Founding Fathers of American Politics - Essay Example

assignment is due United s came into existence after the American Revolution and it joined the contemporary intellectual movement of the period that was named as Age of Enlightenment. The intellectual champions of early America deemed themselves as pioneers of enlightenment and used it for building the very base of their nation. This was a big revolution as the nation was so far considered as barbaric and uncivilized by the kingly Europeans. Eighteenth century Americans had a wonderful view about this enlightenment. Leaders like Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine threw away their monarchial background and jumped into a republican concept that says that men are created equal and everybody has equal rights. They attempted hard to erase the concept of elitism and worked hard to bring equality in the nation. America through the enlightenment achieved great homogeneity and unity. They committed the entire nation to a single language unlike the Europeans. This homogeneity that was generated out of the enlightenment became the greatest strength of America and founded the base for what it is now. The powerful dreams of the American Enlightenment paved the way for America's independence. This alone created the basic principles of the American Government. The enlightenment concepts made people understand that a ruler or a government needs to strictly adhere to the higher laws of the republic. Political geniuses like Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, Samuel Adams, John Adams, and James Madison successfully built up a government that was supported by the people of the republic. These founding fathers were able to put the foundation of such an unconquerable kingdom that is still keen in protecting the natural rights of man. They made lasting impacts on the democracy of America. The encouraging ideas of the classical writings and the atmosphere that helped people develop a craze for wisdom and knowledge were the major feature of the enlightenment period. Developments started putting in the fields of science, religion, and politics and thinkers supported the entire process with their exploding thoughts. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" and Thomas Jefferson's "Declaration of Independence" were some of the outcomes of the radical Enlightenment assumptions. Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" was one of the results of the enlightenment period. The pamphlet that was published during the American Revolution stimulated the revolution and criticized the British rule harshly. The thoughts of the pamphlet became extremely popular and echoed in the minds of the American citizens. Paine gave the copyright for Common Sense to the states, thereby becoming the greatest volunteer of the enlightenment movement. Thomas Jefferson's "Declaration of Independence" is another written proof of the enlightening thoughts of the period. “Declaration of Independence” which is the most important reform of American history said that the Thirteen Colonies were independent of Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson, the author of the declaration has clearly stated the reasons for the separation from the British power. This “Declaration of Independence” is the ultimate reaction of the enlightenment period that earnestly sought freedom from the powerful hands of the British Empire. It is the written form of the desire of the early Americans. The thirst for independence that developed through the ideas of the enlightenment thinkers culminated into the United States Declaration of Independence. The philosophical background of the “Declaration of Independence” is nothing but the spirit of republicanism that was born during the enlightenment period. Republicanism or the basic framework of liberty is the core of the enlightenment philosophy. George Washington’s name can never be omitted if we speak about the history of democracy in the United States. George Washington had in his hand the choice to make America a democracy, dictatorship or kingdom. More than thrice he had the fully power to transform US democracy into a dictatorship or democracy. What is admirable about him is his efforts to present himself as a model leader who can shoulder a nation. He restricted his own power to make the government of the people by the people, a reality. He got chances to personally gain control of the United States. He could become the governor of Virginia and extend his power from there. He refused such offers. Later he was requested to become the King of the nation which he politely refused. Later he received good opportunity to serve a third term as President. He refused such positions, attempting to exalt democracy in the United States. Washington laid the foundation for American democracy not by words but by putting an example. Benjamin Franklin and his contemporaries Jefferson and George Washington recognized the corruption and tyranny associated with the system of few people controlling the nation. They rejected the aristocratic type of regime that remained in Europe. They prepared a ruling system based on representational democracy. Benjamin Franklin was a part of the Continental Congress that formed the Articles of Confederation. He participated in the drafting of Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. These documents support the role of an individual in the nation’s political process. These documents also promise State protection of citizen’s rights. Benjamin Franklin also played a major role in American Revolution and the early days of the nation. In the last few years of his life he became part of the Constitutional Convention. He also served as the elected president of the Pennsylvania Society because of his attempt to abolish slavery. His attempts to uphold the system of democracy is most notable. The legacy of James Madison in the formation of democracy in America is notable. The political talents and the interests and leadership skills of James Madison came to action in the public affairs and political dealings that he engaged in. Madison successfully accomplished the mission of creating and extending national republic in United States. Madison played a major role in all the significant developments of American national politics during his time. His magnificent efforts and excellent leading was the force behind the authorization and the amendment of the Articles of Confederation, the formation of the first amendments, the acceptance and ratification of the Federal Constitution, the formation of the first opposition party, the first reported controversies about constitutional interpretation, and the long political and military struggle that concluded with the 1812 War. Madison's great role in the American constitutional tradition is a great proof of his remarkable capacity to comprehend the fundamental aspects and problems of political situation which he acquired through his experiences and fights in the political struggle. The lasting achievements of Madison are indeed a great contribution to American constitutional tradition. He tried hard to define the discrete issues of majority power as well as minority rights. His concept of government and his idea about the nation’s constitution was one that filled with the theories of liberty. James Madison is better known as the ‘Father of the Constitution,’ as he played a great role in the formation of the constitution of United States in 1787 (along with Alexander Hamilton as well as John Jay). He was the foremost advocate of republicanism which he believed to be the political value system for the newly forming America of those times. Working together with Thomas Jefferson, he formed the Republican Party (opposing the Federalist party) leading a movement of congressional political activism which was found to be successful in the Revolution of 1800. Being the Secretary of State of Jefferson, he managed the Louisiana Purchase, thereby increasing (almost doubling) the size of the nation. Madison declared war on Britain, the 1812 War. Even though the war did not reach its goal, it ended on a high note in 1815 as a novel spirit of nationalism that moved across the nation after the war. Madison’s exceptional skills in political science and his influential logic made him the main architect of the most important governmental document and presented him the name the ‘master builder of the Constitution’. An American history learner would also like to call him the greatest volunteer of ‘governmental power to promote liberty’. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis that deals with the life and mission of the primary players of post-revolutionary America. The text is all about the human dynamics and vivid personalities that influenced and shaped the early republic. The book gives an influencing study on the lives and missions of the fathers of American Republic - Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. In Founding brothers, Joseph J. Ellis explains the confused interactions between these men. These great men were sometimes collaborative accepting each others views and concepts. They also had differing views on certain other issues. The text looks into the various types of fellowships and opinion sharing between these men. The text also revealed the private life of these great public personas and the various antagonistic interactions that occurred between these great personalities. Founding brothers include Adams, the ever-combative iconoclast who had his wife Abigail as his closest political collaborator. The book also gives us a clear picture about Hamilton who had a simple and unnoticeable origin. The brave actions and the strong economic savvy later concealed his low origins. The book illustrates Jefferson as a skilled orator, a man of extraordinary eloquence (though being a reserved and reticent type). Madison is said as shy yet effective and talented debaters of his period. Washington the most indispensable figure of American politics is also wonderfully portrayed in the text. All the great personalities who are mentioned here were well aware that they were part of a great period in the history of America and their memories and experiences are very much valuable for the nation. The author himself says in the first section of the book that these great men knew that they would be remembered. Founding brothers explains how the issue of slavery became a great menace to the founding of the new nation. These great men were very much aware about the importance of the cause and knew that attempting to solve the issue in the beginning of the establishment of the republic would perplex the whole situation and split the country apart. These founding fathers intelligently dealt with the nation. They played a great role in the establishment of the republic. According to Ellis, intensely personal causes controlled the entire republic and the leaders had strange visions and values. Worked Cited Joseph J. Ellis, Founding brothers, Recorded Books, 2001 Rakove, Jack N. Oscar Handlin (ed.), James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic, Longman, 2002. Armitage, David. "The Declaration of Independence and International Law." William and Mary Quarterly 2002 59(1): 39-64. Bancroft, George. History of the United States of America, from the discovery of the American continent. (1854-78), vol 8. Becker, Carl. The Declaration of Independence: A Study on the History of Political Ideas (1922). Ellis, Joseph J., ed. What Did the Declaration Declare? Bedford Books, 1999. 110 pp. Gustafson, Milton. "Travels of the Charters of Freedom." Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives and Records Administration 2004 (Special Issue): 8-13. Read More