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 12, “President Jimmy Carter and the Crisis of the American Spirit, 1979”, “Presidential Candidate Ronald Reagan Calls for New Economic Policies, 1980”, “President George Bush Seeks a Kinder, Gentler Nation, 1989” pp. 449-458
Day 65: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter III. Will Not Moral or Immoral pp. 137-140

Week 14
Day 66: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 67: The American Cause, Ch 8 Economic Principle: American Economic Accomplishment pp. 109-112
Day 68: Plutarch, Agis, 9-11
Day 69: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 12, “The Republican ‘Contract With America,’ 1994”, “President Bill Clinton Signs a Bill to ‘End Welfare as We Know It,’ 1996”, “A Liberal Post-Mortem on the 1996 Election” pp. 459-464
Day 70: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter IV. The Will and Its Peers pp. 141-142

Week 15
Day 71: Work and Prosperity, Ch 11 Criticisms of the Market Economy & Recessions, Depressions, and Unemployment
Day 72: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 73: Plutarch, Agis, 12-15
Day 74: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 12, Essays “The Mobilization of American Business” pp. 464-477
Day 75: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter V. The Function of Will pp. 143-146

Week 16
Day 76: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 77: The American Cause, Ch 8 Economic Principle: American Economic Accomplishment pp. 112-117
Day 78: Plutarch, Agis, 16-18
Day 79: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 12, Essay “Democrats and Republicans Forge a New Political Economy” pp. 477-496
Day 80: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter VI. The Scope of Will pp. 147-151

Week 17
Day 81: Work and Prosperity, Ch 11 Is a Market Economy Unjust & The Economics and Politics of Envy
Day 82: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 83: Plutarch, Agis, 19-21
Day 84: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 13, “President Ronald Reagan Denounces the Soviet Empire as an ‘Evil’ Empire, 1982″, “U.S. Military Spending: A Graphic” pp. 498-503
Day 85: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter VII. Self-Control–Self-Restraint–Self-Command–Self-Denial pp. 152-155

Week 18
Day 86: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 87: The American Cause, Ch 9 Anti-American Claims pp. 119-123
Day 88: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 1-6
Day 89: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 13, “A Congressional Committee Reports on Irangate, 1987” pp. 504-508
Day 90: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter VIII. The Effort of Decision pp. 156-159

Week 19
Day 91: Work and Prosperity, Ch 12 Promise and Performance in the Command Economy & What the Command Economy Tries to Achieve
Day 92: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 93: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 7-12
Day 94: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 13, “Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev Charts a New Direction for the U.S.S.R.” “The New York Times Announces the End of the Cold War, 1989”, “President George Bush Declares a New World Order, 1990” pp. 509-514 and “Ronald Reagan Addresses the British Parliament”
Day 95: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter IX. Intention-Purpose-Resolution pp., 160-164

Week 20
Day 96: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 97: The American Cause, Ch 9 Anti-American Claims pp. 123-126
Day 98: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 13-18
Day 99: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 13, Essays “Ronald Reagan’s Cold War Victory” pp. 514-519
Day 100: Ourselves, Part II The Will. Chapter X. A Way of the Will pp. 165-169

Week 21
Day 101: Work and Prosperity, Ch 12 Touring a Command Economy
Day 102: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 103: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 19-24
Day 104: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 13, Essay “Reagan and the Russians” pp. 519-521
Day 105: Part II The Will. Chapter XI. Freewill pp. 170-173

Week 22
Day 106: Work and Prosperity, Ch 12 Permanently Depressed Economies & Solzhenitsyn the Accountant
Day 107: The American Cause, Ch 9 Anti-American Claims pp. 126-128
Day 108: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 25-30
Day 109: Major Problems in American History, Ch. 13, Essay “Reagan and Central America” pp. 521-529
Day 110: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 23
Day 111: Work and Prosperity, Ch 12 Commands Often Have Unpleasant Results & Permanent Perplexities of a Command Economy
Day 112: The American Cause, Ch 9 Anti-American Claims pp. 128-133
Day 113: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 31-35
Day 114: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 115: Plutarch, Cleomenes, 36-39

WEEK 24: MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four of the questions to answer.

1. Compare and contrast a market economy and a command economy.
2. Tell what you know about Agis or Cleomenes.
3. What changes in American government occurred that led to a political economy.
4. What were the events that led to the end of the Cold War and its effects on the political world we have today?
5. What does Charlotte Mason have to say about how we make decisions?
6. If you read any of the honors or ad lib reading (A Pope and a President, All the King’s Men, or Democracy in America), tell about one of the readings for this term.

TERM 3

Week 25
Day 121: Work and Prosperity, Ch 13 The World’s Distressed Economy & Worldwide Economic Perplexities & Pollution, Waste, and Ugliness
Day 122: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 123: Plutarch, Timoleon, 1-4
Day 124: Centesimus Annus, Introduction 1-3; I. Characteristics of “Rerum Novarum” 4-7
Day 125: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter I. The Capacities of the Soul pp. 174-176

Week 26
Day 126: Work and Prosperity, Ch 13 Dread Inflation & The Miscalculations of His Excellency Enrique Padron
Day 127: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 128: Plutarch, Timoleon, 5-7
Day 129: Centesimus Annus, I. Characteristics of “Rerum Novarum” 8-11
Day 130: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter II. The Disabilities of the Soul pp. 177-181

Week 27
Day 131: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 132: The American Cause, Ch 10 The American Answer pp. 135-138
Day 133: Plutarch, Timoleon, 8-12
Day 134: Centesimus Annus, II. Towards the ‘New Things’ of Today 12-16
Day 135: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter III. The Knowledge of God pp. 182-187

Week 28
Day 136: Work and Prosperity, Ch 13 Political Causes of Inflation
Day 137: The American Cause, Ch 10 The American Answer pp. 139-142
Day 138: Plutarch, Timoleon, 13-16
Day 139: Centesimus Annus, II. Towards the ‘New Things’ of Today 17-21
Day 140: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter IV. Prayer pp. 188-190

Week 29
Day 141: Work and Prosperity, Ch 13 Inflation and Allied Difficulties in a Command Economy
Day 142: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 143: Plutarch, Timoleon, 17-20
Day 144: Centesimus Annus, III. The Year 1989 22-25
Day 145: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter V. Thanksgiving pp. 191-193

Week 30
Day 146: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 147: The American Cause, Afterward pp. 143-149 (stop before “It is important to see…”)
Day 148: Plutarch, Timoleon, 21-24
Day 149: Centesimus Annus, III. The Year 1989 26-29
Day 150: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter VI. Praise pp. 194-196

Week 31
Day 151: Work and Prosperity, Ch 13 Secondary Causes of Inflation & Remedies for Inflation
Day 152: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 153: Plutarch, Timoleon, 25-29
Day 154: Centesimus Annus, IV. Private Property and the Universal Destination of Material Goods 30-36
Day 155: Ourselves, Part III The Soul. Chapter VII. Faith in God pp. 197-202

Week 32
Day 156: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 157: The American Cause, Afterward pp. 149-153 (stop before “In addition to the Industrial Revolution…”)
Day 158: Plutarch, Timoleon, 30-32
Day 159: Centesimus Annus, IV. Private Property and the Universal Destination of Material Goods 37-43
Day 160: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 33
Day 161: Work and Prosperity, Ch 14 A Cheerful View of Our Economic Future & The Prophets of Doom & The World Is Not Growing Poorer
Day 162: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 163: Plutarch, Timoleon, 33-35
Day 164: Centesimus Annus, V. State and Capital 44-52
Day 165: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 34
Day 166: Work and Prosperity, Ch 14 Killing the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs & The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs
Day 167: The American Cause, Afterward pp. 153-158 (end)
Day 168: Plutarch, Timoleon, 36-38
Day 169: Centesimus Annus, V. State and Capital 53-62
Day 170: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

Week 35
Day 171: Work and Prosperity, Ch 14 The Moral Foundation of Economics
Day 172: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 173: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading
Day 174: “Does the Church Oppose the Free Market”
Day 175: Make-up, Honors, or Ad lib reading

WEEK 36: MAKEUP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four of the questions to answer.

1. What is inflation?
2. What do you know about how economies become distressed and how they can be remedied?
3. Retell the life of Timoleon and show how his example is relevant in civics and government today.
4. Tell what you know about Centesimus Annus.
5. What does Charlotte Mason have to say about the Soul and prayerl?
6. If you read any of the honors or ad lib reading (Small Is Still Beautiful, Third Ways, All the King’s Men, or Democracy in America), tell about one of the readings for this term.