The Idea of a Party System: The Rise of Legitimate Opposition in the United States, 1780-1840 (Jefferson Memorial Lecture Series) (Volume 2)

Hofstadter, Richard

ISBN 10: 0520017544 / ISBN 13: 9780520017542

Published by University of California Press, 1970

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Seller Inventory # BSM.1BTWE

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Idea of a Party System: The Rise of Legitimate Opposition in the United States, 1780-1840 (Jefferson Memorial Lecture Series) (Volume 2)
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication Date: 1970
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0520017544
• ISBN 13: 9780520017542
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: very_good

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Synopsis

This work traces the historical processes in thought by which American political leaders slowly edged away from their complete philosophical rejection of a party and hesitantly began to embrace a party system. In the author's words, "The emergence of legitimate party opposition and of a theory of politics that accepted it was something new in the history of the world; it required a bold new act of understanding on the part of its contemporaries and it still requires study on our part." Professor Hofstadter's analysis of the idea of party and the development of legitimate opposition offers fresh insights into the political crisis of 1797-1801, on the thought of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Martin Van Buren, and other leading figures, and on the beginnings of modern democratic politics.

About the Author

The late Richard Hofstadter was DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University. He was the author of many books and articles on American History and twice received the Pulitzer Prize: in History in 1956, and in general nonfiction in 1964.