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
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Page 2
... self - government brings together two strands of American thought about the American regime : liberalism and republi- canism . Liberalism — particularly in its dimensions of individualism and ma- terial acquisition — rests on the ...
... self - government brings together two strands of American thought about the American regime : liberalism and republi- canism . Liberalism — particularly in its dimensions of individualism and ma- terial acquisition — rests on the ...
Page 3
... Self - mastery occurs when , as the saying goes , a man is " stronger than him- self . " This is a " ridiculous " phrase if taken literally — how , Socrates asks , can one be stronger ( and therefore weaker ) than oneself ? " But ...
... Self - mastery occurs when , as the saying goes , a man is " stronger than him- self . " This is a " ridiculous " phrase if taken literally — how , Socrates asks , can one be stronger ( and therefore weaker ) than oneself ? " But ...
Page 4
... self - mastery , he lacks the presence of mind to reply or to reform himself . Exemplar of the philosophic life ... government or with tyranny , but rather with the improbable rule of philosopher - kings . The only form of popular government ...
... self - mastery , he lacks the presence of mind to reply or to reform himself . Exemplar of the philosophic life ... government or with tyranny , but rather with the improbable rule of philosopher - kings . The only form of popular government ...
Page 8
... self - knowledge that encompasses activity , while pushing citizens toward an understanding of ac- tivity that encompasses thoughtfulness . His discussion of the autarchia of ... governing — made popular self - government 8 ། Introduction.
... self - knowledge that encompasses activity , while pushing citizens toward an understanding of ac- tivity that encompasses thoughtfulness . His discussion of the autarchia of ... governing — made popular self - government 8 ། Introduction.
Page 9
... self - government begins to weaken . Tracking the per- mutations of the term ' self - government ' in the writings of key American presidents will show how the transition to a more powerful national state was managed , both conceptually ...
... self - government begins to weaken . Tracking the per- mutations of the term ' self - government ' in the writings of key American presidents will show how the transition to a more powerful national state was managed , both conceptually ...
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.