Americas political tradition the american political tradition and the men who made it. And the men who made it study guide questions and answers. Hofstadters pivotal position in american historical scholarship derives from the fact that he himself examined just such new problems. The american political tradition and the men who made it by richard hofstadter richard hofstadter published the american political tradition and the men who made it in 1948, combining twelve interlinked essays about the development of american history and politics from the early days of the republic to the presidency of franklin roosevelt. And the men who made it, by richard hofstadter excerpt from chapter 5. Rejecting his earlier communist approach to history, in the 1950s he came closer to the concept of consensus history, and was epitomized by some of his.
An age of realism by richard hofstadter wherever the real power in a government lies, there is the danger of oppression. The american political tradition and the men who made it is a 1948 book by richard hofstadter, an account on the ideology of previous presidents of the united. The american political tradition and antiintellectualism in. First published in 1948, its elegance, passion, and iconoclastic erudition laid the groundwork for a totally new understanding of the american past. The american political tradition has become one of the most influential and widely read historical volumes of our time. By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way.
Richard hofstadter is undoubtedly one of the great figures in the american historical canon. Richard hofstadter, the american political tradition and the. This is a study of the american core values by the famous consensus historian richard hofstadter. As hofstadter himself asserted, he had no agenda in writing his book other than attempting to take a closer, more objective view of the political thoughts and philosophies of prominent american statesmen and assessing how those perspectives contributed to the american political tradition. Rejecting his earlier communist approach to history, in the 1950s he came closer to the concept of consensus history, and was epitomized by some of his admirers as the. This essay was adapted from the herbert spencer lecture, delivered at oxford university in november 1963. In the paranoid style in american politics, acclaimed historian richard hofstadter examines the competing forces in american political discourse and how fringe groups can influence and derail the larger. The american political tradition is one of the most influential and widely read historical volumes of our time. Jun 22, 2017 richard hofstadter is undoubtedly one of the great figures in the american historical canon. It uses documents drawn from hofstadters personal papers, those of his publisher alfred a. The paranoid style in american politics, and other essays. Richard hofstadter author of antiintellectualism in. This paper addresses the continued association of richard hofstadter with consensus history.
American political tradition and the men who made it. Richard hofstadters the american political tradition. This timely reissue of richard hofstadters classic work on the fringe groups that influence american electoral politics offers an invaluable perspective on contemporary domestic affairs. Richard hofstadters the american political tradition 1948 depends for its reputation on the authors rich historiographical heritage, including the progressive vision of charles beard, a somewhat detached and ironic vision of america also shared with his friend, c. Sep 06, 2007 the american political tradition and the men who made it by richard hofstadter richard hofstadter published the american political tradition and the men who made it in 1948, combining twelve interlinked essays about the development of american history and politics from the early days of the republic to the presidency of franklin roosevelt. From 1942 to 1946 he taught at the university of maryland. By tracing hofstadter s development, then, we may not only comprehend his true historiographic status but also gain valuable clues for discerning the nature of american historical writing in our own day. The american political tradition and the men who made it study guide by consists of approx. Hofstadters introduction proposes that the major political traditions in the united states, despite contentious battles, have all. The american political tradition by richard hofstadter. It had been around a long time before the radical right discovered itand its targets have ranged from the international bankers to masons, jesuits, and munitions makers. The american political tradition, by richard hofstadter. Find materials for this course in the pages linked along the left. The american political tradition 1948, the age of reform 1955, antiintellectualism in american life 1963, and the paranoid style in american politics 1964 are works that all american history students encounter.
In the paranoid style in american politics, acclaimed historian richard hofstadter examines the competing forces in american political discourse and how fringe groups can. The american political tradition exudes an air of maturity belying its authors later claim that it was visibly a young mans book. Calhoun, the marx of the master class abraham lincoln and the selfmade myth wendell phillips, the patrician as agitator the spoilsmen, an age of cynicism. Richard hofstadter from the american political tradition richard hofstadter, one tifthe nations leading historians, explores the real thoughts and motivations behind the men whom all schoolchildren have been taught to revere as founding fathers. Back in springfield, politics had been a sort of exhilarating game. Soon after, he decided to pursue a writing career and study the history of politics. By tracing hofstadters development, then, we may not only comprehend his true historiographic status but also gain valuable clues for discerning the nature of american historical writing in our own day.
More specifically, it challenges the view that the origins of this conservative trend in american history can be located within the american political tradition. Hofstadter s classic work points out the ambivalence tif those who wrote the constitution. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition, and others. The american political tradition richard hofstadter pdf and the. Originally interested in american political history and in the history of ideas, he discovered that the area of his deepest concern lay between the two fields, at the intersection of their perimeters, and that he wanted to write about. The paranoid style in american politics harpers magazine. The american political tradition richard hofstadter. Born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the twentieth century. The american political tradition and the men who made it is the story of the major social and political figures in american history that shaped the institutions and practices of the united states.
Vann woodward, and the literary and intellectual traditions of his own time, running from marx. Hofstadter, and a germanamerican lutheran mother, katherine nee hill, who died when richard was ten. Hofstadter defines history that it changes as people write, think, teach, and feel about past. Despite their distrust hofstadter makes it clear that the founders were committed to democracy. In short, hofstadters analysis of the american political tradition shows that that tradition is, broadly speaking, on the right. As hofstadter himself asserted, he had no agenda in writing his book other than attempting to take a closer, more objective view of the political thoughts and philosophies of prominent american statesmen and assessing how those perspectives. Notes on the american political tradition and the men who. The american political tradition and the men who made it a vintage book the american political tradition is one of the most influential and widely read historical volumes of our time. In the course of his career, hofstadter became the iconic historian of postwar liberal consensus whom twentyfirst century scholars continue consulting, because his intellectually engaging books and essays continue to illuminate contemporary history. Richard hofstadter was an american public intellectual, historian and dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. Amidst the insults and accusations, the correspondent declared the work a rotten, disloyal book.
This may be an abstract notion to ascribe to practical men, but it follows the language. Hofstadter is able to articulate, in a single work, a historical vision that inspired and shaped an entire generation. Shortly after the publication of the american political tradition, richard hofstadter received a castigatory letter from an enraged reader. His book antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1964. First published in 1948, its elegance, passion, and iconoclastic erudition laid the groundwork for a. Richard hofstadter papers, 19441970 columbia university.
Richard hofstadters abraham lincoln and the selfmade myth. The american political tradition and the men who made it chapter 9, theodore roosevelt. By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way americans understand the relationship. The american political tradition by richard hofstadter chapter 1. The history professor at columbia university would ultimately win 2 pulitzer prizes before dying at the age of 54 in 1970. Jun 10, 2008 this timely reissue of richard hofstadter s classic work on the fringe groups that influence american electoral politics offers an invaluable perspective on contemporary domestic affairs. Richard hofstadters abraham lincoln and the selfmade. The paranoid style in american politics adjust share by richard hofstadter. Due to their jobs, they had seen how bad human nature can be. His argument, that the american political tradition emphasizes capitalist order and stability but not democracy as some believes, has become one of the most contentious topics among historians. Hofstadter s introduction proposes that the major political traditions in the united states, despite contentious battles, have all. First published in 1948, its elegance, passion, and iconoclastic erudition laid the groundwork for a totally new understanding of read more.
Reflections on hofstadters the american political tradition. Richard hofstadter august 6, 1916 october 24, 1970 was an american historian and public intellectual of the mid20th century hofstadter was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. When and why did he write the essays in the american political tradition. The american political tradition and the men who made it by. In short, hofstadter s analysis of the american political tradition shows that that tradition is, broadly speaking, on the right. Pdf the american political tradition and the men who made. The american political tradition and the men who made it. Jun 16, 2016 this article examines the status of richard hofstadters classic work the american political tradition 1948 as a popular history. Born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american. Richard hofstadter was dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. This article examines the status of richard hofstadters classic work the american political tradition 1948 as a popular history. Trends in historiography may have left hofstadter far behind, but that may be all to the good in the case of the american political tradition. Richard hofstadter, the american political tradition and the men who made it new york, ny. Its elegance, passion, and iconoclastic erudition laid the groundwork for a totally new understanding of the american past.
The american political tradition and the men who made it is a 1948 book by richard hofstadter, an account on the ideology of previous presidents of the united states and other political figures. The point hofstadter consistently made is how important pragmatic considerations were in the evolution of the great political shakers and movers of american political annals. But certain religious traditions, certain social structures and national inheritances. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. Read the american political tradition pdf and the men who made it by richard hofstadter vintage the american political tradition is one. The american political tradition and antiintellectualism. Using the excerpt from james madisons federalist 51, how did the founders. Calhoun, the marx of the master class abraham lincoln and the selfmade myth wendell phillips, the patrician as agitator the spoilsmen, an age of cynicism william jennings. The american political tradition is on the american political tradition is one of the most influential and widely read historical volumes of our time. In the course of his career, hofstadter became the iconic historian of postwar liberal consensus whom twentyfirst century scholars continue consulting, because his intellectually engaging books and essays continue to illuminate. So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. Competing groups would represent the interests of individuals, but they would do so within a political system that everyone agreed would frame the bounds of conflict. The american political tradition and the men who made it cryptome.
By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way americans. Hofstadter is not really interested in popular movements, or organised labour, or the long tradition of the left in america, for the fairly sound reason that his book is about professional politicians and not about. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Notes on the american political tradition and the men who made it, by richard hofstadter. And the men who made it discussion and chapter questions and find the american political tradition. I have to read and take notes on this book over the summer for my ap american history class, but it is so hard to read and i dont understand anything he is saying and i have a headache when i read it. Readings american political thought political science. In his seventh published book, hofstadter wrote his most acclaimed piece, the american political tradition 1948. Review of richard hofstadters the american political. To the reader, hofstadters hatred of his native land seemed apparent and his filthy lies were clearly part of the wider assault on. Pdf teaching the american political tradition in a.
Begun in 1943, when hofstadter was just twentyseven years old, and completed four years later, the american political tradition launched the young scholar on his career as the preeminent. By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american. See hofstadter, american political tradition, xxviiixxix, the progressive historians. Article pdf available in society 552 february 2018 with 265 reads. Abraham lincoln and the selfmade myth lincoln was shaken by the presidency. Schlesinger, jr the american political tradition and the men who made it.