Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Thirteen American Arguments - Excerpt


Howard Fineman

First, I owe you a definition, then an explanation. You will see the word “argument” throughout this book. By “argument” I mean something besides shouting or name calling, though both often are part of the transaction. I mean a clash between at least two people (or regions, political parties, candidates, or economic interests) over facts and ideas in the search for answers—in this case, answers to questions about the future and fate of America. The gist (the “argument,” if you will) of this book is: We are the Arguing Country, born in, and born to, debate. The habit of doing so—the urgent, almost neurotic need to do so—makes us unique and gives us our freedom, creativity, and strength. By my count, there are thirteen foundational arguments that comprise our public life—hence the title of this book. Rather than argue too much, which is the conventional wisdom’s critique, we in fact do not argue enough, about the fundamentals. If we fail to draw strength from our argumentative nature, we risk losing what made us great and gives us hope. Our disputes are not a burden, but a blessing.

The Thirteen American Arguments - Excerpt
Howard Fineman - Newsweek Excerpt

John Jay - The Founders

December 12, 1745 – May 17,1829

John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, President of the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779 and, from 1789 to 1795, the first Chief Justice of the United States. During and after the American Revolution, he was an ambassador to Spain and France, helping to fashion American foreign policy and to secure favorable peace terms from the British (the Jay Treaty) and French. He co-wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.(From Wikipedia)

The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers


THE FEDERALIST PAPERS were written and printed from October 1787 until May 1788 to counter arguments of Antifederalists against ratification of the Constitution of 1787.
The papers were authored by three important founders Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.

Alexander Hamilton was the originator of this work and author of 51 of the essays; James Madison wrote 26 of them; three essays were writeen by Hamilton and Madison together; and John Jay wrote five of the papers.

The essays were all published under the pen name "Publius" This pseudonym referred to Publius Valerius Publicola, a defender of the ancient Roman Republic.

While Madison, Hamilton and Jay did not always agree with one another they agreed on the fundamental principles addressed by the Federalist Papers:

Republicanism: A republican government is based on the consent of the governed. Power in a Republic is delegated to a small number of citizens who are elected by the rest.

Federalism: In a federal republic, power is divided vertically between a general (federal) government and multiple state governments. Two levels of government, each supreme in its own sphere, can exercise powers separately and directly on the people. The constitution of a federal republic outlines the powers delegated to each (see Separation of Powers below). State governments can not ignore or contradict federal laws that conform to the the Constitution.

Separation of powers: The Constitution defines separates powers of government among three branches according to function. But this horizontal separation of powers is not complete. Each branch has various constitutional means to participate in the affairs of the others to check and balance powers in government and prevent one branch of the government from dominating the others. Federalist #47 focuses on this issue.

Free government: Republicanism, federalism, and the separation of powers are characteristics of free government. According to THE FEDERALIST, free government is popular government limited by law to protect the security, liberty, and property of individuals. A free government is powerful enough to provide protection against external and internal threats and limited enough to prevent tyranny in any form. In particular, free government is designed to guard against the "Tyranny of the Majority".

Overview of the Federalist Papers

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Alexander Hamilton - Founders

Brief Overview of Achievements
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804)

  • First United States Secretary of the Treasury
  • Founding Father,
  • Economist, and political philosopher.
  • Co-wrote the Federalist Papers, a primary source for Constitutional interpretation.
While Madison's contributions to the Constitution of the United States are by far the most profound of all the founders, Alexander Hamilton is probably the single individual who contributed the most to the debate that followed the adoption whereby congress and the people struggled to turn the framework of the constitution into practical tools and policies that would serve to institute the philosophies.

Wikipedia Biography

During his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton issued a series of five separate reports to the Congress that today are recognized as among the most comprehensive and profound arguments for an activist role within the Federal Government on those matters that would lay a firm foundation for the long term economic stability and power of the United States government.

President George Washington appointed Hamilton as the first Secretary of the Treasury on September 11, 1789. He left office on the last day of January 1795, and much of the structure of the Government of the United States was worked out in those five years, beginning with the structure and function of the Cabinet itself. Forrest McDonald argues that Hamilton saw his office, like the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, as that of a Prime Minister; Hamilton would oversee his colleagues under the elective reign of George Washington. Washington did request Hamilton's advice and assistance on matters outside the purview of the Treasury Department.

Hamilton's five reports:

Madison's death, in a duel with Aaron Burr would cut short the contributions of this remarkable founding father. One can only speculate at what else this intellectual giant might have contributed had he lived to a ripe old age.

James Madison - Founders

March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836
Brief Overview of Achievements
  • Father of the Constitution
  • Among Founding Fathers of the United States.
  • Considered to be the "Father of the Constitution", he was the principal author of the document.
  • Wrote over a third of the Federalist Papers, including Federalist #10 on Faction. The Federalist Papers remain the most influential commentary on the Constitution.
  • The first President to have also served in the United States Congress
  • was responsible for the first ten amendments to the Constitution (said to be based on the Virginia Declaration of Rights), and thus is also known as the "Father of the Bill of Rights"
  • Madison's most distinctive belief was that the new republic needed checks and balances to protect individual rights from the tyranny of the majority.

Wikipedia Biography

Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection

Federalist #9, and especially #10, "Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection" are recognized as two of the most important philosophical of the Federalist papers.

Federalist # 9 Publius. [Alexander Hamilton]

A firm Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States, as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection. It is impossible to read the history of the petty republics of Greece and Italy without feeling sensations of horror and disgust at the distractions with which they were continually agitated, and at the rapid succession of revolutions by which they were kept in a state of perpetual vibration between the extremes of tyranny and anarchy. If they exhibit occasional calms, these only serve as short-lived contrast to the furious storms that are to succeed. If now and then intervals of felicity open to view, we behold them with a mixture of regret, arising from the reflection that the pleasing scenes before us are soon to be overwhelmed by the tempestuous waves of sedition and party rage. If momentary rays of glory break forth from the gloom, while they dazzle us with a transient and fleeting brilliancy, they at the same time admonish us to lament that the vices of government should pervert the direction and tarnish the lustre of those bright talents and exalted endowments for which the favored soils that produced them have been so justly celebrated.

Full Document


Federalist #10
Publius
. [James Madison]

Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so much alarmed for their character and fate, as when he contemplates their propensity to this dangerous vice. He will not fail, therefore, to set a due value on any plan which, without violating the principles to which he is attached, provides a proper cure for it. The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public councils, have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished; as they continue to be the favorite and fruitful topics from which the adversaries to liberty derive their most specious declamations. The valuable improvements made by the American constitutions on the popular models, both ancient and modern, cannot certainly be too much admired; but it would be an unwarrantable partiality, to contend that they have as effectually obviated the danger on this side, as was wished and expected. Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority. However anxiously we may wish that these complaints had no foundation, the evidence, of known facts will not permit us to deny that they are in some degree true. It will be found, indeed, on a candid review of our situation, that some of the distresses under which we labor have been erroneously charged on the operation of our governments; but it will be found, at the same time, that other causes will not alone account for many of our heaviest misfortunes; and, particularly, for that prevailing and increasing distrust of public engagements, and alarm for private rights, which are echoed from one end of the continent to the other. These must be chiefly, if not wholly, effects of the unsteadiness and injustice with which a factious spirit has tainted our public administrations.

Full Text of Federalist #10

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The Charters of Freedom


Rarely do we hear reference to this term used to describe the three founding documents of the United States that are considered instrumental to the founding of the nation and the fulfillment of the philosophy of democratic government.

Each document stands alone in its power and importance to the nation but none fully define the reach and nuance of the democratic ideal without the others.

These documents are the United States Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. (Links to Wikipedia pages for these documents).

While the term has not entered particularly common usage, the room at the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. that houses the three documents is called the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.

Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

1776

Audio version from eJunto

Text of the Declaration of Independence

Chronology of Events

Chronology of the Revolution

Jefferson's account of the Declaration.

Signers of the Declaration

Links to related information.



Thomas Jefferson Selected as the Author Because Richard H. Lee Was Absent — The 141st Anniversary Next Wednesday: A fascinating article from the NY Times July 1, 1917.

Richard Henry Lee

Richard Henry Lee
January 20, 1732 – June 19, 1794
An American statesman from Virginia best known for the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. His famous resolution of June 1776 might have led him to be the author of the Declaration of Independence had he not been called home because of his wife's untimely illness. This historic happenstance led to the appointment of his protege, and the Junior representative from Virginia, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson would pen what many say is the most important political statement of the Millenium and forever enshrine himself in the hearts and minds of his countrymen. The United States Declaration of Independence, which Lee signed, was penned by "the second stringer", Jefferson.

Lee also served a one-year term as the President of the Continental Congress, and was a U.S. Senator from Virginia from 1789 to 1792, serving during part of that time as one of the first Presidents pro tempore.

The Lee Resolution

Saturday, May 9, 2009

American Beginnings

This blog accompanies a section of US History in the 20th Century. It is intended to serve as a touchstone to the important events of the "American Journey" preceding the 20th Century in America. As such we'll examine certain key historic and cultural events of the colonial period, the period during and after the revolution and even the pre-columbian/colonial period to some extent.