As John F. Kennedy stated in his inaugural address: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.” The basic element of Classical Republicanism can be seen here in his quote that it is the role of the citizen to uphold the government. The American government is based on a contract, the Constitution, in which the Classical Republican ideal of civic virtue is juxtaposed with the Natural Rights Philosophy’s requisite for the Government to protect each citizen’s rights. An example of the citi

Although the struggle for one’s own self-interests often benefit the whole, the government sets limits as to far citizens can go in their struggle, so as to protect society and the government. For example, in 1776, when American seceded from Britain, Britain had been in violation of a contract with the colonies. By levying taxes from the colonists without their consent, they essentially voided the charter that gave the British power over the colonies, therefore giving the colonies the right to secede. In 1861, however, the Southerners did not have legitimate reason to pursue their self-interest and secede from the union. The South had been represented in government, and were simply unhappy with the outcome. By attempting to violate the union’s social contract, the South demonstrated the restrictions on acting on self-interest. The government will provide protection in all circumstances from the misuse of self-interest once bound to a social contract.

The pursuit for truth is also fueled by self-interest and in the end, benefits the whole. In the field of science, individuals have an incentive to make discoveries and find cures; whether it is fame, honor or money, self-interest is enough to force the scientist to work hard in an attempt to succeed. If a doctor was to discover the cure for AIDS, they would not only have attained the fame, honor, or reward he sought, but they would have also provided an remarkable contribution to society and the common good.

In Alexander Hamilton’s first Report on Public Credit, sent in 1790, he proposed that Congress assume state debts from the war, and combine them with national obligations. By making the holders of the debt citizens, many of which were wealthy merchants, Hamilton wanted to place the financial burden among the many, thus making it in the citizens best interest that the government survived. Hamilton also enlightened the self-interest of the people by proposing the first National Bank. The Bank of the United States was to be capitalized at $10 million dollars, $2 million of which was publicly funded and the rest would be supplied by private investors. The financial security of the United States thus depended on the people, and the people’s financial security was thus simultaneously reliant on the welfare of the Government run Bank.

1.) What influenced the tension of the Natural Rights Philosophy and Classical Republican design that has become the basis of our government today?

The second Amendment of the Constitution st

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