Part One, American Government and U.S. Constitution

Lesson 23: Peace through Strength

(Principle 24)	Name: _______________________

Part II: The Founders' Basic Principles –	28 Great Ideas that Changed the World

Lesson 23 Time: 36:25 [for Sunday, August 17, 2014]

The 5000 Year Leap: 24th Principle, Reading Assignment: (pages 259-265);

Peace through Strength

Lesson objectives: As a result of this lesson, the student should be able to discuss the following questions/topics:

1. What does an industrious, prosperous nation usually attract? (page 259)

Peace Through Strength

– A Free, Civilized Society

o becomes prosperous

o US has become super-prosperous

o prosperity attracts predators

o How much defense?

- Enough to discourage attacks

2. According to the founders, what two things are necessary to maintain freedom and prosperity?

(260)

o Two Things Necessary [Ben Franklin]

- Virtue

- Military

3. According to Benjamin Franklin, what advantage will come to America because of its strength and readiness? (260)

Franklin on Defense

o Do all in our power

o Ask for assistance from God (quote)

o Secure peace by preparing for war (quote)

4. What great responsibility do our leaders have to the people? (260-61)

o Our leaders owe us protection

5. What great benefits did Franklin foresee as the population and wealth of America grew? (261)

o Strength makes friends of enemies (quote)

6. What was Franklin's opinion of Americans who refused to help pay for the defense of their own liberty? (261-62)

o Make yourselves sheep and the wolves will eat you.

7. Why was George Washington considered highly qualified to comment on America's state of readiness? (262)

George Washington on Defense

o Knew the necessity of strong defense

- no navy

- no trained army

- no support

- could have been bitter

8. What was the warning President Washington expressed in his fifth annual address to Congress? What was happening to necessitate such a warning? (263-64)

o Don't wait till attacked to build military

o Must have complete defense

o Today = Mutually Assured Destruction

- MAD - destroy people

[does not persuade a terrorist who cares nothing about his own people!]

o Mutually Assured Survival [Reagan, "Strategic Defense Initiative"]

- destroy things not people

Duty to God to Preserve Freedom

9. Describe Samuel Adams's feelings about our responsibility to preserve God's gift of liberty. (264-65)

o Sam Adams:

- God gave us freedom

- No man can rightly give it up

o Founders were peace-loving not pacifists

o Be so strong, it is too risky to attack

[1983 speech by Reagan, SDI: quote. Note how the word model the material just given!

The defense policy of the United States is based on a simple premise: The United States does not start fights. We will never be an aggressor. We maintain our strength in order to deter and defend against aggression -- to preserve freedom and peace.

Since the dawn of the atomic age, we've sought to reduce the risk of war by maintaining a strong deterrent and by seeking genuine arms control. "Deterrence'' means simply this: making sure any adversary who thinks about attacking the United States, or our allies, or our vital interests, concludes that the risks to him outweigh any potential gains. Once he understands that, he won't attack. We maintain the peace through our strength; weakness only invites aggression.

Source: http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1983/32383d.htm ]