The Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism (SISC) recently hosted the first cohort of the John Adams Fellows Program for an intellectual “bootcamp” featuring the study of the history, ideas, and institutions of the American Founding.
C. Bradley Thompson, Ph.D., Executive Director of the SISC, launched the program as a part of the SISC’s “American Founding Project,” which will include K-12 curriculum development, Founding archives, and a George Washington Fellows Program. Thompson envisions a revival of the serious study of the American Founding to help train the next generation of scholars to assume academic positions that require the teaching of the Founding and American political thought.
Twelve participants who are pursuing or have recently received Ph.D.s in political science, history, philosophy, and literature were chosen to come to Clemson University for two weeks of intensive study of America’s pre- and post-founding period from 1763 to 1800. Fellows arrived on campus from universities across the United States, including Notre Dame, Georgetown University, Baylor, University of Texas, Boston College and Hillsdale.
Applications for this inaugural program exceeded Thompson’s expectations. “I was hoping for 30 or even 50 applications, but, much to my surprise and delight, we ended up with over 100. I think this means we’re on to something good and necessary,” he said. The program originally planned for 10 Fellows but was increased to 12 after the overwhelming response.
Fellows attended two seminars and two lectures per day and were required to read multiple books on the Founding and several pamphlets before arriving at Clemson. The seminars were led by SISC faculty and conducted using the Socratic method to encourage questions and discussion.
In addition to his own lectures, Thompson invited two scholars, James Stoner, Jr., Ph.D., and William Watkins, Jr., to give a series of talks on the Federalist, the Anti-Federalists and the Constitution. “I think we had a well-rounded presentation for the Fellows. I was pleased with the thoroughness of the curriculum,” said Thompson.
After successful completion of the program, each Fellow was awarded a $12,000 scholarship.
Fellows were universal in their excitement and appreciation for the program, with Theodore Madrid from Hillsdale College saying, “Through deep reading, excellent seminar discussions, and lectures from top-class faculty, the program prepares scholars to research and teach the American Founding with a seriousness and depth that is perhaps unrivaled among programs of this kind. The experience this fellowship provides is a true treasure, and its impact in time and across the nation will be immense in preserving the crucial ideas, principles, and history that lie at the heart of the American Founding – a topic more and more in need of just such a program.”
Thompson hopes the John Adams Fellows will contribute to a wider network of scholars and teachers concerned both with understanding the principles of the Founding and teaching those ideas in American education. In this way, the SISC will be at the forefront of the revival of the study of the American Founding, which is critical to an informed and educated citizenry.
About the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism
The Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism is dedicated to exploring the moral foundations of capitalism. In pursuit of this mission, the Institute collaborates with students, the academic community and the general public to raise awareness of capitalism’s core principles and institutions. The Lyceum Program, founded in 2014, serves as the flagship initiative of the SISC and remains the only University program focused on the study of liberty, capitalism, the American founding and moral character.
