Interpretational Frameworks
Each framework; Classical Liberal, Classical Republican, and Progressive each have contrasting principles for their framework. The Progressives framework is created on the idea that the Founders actions are based on economic interest and human greed. They believe that history was created through the struggles between social classes. Unlike the Progressive interpretation, the Liberal interpretation argues that the Founders ideas mattered the most. Founders were motivated by their own personal beliefs rather than economic interests of that the Progressives believed. The Republican interpretation disagrees with the Liberal interpretation that ideas and beliefs are the sole motivation, but they think that they should still be studied. Republicans also reject the progressive view that Founders were only interested in their fortune. Instead, Republicans believe that the Founders were inspired by ancient societies like the Greeks and Romans and the Enlightenment.
The teachings of the three
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Progressives, Liberals, and Republicans all have differing views as to why the United States rebelled against England. Progressives believe that the war was fought for economic reasons, instead of on a basis of principles like the Liberals and Republicans believe. Liberals think the war was fought because the colonies had taxation without representation, and the Republicans believe the war was fought because the Founders wanted to break away from England’s corrupt government. The sources to which each framework base their views on also differs. Liberals only examine the major documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Federalist papers. Similarly, the Progressives use the Constitution and Articles of Confederation. Differing from the Liberals and Progressives, Republicans look at all documents and sources available from
Although Republicans and Federalists were characterized as having particular views towards the implementation of the Constitution, the Jefferson and Madison presidencies prove that even though virtually they believe one thing, realistically they could very possibly act another way.
In the early 19th century the two dominant political parties, the Jeffersonian Republicans and the Federalists, had many opposing beliefs. With respect to the federal constitution, the Jeffersonian Republicans were viewed as strict constructionists who were opposed to the broad and lenient constructionism of the Federalists. The Jeffersonian Republicans were supported by commoners and the middle class. In general, they favored limiting the power of the national government, they believed that farming should serve as the backbone of the economy based on agriculture, and they supported the cause of the French Revolution. Contrary to such beliefs were those of the Federalists who were supported by the wealthy and aristocrats. Federalists, who
The onset 20th Century holds two main movements: The Populists and The Progressives. These two parties are similar, but their policies and philosophies hold diversities. The Populists party comprises of farmers and poor whites in the south; they focus on eastern interests i.e. railroads and banks. The Populists also call for government action, to intervene and to create an efficient society which includes a flourishing middle class. The Progressives include educated middle class men and men of universities, they too demanded for reform, but accomplish their goals through legislation and the judicial system. The Progressives focused on reform as well as destroying the Robber Barons. Some Progressives were actually a part of the Populist Party; they weren’t contradictory parties. To simplify the matter The Populist party held picnics in order to present discussions, while the Progressives hold educated and sophisticated men of great esteem who were much more formal.
Thesis: In The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution, Bernard Bailyn argues that the ideology of the American Revolution was inspired by a variety of source such as enlightenment writers, past revolutions, and political corruption in the homeland of England.
The economic causes of the war are often thought of as second hand reasons for the war. Many people believe the war was truly caused by political arguments and intellectual disputes. People believe the war was called for in order to “preserve liberty, and end British tyranny.” The revolution is often considered a reflection of the colonist’s ideals. Many historians and political experts find the American Revolution to be a purely constitutional dispute, not a disguise for social conflicts. The dispute of governing the colonies is what was agued over for great periods of time. Many documents show the political sides of the revolution such as the declaration of independence, the olive branch petition, and common sense. These documents show what the colonists’ ideas were like and what the political side of the revolution was like.
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.
“There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.” (Woodrow Wilson) This quote from one of the most progressive presidents of all time, really represents what the progressives were after during their movement; during the Progressive Era, American citizens were looking for change socially, politically, and economically due to urbanization and industrialization. Although all 3 of the early 20th century presidents were progressive in their reforms, Theodore Roosevelt was the most progressive out of these because he regulated business, fought for labor reform, and conserved natural resources.
The origins of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties can be traced back to the early 1790s. Initially, the Federalists, or broad constructionists, favored the growth of federal power and a strong central government. The Federalists promulgated a loose interpretation of the Constitution, which meant that they believed that the government could do anything by the implied powers of the Constitution or that congress had the right to interpret the Constitution based on connotation. On the contrary, the Democratic-Republicans favored the protection of states’ rights and the strict containment of federal power. The Democratic-Republicans were strict constructionists and they
1. Why did Americans choose not only to break from Britain, but adopt a republican form of government in 1776? What Republican ideas did they share, and what did they disagree about? The Americans chose to break from Britain for a lot of different reasons. But the main reason was they wanted freedom from parliament; they did not want to be governed from overseas, they got sick and tired of the taxation and laws. They adopted the republican government because they did want to be a monarchy or dictatorship; America wanted the “people to rule” the country. They saw how a monarchy worked and did not want to be trapped in the same position Britain’s king was in. America and Britain had similarities and differences in
In early America, there were three factions that developed within the colonies- Loyalists, Patriots, and fence-sitters (neutral). This melting pot of different ideas, goals, and outlooks is what made pre-Revolutionary War America so volatile. These three factions seem easy to identify, Patriots wanted freedom from the crown all together, Loyalists want to stay British, and fence-sitters want to stay out of the political battle all together. However, it goes much farther than that, many different backgrounds and goals drove these people forward. Many did not take up the title of Loyalist or Patriot unless the struggles affected them directly, many more only took sides when it was profitably to
The early years of the Constitution of the United States were full of political strife. The two prominent political ideals were complete opposites. The Jeffersonian Republicans were focused on giving power to the people and maintaining a pastoral economy, while the Federalists supported the control of the government by the elite class, and maintaining “positive” democracy. Both parties feared the influence and effect the other party would have on the public. In Linda K. Kerber's article, “The Fears of the Federalists”, the major concerns Federalists held in the early 19th century are described. Ever since the war with and separation from England, the citizens of America were seen to be continually drive to “patriotic rebellion” as a way to
Enlightenment ideas helped the Americans fight against British rule and create a new nation. With the fight for their new nation came the Declaration of Independence. This document is based on the beliefs of John Locke. John’s teachings mostly focused on self-government and natural rights. John Locke Believed that everyone was created equal with the same three natural rights. The Declaration of Independence argued for natural rights and equality as well. The Declaration of Independence was influenced by Locke’s idea of Equal rights and self-government. They liked the idea of a Democracy, the rule of the people. The United States’ Declaration of Independence states. The American colonist separated from Britain because King George 3rd was not governing the people correctly. For example, he created “Taxation without Representation”. Taxation without Representation is when the American Colonist were being taxed unfairly. John Locke believed the government was there to protect the people, and if they were not being protected they have the right to rebel against the ruler. This is exactly what the American colonist did. The document by the colonies declaring separation from Britain, stated. John Locke’s beliefs of self-government influenced the colonies to rebel and become it’s own
In the early 1800s, a new nation, the United States of America, was finding an identity for itself. It had grey areas including expansion, interpretation of the Constitution, foreign policy, and conflict regarding sectionalism. These problems led to multiple events including the following: the Louisiana Purchase, the Embargo Act of 1807, and the War of 1812. During the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison, the Constitution was the main conflict of the republicans and Federalists. Jefferson’s republicans had opposite views than those of Federalists regarding the Constitution, but they changed their views during events such as the Louisiana Purchase. Both Jefferson and Madison were strict constructionists, and Federalists were loose interpreters,
The Declaration of Independence didn't accurately represent all colonist because not all colonist agreed that they should be independent and separate from Great Britain. A clergyman named Charles Inglis created a pamphlet called, "The True Interest of America Impartially Stated," to show as to how strongly he disagreed with the idea of becoming independent. In his article he proclaimed that,"I am confident she may obtain honourable and advantageous terms from Great-Britain", in which he would have thought it was better to stay loyal to the mother country (Inglis). Also in, "America's History: Seventh Edition," it talked about farmers not caring about being free from British rule until it started messing with their land and money (Henretta, Edwards, Self 153). Before Inglis created his pamphlet a different pamphlet was made to show colonists why breaking away from England would be a great idea, this pamphlet was called, "Common Sense." It spread like wildfire talking about the best interest for the colonists. In this document it was said,"not make havoc of mankind like the royal brute of Great Britain," this contradicted the first quote in Inglis' pamphlet which in turn meant not all colonists were not on the same page (Paine). Both of these pamphlets were directed to the colonists and expected them to float into other audiences of the world as
The governing philosophies of these two thinkers gave rise to political parties through faction’s polarizations on opposite sides of politics. Those behind Jefferson’s democratic republicans gave support to the rights of the states, support of the French revolution and a strict reading of the American Constitution. Towards the French Revolution, people behind the federalism of Hamilton’s had selected for a strong central government with a hands off technique approach.