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 3
... soul might be the best thing , the most worthy of rule . Socrates famously argues that logos or reason naturally rules the best hu- man souls , the souls of philosophers . Reason ought to rule the desires because the desires are foolish ...
... soul might be the best thing , the most worthy of rule . Socrates famously argues that logos or reason naturally rules the best hu- man souls , the souls of philosophers . Reason ought to rule the desires because the desires are foolish ...
Page 4
... soul's parts within the soul . But he allows both virtues more practicable scope than Socrates does . The purpose of human life , happiness , is autarchic . It ' stands by itself , ' is an end in itself , making life desirable and ...
... soul's parts within the soul . But he allows both virtues more practicable scope than Socrates does . The purpose of human life , happiness , is autarchic . It ' stands by itself , ' is an end in itself , making life desirable and ...
Page 6
... soul , " the part that causes nutrition and growth " —what modern scientists call the autonomic nervous system — from the spirited part of the soul , also irrational but capable of obey- ing reason — even as the natural slave Aristotle ...
... soul , " the part that causes nutrition and growth " —what modern scientists call the autonomic nervous system — from the spirited part of the soul , also irrational but capable of obey- ing reason — even as the natural slave Aristotle ...
Page 7
... soul . ' This same seventh book of the Politics is precisely where Aristotle weighs the relative merits of the philosophic and political life , and works out the terms of a truce founded upon mutual respect . Book VII concerns the best ...
... soul . ' This same seventh book of the Politics is precisely where Aristotle weighs the relative merits of the philosophic and political life , and works out the terms of a truce founded upon mutual respect . Book VII concerns the best ...
Page 8
... soul of a per- son thinking exhibits internal activity among its parts , even while the thinker sits motionless . If ... souls , those of philosophers and statesmen . This notwithstanding , in Aristotle much more than in Plato one gets a ...
... soul of a per- son thinking exhibits internal activity among its parts , even while the thinker sits motionless . If ... souls , those of philosophers and statesmen . This notwithstanding , in Aristotle much more than in Plato one gets a ...
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.