Summary: The Rise Of The Washington Establishment

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

In “The Rise of the Washington Establishment” by Morris P. Fiorina, he stats his overall theory about the establishment that is Washington. Fiorina mainly focuses on congress men and their wishes, but also mentions bureaucrats and voters. To start off, Fiorina makes 3 major assumptions about the establishment. First, people act in their own interest. That’s not always negative, it just means people are going to go after their own dreams and wishes. Second, the primary goal of a congressman is to be re-elected. Hopefully, it is so they can continue benefitting the people that they represent. Lastly, the voters will benefit from those they elect into power. Therefore, both sides win, the congressman gets re-elected and the people get a voice

Washington's indubitable virtue, wise judgment, and superlative record of service can easily be seen to have united a disparate country, lending legitimacy to the government.

In The Rise of the Washington Establishment, Fiorina says that Congress partakes in 3 certain things; one is lawmaking. Another is pork barreling. He describes this as the government spending money on projects, primarily around their own area, that will bring money to their district. Lastly is case work. As the passage continues he goes more into depth about his thoughts on all three of these duties.

In his book Hardball, Chris Matthews discusses the useful strategies for getting ahead in politics that he observed during his time working in Washington, D.C. He breaks up his observations into chapters with different lessons. Three of the most important lessons are “It's Not Who You Know; It's Who You Get to Know,” (Chapter 1) “All Politics is Local,” (Chapter 2) and “Dance With the One That Brung Ya.” (Chapter 4). These chapters illustrate how important making and keeping connections and relationships is in Washington. The “game of politics” is played by using these relationships to gain favors, votes, support, etc. According to Matthews, the people who get ahead are the ones who make and keep these important connections and relationships with other politicians and the public.

department in his cabinet was the department of state. The Department of State was made to work on foreign policy issues and to negotiate treaties and agreements. The Department of War was another one set up by Washington. It was changed to the Department of Defense in 1947 because the Department of War made it seem like we always wanted a fight. The Department of War was made to have control of all things military. They kept the troops in check and told the president how the troops were acting. The final one Washington made was the Department of the Treasury. The Department of Treasury tells the president the financial state of the United States, commands the Secret Service, and authorizes the printing of the United States Postal Service stamps

He argues about political equality where people are equally qualified to rule and make political judgment decision's like those made by government.which will allow people to equally represent themselves in the government. He also describes equality of opportunity and equality of condition .If one becomes wealthy due to his intelligence, initiative and luck then there is no conflict with political equality but if political elite uses his political power to gain privileges that are being denied to others then it can cause political inequality in the society. Social and Economic Inequality can also cause Political Inequality in the society. During the Postwar Era when the American economy was booming and income was increased during that time period .This

He discusses all that is wrong with the wealthy individuals and how they are spoiled. He makes his argument by revealing how wealth is disposed of, “There are but three modes in which surplus wealth can be disposed of. It can all be left to the families of the descendants; or it can be bequeathed for public purposes; or, finally, it can be administrated during their lives by its possessors” (3). The author is Andrew Carnegie and intended audience is the general public but more specifically are those of wealth and make them conscious of how surplus wealth is disposed of. This is a primary source and reveals that even though this was how the world was a decade ago, it is quite similar and not much has

After World War ll many economic, social, and political challenges shaped and greatly affected Washington. Some examples of economic challenges were The Cold War, The Korean war and the Space race. Some social challenges were the fear of nuclear attack, the red scare and the post war job losses. Political challenges would be the Women’s rights movement, housing discrimination and civil disobedience. How did these challenges affect us?

In Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, a modern David and Goliath story of a man taking on a system way more powerful than himself is evident in its themes of patriotism and standing up in the face of injustice. James Stewart’s portrayal of a naïve and patriotic junior senator serves as a vehicle with which Capra exposed a side of American politics that previously had been beyond the eyes of the everyman. With the help of incredible supporting actors, such as Jean Arthur and Claude Rains, Stewart’s character became one of the most well liked and rooted for characters in cinema. The film is “considered by many to be his greatest achievement in film”www.filmsite.org, and for good reason. Beyond any tangible merits the movie contains, there is a quality of wholesomeness about Smith’s story that is inspirational as it is reminiscent of the modern American dream.

Dred Scott went through a grueling process walking on the line of being a slave and a free man for almost his entire life. He was a brave man that had a passion for the taste of freedom. Instead of running away, he took advantage of the American legal system and sued for his freedom. He pushed as hard as he could for his freedom in court. Many years of court appeals and reversals eventually put his case in the United States Supreme Court. Dred Scott’s fight for liberty is considered one of the most famous court cases ever.

Congressmen and women who are able to campaign have more wealth than the average American, which enables them to build political

Twenty years after the signing of the Deceleration of Independence America had successfully won their, and begun to build the first democratic republic, and then witness the prodpeful 8-year rain of George Washtion. As Washington rain came to an end, he decides to advise the people: his American people. Washington’s 1796 farewell address letter was a call to action for the American people’ call that would ask them to hold their constitution close to their hearts and to stay united.

I believe the Elite Power theory because I believe there are elite people that place people in certain position to control the outcome of events. For example, the election of the president I believe is chosen that way. We vote for the president however I believe there are people in high places such as executive, legislative, and judicial branches that control outcome of the election. If I believe in the elite power theory, I definitely believe there are a few that control policy and the government.

1.Analyze the evolution of the American political system. Be sure to include one individual or document that influenced the Constitution and one change in the federal system.