Self-Government, the American Theme: Presidents of the Founding and Civil WarAmericans 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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 13
Page 5
... prudential and theo- retical reasoning each has a place in the political community , although the philosopher also ventures in thought beyond that community to seek nature as a whole . The need to coordinate the wisdom of theorizing ...
... prudential and theo- retical reasoning each has a place in the political community , although the philosopher also ventures in thought beyond that community to seek nature as a whole . The need to coordinate the wisdom of theorizing ...
Page 14
... prudential reasoning ? Unlike the certainties of demonstrative reasoning , prudential reasoning remains a mat- ter of weighing probabilities . As Publius states it , can " societies of men " es- tablish " good government " —government ...
... prudential reasoning ? Unlike the certainties of demonstrative reasoning , prudential reasoning remains a mat- ter of weighing probabilities . As Publius states it , can " societies of men " es- tablish " good government " —government ...
Page 16
... prudential reasoning ? Precisely because self - government requires prudential reasoning , Ameri- can presidents differ on policy solutions to these problems . But it is possible at least to see the typical structure within which many ...
... prudential reasoning ? Precisely because self - government requires prudential reasoning , Ameri- can presidents differ on policy solutions to these problems . But it is possible at least to see the typical structure within which many ...
Page 17
... prudential deliberation of political actors . The pre- eminent political thinker is the statesman , whether as founder or pre- server of a regime . Considering the particular circumstances of the time and place , the statesman asks ...
... prudential deliberation of political actors . The pre- eminent political thinker is the statesman , whether as founder or pre- server of a regime . Considering the particular circumstances of the time and place , the statesman asks ...
Page 27
... prudential link between capacity for self - mastery and capacity for self - rule . While in England the forty - shilling freehold qualification severely restricted the size of the electorate , in America , with its plentiful land , the ...
... prudential link between capacity for self - mastery and capacity for self - rule . While in England the forty - shilling freehold qualification severely restricted the size of the electorate , in America , with its plentiful land , the ...
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 |
263 | |
275 | |
About the Author | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abigail Adams Adams's American Amerindian aristocratic Aristotle army August autarchia Basler blacks Boyd Butterfield 1961 character Christian citizens civil commercial Confederacy Confederate Congress consent CWGW Davis Davis's DCUS December Declaration of Independence defend democratic despotism Douglas economy emancipation equal executive Federalist Ford foreign founders happiness human nature Illinois Inaugural Address individual institutions Jaffa James Madison Jeffersonian John Adams July July 12 labor Letter to James Letter to John Letter to Thomas liberty Lincoln Lincoln-Douglas Debate March Marquis de Lafayette means ment military modern monarchic moral national government natural right never numbers opinion party passions philosopher popular sovereignty president principles prudence prudential reason regime republic republican revolution rule self-government self-mastery self-rule Senate September slaveholders slavery slaves social society Socrates soul southern Speech spirit territories Thomas Jefferson thumotic tion Tocqueville tyranny U.S. Constitution U.S. House United virtue Washington Whig whites
Popular passages
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.