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Virtue in Action: Thomas Jefferson and Prudence

  • I can apply prudence to situations that may arise in my life.  

Essential Vocabulary

Prudence Practical wisdom that applies reason and other virtues to discern the right courses of action in specific situations.
Directions: Prudence requires careful and deliberate choices before acting. For each of the following scenarios, think through how you would initially react to the situation (your gut response), then weigh the risks and benefits of such an action. Then, after reflecting on this initial response, decide on a final course of action. You may or may not decide to alter your decision, but you must explain your final decision. The first scenario has been done for you as an example, using the story of Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase from the reading as an example.
Example Scenario
Napoleon is strapped for cash and offers the sale of the Louisiana Territory to President Jefferson.
Initial Response to the Problem Accepting this proposal may be an overreach of executive power, especially since Jefferson has been very critical in the Washington and Adams administrations about the power of the national government.
Risks Such a move is at odds with Jefferson’s political ideals of limited government and individual liberty, Constitution does not address buying land from foreign territories.
Benefits Will greatly expand the size of the nation and strengthen U.S. interests in North America at the expense of European rivals.
Final Course of Action Accept the offer to buy the land and urge the Senate to ratify the treaty.
Why Acting quickly to purchase the land was in the best interest of the growing and expanding nation.

Scenario
Tryouts for the school play are coming up in two weeks. Your best friend is also auditioning for the part you would like to play.

Initial Response to the Problem
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Final Course of Action  

 

 

 
Why  

 

 

 

Scenario
Your close friend started hanging out with a group of people they know from their job. They act differently around this group of friends and they seem to have changed. You are thinking about confronting them.

Initial Response to the Problem  

 

 

 
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Final Course of Action  

 

 

 
Why  

 

 

 

Scenario
You would like to follow a vegetarian diet. Your parents do not take this decision seriously and serve you meat.

Initial Response to the Problem  

 

 

 
Risks  

 

 

 
Benefits  

 

 

 
Final Course of Action  

 

 

 
Why  

 

 

 

Reflection
How does using prudence in your personal behavior translate into civil society? In other words, will the habit of applying prudence affect how you interact with others at school, in the community, and elsewhere? Explain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More from this Category

Louisiana Purchase MapLesson

Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase

2 Activities50 Min

President Thomas Jefferson, elected at the end of the Quasi-War with France, faced domestic unease when Spain returned Louisiana to France at Napoleon’s insistence. Aware of the strategic importance of New Orleans and wary of Napoleon’s desire to build an empire in North America, Jefferson sent negotiators to France to purchase land east of the Mississippi. As time went on, though, France had other priorities and in the spring of 1803 offered the United States the whole Louisiana territory—more than 800,000 acres—for $15 million. Jefferson had always feared the costs of loose construction of the powers delegated to the national government in the Constitution, and the Constitution did not provide for the incorporation of news lands into the US. Jefferson urged bringing the issue to the people to approve with a constitutional amendment, but a special session of Congress disregarded his draft amendment. The Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in October of 1803. While Jefferson did his best to follow what he believed was proper constitutional procedure, not enough of his contemporaries agreed with him and he eventually assented.