"The Empire of Reason" is a film produced by the State of New York for the bicentennial celebration of the signing of the US Constitution. The 1987 film is a cleverly designed "you are there" type of show. Although humorous, the film provides plenty of information about the debate which went on in New York over whether or not to ratify the new Constitution. It pretends that the media which we have today were available in 1787. We get to watch Alexander Hamilton be interviewed by William F. Buckley, Jr. and Phil Donahue! Even the commercial provide insights into the conditions of the time!
Here are some questions to ponder as you watch the film:
1. What do the commercials say about the economic conditions in existence during the creation of the Constitution and during the ratifying process?
2. Cite two examples of the Founding Fathers' view of human nature during the various interviews with Alexander Hamilton by Donahue, Buckley, etc.
3. How does the film portray the conflict between agrarian (rural) and mercantile (business) interests during the ratifying process in New York State?
4. Does this film demonstrate a belief in our "exceptionalism"? (Ie., are we such a unique country that many of the ideas about government are unique to us and us alone?)
5. With which character in the film do you most closely associate in terms of your views of the nature of people, the role of the state, and the relationship between the person and the state?