The most important thing a historian can do is provide the world with a reliable, sound knowledge of history and the truth in what has happened in our society. Without a solid understanding of where we came from, we cannot understand why things are the way they are, how we got here, and where we’re going. The farther back time goes, the harder it is to know for sure what the absolute facts are, however, there is plenty of evidence to let us know what happened during some of the most important time periods of our nation’s history. In The Last Of The Fathers: James Madison & The Republican Legacy, Drew R. McCoy uses both primary and secondary sources to show us facts about James Madison’s life and how he helped to build America. His use of reliable
James Madison’s Federalist 10 was written amid criticisms that a republican form of government had never been successful on a large scale. Madison’s argument was that a well-constructed union could control factions. He argued that in order to control factions from their causes, we would need to either give up liberty or free thought. Since we cannot infringe upon these two natural rights, we must move on to controlling the effects. A republic, Madison argues, would be able to do this because the people choose the representatives, and they choose representatives who they feel best represent their opinions.
Chapter 9 The Jefferson Era was between 1800 and 1816. It started with The Federalist and Republican Parties fighting an election campaign in 1800. Federalists supported President Adams and Charles Pinckney for vice president. Republicans nominated Thomas Jefferson for president and Aaron Burr as his running mate.
Our founding fathers are known to be some of the most important men in our nation's history. These men collectively shaped our great country and helped make it what it is today. You can say their name, and most anyone would know them and be able to rattle off a list of facts they probably learned in grade school. But how much do we really know these men…the men beyond the elementary school lessons? Gordon S. Wood set out to go below the surface and look further into some of the most well know American founders in his book Revolutionary Characters, What Made the Founders Different.
The article “Classic Republicanism and the American Revolution” is written by Brown University History Professor, Gordon S. Wood. With Wood’s own words and in text quotes from historical figures such as Hamilton and John Adams, to referencing other credited political essays, this piece was full to the brim of Republicanism ideology. Republicanism is constantly changing, in terms of what it means. Gordon Wood quotes John Adams with “Republicanism ‘may signify anything, everything, or nothing’”(14). It is important to note that a large part of what Wood is trying to convey to the audience is that Republicanism is not trying to destroy monarchical government, but it is meant to “reform and revitalize their society” and to “improve monarchy, not cut off the heads of kings” (14).
The topic I would be doing would be on/about Alexander Hamilton in regards to The Federalist Papers. This topic is significant, because it draws on the Founding Father whose writing influenced/shaped the composition of the Early American Republic, and has given rise to many institutions/developments that can be traced to this day. As quite a controversial and well-debated document, The Federalist Papers was designed as a series of essays used to defend the Constitution—upon which we still call upon today. The five sources that provide a basic foundation to begin the project are: “To Begin the World Anew” by Bernard Bailyn, “The Political Psychology of the Federalist” by Daniel Walker Howe, “Ethos in Law and History: Alexander Hamilton,
I have feel a bit better than before in the beginning of the History 7A from writing the essay. This time my focus was on the different of political parties on their successes and weakness. I have more on their successes than on their failures. I talk more on Andrew Jackson since he was an important candidate that started the Jacksonian Democrats. He created the Corrupt Bargain that say John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay made a deal among each other and made it impossible for Jackson to win the election.
I don't know that I really agree with either one of these positions! You see, in Federalist #10, Madison argues against the establishment of factions, which some people have taken to mean that he was opposed to political parties - not separate branches of government. Madison states that factions can be destroyed by limiting individual liberty (which is undesirable) or by creating a homogeneous society (which is impractical. Because the causes of factionalism cannot be curbed, its effects must be limited by making a republic large enough, with enough checks and balances, such that a majority faction cannot gain power at the expense of minority factions, fooling voters and exploiting their passions. In federalist 51, the idea of having three
In this source, the impact of America’s founders, such as Patrick Henry, and the impact they have on modern America are discussed. The American Founders remain the most important authority for deciding if principles of the American government are legitimate even though time periods have changed. Their ideals in liberty are taken into account when laws are passed today. This resource is very useful in describing the impact of the speech.
James Madison formed our country today and most of his work on forming America was behind the scenes. “Although James Madison is by no means a forgotten man among America’s founding generation, he is often underappreciated” (Faber,291). Faber is stating that we all know James Madison as a founding founder but most of his accomplishments are overlooked. Many other influential figures are known more for their legacy than James Madison. One of these people is George Washington, who Madison worked under when Jefferson was president.
In the journal article “ Andrew Jackson versus the Historians”, author Charles G. Sellers explained the various interpretations of Jackson, from the viewpoint of Whig historians and Progressive Historians. These interpretations were based on the policies of Jackson. The Whig historians viewed the former president in a negative way. They considered him arrogant, ignorant, and not fit for being president. Sellers pointed out that it was not just because of “Jackson’s personality…nor was it the general policies he pursued as president”
Madison contributed very much to the writing of the Constitution and to the Bill of Rights and is often called the Father of the Constitution. James Madison became the Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson in 1801. He then became our fourth President of the United States in 1809. In 1787, James Madison was selected
A child was born on the 16th of March in 1751 on Belle Grove, a plantation located in Port Conway, Virginia. This child was the eldest of his parents’ twelve children, and was from a very well-off family. His father gained wealth by inheritance, while his mother was a daughter of an affluent tobacco merchant. During his youth, he suffered from different types of illnesses which held him off from doing a lot of activities that other children were able to do. Nevertheless, little did we know that this child grew up as the person who our nation now know as the “Father of Constitution.”
I believe that reading the classics is very important. Reading the classics can give us some insight into how they influenced people years later. The classics have influenced the founding fathers, science, and new writers with their ideas and views on the world and philosophy. If we stop reading the classics we would lose so much ranging from mundane to the extremely important.
James Madison stated that war is detrimental to the existence of freedom in society. His claims in “Political Observations” exemplify his respect for the influence of public thought. If all sides of an issue are shown to the public the truth eventually will come out. Some of the reasons why he classified war as the most dreaded enemy to public liberty include war is the guardian of armies, debts, and taxes, war disrupts the balance of the Executive and Legislative branches, and countries would have difficulty maintaining freedom with constant warfare. Madison alleged that war was the keeper of armies, debts, and taxes.
Alexander Hamilton (2004) is a detailed true story of one of the most important figures in American history. It is based on Hamilton’s early life. As a politician, as a revolutionary war hero, and the first treasury secretary, Hamilton dedicated his life and intellect to unifying and strengthening the United States. Hamilton in truth did perhaps more than any other one person to secure the power of the American Union. Though he was never president, he was a hero deemed as a true founding father, title he kept till his death.