The Genius of American PoliticsHow much of our political tradition can be absorbed and used by other peoples? Daniel Boorstin's answer to this question has been chosen by the Carnegie Corporation of New York for representation in American Panorama as one of the 350 books, old and new, most descriptive of life in the United States. He describes the uniqueness of American thought and explains, after a close look at the American past, why we have not produced and are not likely to produce grand political theories or successful propaganda. He also suggests what our attitudes must be toward ourselves and other countries if we are to preserve our institutions and help others to improve theirs. ". . . a fresh and, on the whole, valid interpretation of American political life."—Reinhold Niebuhr, New Leader |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
I How Belief in the Existence of an American Theory Has Made a Theory Superfluous | 8 |
From Providence to Pride | 36 |
Revolution Without Dogma | 66 |
IV The Civil War and the Spirit of Compromise | 99 |
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abolitionists actually Alexander Stephens Amer American experience American history American political American Revolution argument axiom belief in givenness British called Carl Becker century chapter character characteristic church Civil colonial conflict conservatism continuity course culture debate Declaration of Independence democracy democratic described doctrine dogma England Europe European example explicit fact faith federal Constitution Federalist Fitzhugh Founding Fathers Frederick Jackson Turner French Revolution frontier George Fitzhugh H. L. Mencken historians HYPOCHONDRIA ican idea ideals Indians institutions intellectual Jefferson John Josiah Royce kind land less liberty Lincoln ment modern nature never obvious ourselves particular past Paul Bunyan peculiar perhaps political philosophy political theory political thought Puritans reform religion religious remarkable republican Revolutionary Roman seemed sense of givenness significant slavery social society sociology South southern spirit struggle talk theology theoretical tion tradition unique United values Virginia virtues wilderness York