Self-Government, the American Theme: Presidents of the Founding and Civil War

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Lexington Books, Oct 20, 2005 - Biography & Autobiography - 285 pages
Americans introduced themselves to the world by declaring their independence. They recognized that their "unalienable rights" were secured by institutionalized government that derives its just powers from the consent of the governed. In Self-Government, The American Theme, Will Morrisey defines the concept of self-government and tracks its permutations in the ardent writings of key American presidents. He shows how the transition to a more powerful national state was managed on political soil where "self-government" was not an indigenous crop. Morrisey considers the genesis of "self-government" in the political thought of the founding U.S. presidents, comparing their understanding of the term with that of President Abraham Lincoln and Confederate States of America President, Jefferson Davis. In this text Morrisey aptly demonstrates how the regime of the founders was replaced by a much more statist regime during the Civil War. He offers salient interpretations of the writings of the key presidents of founding and civil war periods, and interpretations centered on the key word, "self-government". This book is an essential contribution to the understanding of early American history and politics.
 

Contents

SelfGovernment and the American Father George Washington
29
SelfGovernment and the Fiery Spirit John Adams
55
SelfGovernment as Natural Right Thomas Jefferson
91
The Coherence of the Idea of SelfGovernment in the Political Thought of the Founding Presidents
129
PRESIDENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR
135
SelfGovernment and the Antebellum Era Crisis of the Self Divided
137
SelfGovernment and Secession Jefferson Davis
149
What Is the New Birth of Freedom? Abraham Lincoln
177
Davis and Lincoln Compared
207
SelfGovernment The American Theme
211
Endnotes
219
Works Cited
263
Index
275
About the Author
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Page 12 - All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately, by the grace of God.

About the author (2005)

Will Morrisey is assistant professor of history and political science at Hillsdale College.