The founding years of America were characterized by revolutionaries who advocated for liberation, democracy, and equality hence creating the American dream as it is known today. Political critics, authors, and commoners shaped the legislative arm of the United States, suggesting that Americans adopt “the most notable aspect of…mass democracy” (Lecture: Jacksonian and Whig Political Thought, 2022, para 1). Various scholars also used political scrolls to supply knowledge in the argument for the best policies to be followed by the judicial and legal systems (Lichtman, 2022). Political critics such as Paine, Hartz and the Jacksonians helped shape the history of America by adopting constitutional amendments that favored the need for change.
The many political ideologies and rational states from scholars led to conformation and understanding of the American dream in various ways among the land settlers. Each of the scholars is equipped with a different view on how to change and adapt America to favor both the social and legal systems. Many the Americans, therefore, choose different ways and ideologies that were suggested by the above-mentioned political radicals rather than refuting or sticking to a single suggested ideology. For instance, the Jacksonian views differed from Hartz and Paine’s view of accepting democracy through the policies suggested by the two authors. All the authors had to compose and deny previous scholars who had come before them in the aspect of enhancement of better quality of life through the involvement of fixing gaps that were both in the constitutions and the legal system.
The Jacksonians also were more invested in changing the ‘aristocracy attitude’ that the American society supported (Lecture: Jacksonian and Whig Political Thought, 2022). The latter came from recognizing fairness and equality with inclusion without the limitation to property. In his book, Isaac Kramnick suggests the importance of adopting mass democracy and the abolished non-egalitarian politics that President Andrew Jackson was invested in (Mirza et al., 2021). An impact of an introduction to practical arts rather than linear Liberal acts is also seen and practiced under the leadership of Isaac Kramnick to showcase the inclusivity that the Jackson followers were bred in.
Other aspects in terms of expansion of Liberalism (suggested by Louis Haertz in his book “The Liberal Tradition in America”) and the ‘Common Sense’ theories of Paine were all different demeanors of how the approach in legal systems could help better social and economic status in the United States (Lecture: Thomas Paine and Common Sense, 2022, para 2). According to Mirza et al. (2021), all the suggestions collectively referred to the good that could be yielded, if not amended by the American government, a system that promoted economic equality and standards. All of the conflicts and academic suggestions only led to a formality of a rigid system that was strong for the good of a whole and ready to be conformed to perform much better for the American people.
Inheriting his claims from Issac Kramnick, Louis Hartz suggested the conformation of the state of the society through adopting a liberal way of governance that would serve the American people. The latter adoption was seen as a way to suggest better policies and approached politically and socially among the people of the United States. Louis based his arguments on verifying the needs and advantages of one to own land that would benefit the conditions the particular man had in their life (Young, 2018). With backing it with previous scholars, such as Locke’s theory of ownership of properties, Hartz was able to suggest that until amendments of laws were made clear and that labor and inclusivity are served to everyone, shall the American people get the rights that they so yearn for (same argued and suggested by Jacksonians) (Lecture: Thinking About American Political Thought Jason Pierceson). All of the latter backed up that economic wealth would only be believed if the rights and properties were shared rather than remaining in a one-way rigid form that would only benefit one particular party of the government instead of helping the nations conform vest in escalating their wealth through liberal conducts in the legal arms.
On the other hand, Thomas Paine suggests the need to adopt independent structures that would make the American people stand on their own without having to depend on the Englishmen for their rules and the essence of improving their country. Regarding documents such as the Magna Charta, Thomas Paine suggested the importance of individuality and originality in making laws that would favor the American land rather than focusing on adapting their rules for a previously disoriented country (Bearer-Friend & Williamson, 2022). As a middle-class man from England to Pennsylvania, Paine knew of the economic stress and the pressures that come from the aristocracy and the dictatorship of a king who had originated from France to Italy to form a monarchy. According to Paine (2009), fearing the colonist and adopting their forms of government ‘did not add up’ and could only lead to economic and political stress for the American people. Paine suggested that it was important for the American people to adopt ways that would make them stand out by accepting terms and suggestions that their men included in their constitution and suggested ruling in the land.
In my opinion, Paine has the best approach to enhancing better governance and policy from social and political angles. As a scholar who was part of economic and political stress, Paine knew in depth what it would take to change the errors that were embedded politically by performing different tries both from a political and economic angle and giving power to the people (Paine, 2019). Paine insisted that as the “legislative of a free country should be formed..so that it constitutes enjoy their confidence” (Lecture POS 435, 2022). The latter coincided with George Washington’s approach to giving power to the people, allowing people to make, amend, change, and define their food and live by it.
The inclusion of economic, racial, and general diversity that has been lived in the American states is a simple testimonial to the core suggestion of Paine through allowing a way of not being conformed by the outside but doing good for the inside. Later, James Morone suggests in a narrative how determining and judging oneself was different, which led to fulfilled success at a personal level, by tracing the Martin Luther King Junior Christianity and no brutal force story to the achievement of civil rights independence (Morone, 2004). Paine’s suggestions laid the foundation for scholars in precedent years who suggested different motives and adaptations that the people of the United States would instead dedicate themselves to achieve the freedom needed.
Political critics such as Paine, Hartz and the Jacksonians helped shape the history of America thanks to the economical, political and legislative theories they urged the Americans to abide by. The suggestions that scholars gave were both suitable in judgment and aimed at obtaining differences in the chosen land of the United States. Despite overthrowing the different static rules like aristocracy, a process in constitutional amendments, and loopholes in the constitutional system, the suggested work worked in favor of the goodness of the American people through the deep fulfillment of the American dream.
References
Bearer-Friend, J., & Williamson, V. (2022). The Common Sense of a Wealth Tax: Thomas Paine & Taxation as Freedom from Aristocracy.
Lecture: Jacksonian and Whig Political Thought Jason Pierceson, University of Illinois at Springfield
Lecture: POS 435, Pierceson Quotes from the Anti-Federalists, University of Illinois at Springfield
Lecture: Thinking About American Political Thought Jason Pierceson, University of Illinois at Springfield
Lecture: Thomas Paine and Common Sense Jason Pierceson, University of Illinois at Springfield
Lichtman, A. J. (2020). The embattled vote in America: From the founding to the present. Harvard University Press.
Mirza, M. N., Babar, S. I., & Nizamani, F. Q. (2021). Leadership, idiosyncrasies, and political behavior: personality analyses of presidents Donald Trump and Andrew Jackson. Global Political Review, 6(1), 12-23.
Morone, J. A. (2004). Hellfire Nation: The Politics of sin in American History. Yale University Press.
Paine, T. (2019). Thomas Paine: Common Sense. epubli.
Young, J. P. (2018). Reconsidering American liberalism: The troubled odyssey of the liberal idea. Routledge.