Politics And Progress : The Emergence Of American Political Science

Chapter one of The American Political Tradition by Richard Hofstadter is centered on the Founding Fathers. The very beginning of the chapter says that the Constitutional Convention was trying to create a government that would pay debts and avoid currency inflation. The Democratic ideas that the Founding Fathers were so against appealed mostly to less privileged classes, and not at all to the higher classes. This chapter says that the Founding Fathers thought that if no constitutional balance were achieved, one specific class or would take over others. Three advantages of a good constitutional government were listed in this chapter as well. One: keep order against majority rule. Two: a representative government. Three: aristocracy and democracy

Richard Hofstadter examines the political beliefs of the founding fathers in the first chapter of the American Political Tradition. Ideas thought about by most Americans to be the center of our organization, our founders viewed liberty, democracy, and property, as evil. The composition can be depicted to be vicious as well, because liberty, democracy, and property are linked to the United States Constitution.

The purpose of this paper is intended to summarize my views on what has influenced my understanding of politics and government prior to taking this class, and how my understanding is now since completing this course.

American Political Development- a growing subfield of American politics with important links to other fields of political science. Fifth Republic- the fifth and current republican constitution of France. An example of (APD) is them wanting more for themselves and less for everyone else. An example of fifth republic is just a presidential parliamentary form of government that had to prove themselves of not being weak due to a weak president in the fourth republic. They have been through many republics since the French revolution but they have proved they are stable government in the fifth republic and still doing so. I would have to say that the APD is more political than the fifth republic that’s why they don’t have much in common.

Governance is not constant. Throughout history the use of government has been constantly evolving; from monarchies and dictatorships to constitutional and democratic republics. Some forms of government last longer than others. Many modern political philosophers agree that the key to a successful government is survival, which The United States government seems to agree with; due to the fact that it has lasted significantly longer than other governments. The U.S Government has been surviving for over 200 years now. Modern political philosophers: Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Locke would all agree that the United State’s democracy is a solid form of government. They would also recognize a good amount of their own ideas within the government. The U.S government was developed by incorporating the ideas of the previously mentioned political philosophers as well as others. In this paper, I will be discussing the influence Machiavelli, Hobbes and Locke’s had on the U.S government, in addition to the generation and justification of my own “ideal” form of government.

Going back the road, to the distressing aftermath of World War One, there arose many questions about progressive political coordination of man and if civilization as they knew it then, was one of man’s greatest achievement or a revelation of his weaknesses. Growing questions about democracy were of raveling the minds of every citizen. America as a republic then, had suffered traumatic pains from several civil wars and political corruption and many feared the emergency of the “tyranny of the fifty one percent”. American democracy seemed to have suffered a blow from the start as it was considered as a fragile ideal. In

1. Charles A. B, (1927) Time, Technology, and the Creative Spirit in Political Science,” 21 Am. Political Science Review 1, 5.

The U.S political system is influenced by power and it should not be. Politics have been

This chapter interprets the American Political journey since revolution. Hartz (1991), uses this term ‘liberal tradition’ to explain American Creed, an agreement in U.S on political beliefs. Hartz (1991), says that American history led to an unusual uniformity, the history that didn’t challenge that liberal tradition. However, this often blinds Americans into policy alternatives, creates difficulties in understanding other societies without dominance of liberal tradition and increases fears of disharmony in society and ideas from foreign. According to Smith (1993), ascriptive hierarchy refers to a society with some groups at the top and others below. Those on top deserve all benefits and rights of liberal tradition but those below do not. Smith

Historic government feats are the basis for modern political ideology. American democracy was built on the successes of both the Greek and Roman empire along with a socialist safety net. The

Sir Walter Scott (1896) once said “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!” (Canto XI, XVII). In other words, lying leads to more deceit until one is so caught up in the lies that it is virtually impossible to escape. Truth is highly valued in society; so, what are the reactions when the leaders of society lie to their constituents? This is an issue that has recently manifested in the United States’ politics. With the election of President Donald Trump, the media have become increasingly interested in how truthful the members of the political system are. Many have started demanding transparency from those in positions of power. In contrast, some, who will be discussed later, believe that officials should be able

Rise of Democratic Politics: Between 1820 and 1840, a revolution took place in American politics. In most states, property qualifications for voting were repealed; and verbal voting was eliminated. The process of selecting county officials, state judges, and governors was replaced with a different method. Because of these and other political improvement, voter’s participation increased. In order to encourage participation in politics, the majority of states also instituted statewide did things that would help with the participation. For example, opening up polls in places that were in convenient locations, extended the hours that polls were open, and by eliminating verbal voting (if that make sense). Overall, the new methods when it came to the voting process helped the rise of the

Political scientists have developed several theories about American democracy, including majoritarian theory, elite theory, and theories of pluralism. The government ought to do what the majority of the people want, and elites decide what is good or bad for the people, and compromising decisions. (Textbook, pg.,15-17) So, our democracy is not just simple concept, but is complex. Among these theories, elitism seems outstanding issue to me because it can make all the rules, or laws only for their own interest or advantage. I wonder how we are able to trust those people only by the education they have received. They can do all the work only for their interest, not for the people. Even if they insist it is good for the public, or they have better

The United States is very political, but not politically united as a whole community. The current political system is in a shambles, to the point that it is a national joke. Although, it may be a joke to numerous citizens, it is embarrassing and highly frustrating to others. This political situation is not only happening on the federal level, it is also occurring on the local level in some states. Currently, there are disjointed political parties, politicians that have their own agendas that insist on following their mission regardless of consensus of their party; there are corporations that are lobbying the politicians and tension between the three branches of the government. It appears that no one in the government can work together for the common good of the whole United States.

I have applied to participate in the Hertog Summer Programs in Classical Political Philosophy and American Political Thought because of my passion for politics. This passion inspired me to become commit to the Major in Government at Georgetown University. A professor once gave me the following definition of politics as, “the resolution of conflict among the competing interests of individuals, groups, and or nations.” Therefore, the study of politics in my opinion is the study of how groups reach consequential decisions and resolve internal conflicts. I am interested in many dimensions of politics, but I have decided to apply to the Hertog Summer Programs in Classical Political Theory and American Political Thought because of my interest in the philosophical and theoretical dimensions of politics. As a participant in the Hertog Summer Programs, I hope to take an intellectual journey with fellow young scholars and brilliant professors that will deepen my understanding of the philosophies and values that have informed the America’s politics since the founding of the Articles of Confederation. This intellectual journey will help me to grow as a person because it will help me to better understand the values and thoughts that have shaped Western and American politics and the way in which politics affects our lives.