My favorite works of his focus on american political thought and the history of. The american political tradition and the men who made it cryptome. On richard hofstadter by christopher lasch the new. This is a study of the american core values by the famous consensus historian richard hofstadter. From 1942 to 1946 he taught at the university of maryland and. Pdf download the american political tradition free. Richard hofstadters abraham lincoln and the selfmade myth. This work is a landmark in american political thought. Richard hofstadter s the american political tradition, like all his other writings, was greatly influenced by the ideology of the time period in which he wrote.
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. Senator joseph tydings of maryland, appealing in the summer of 1968 for an effective guncontrol law, lamented. 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. Richard hofstadter books list of books by author richard. Hofstadter was the dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university.
And the men who made it 1948, the age of reform 1955, and america at 1750. The american political tradition characters gradesaver. The prizewinning historian richard hofstadter, who like trilling taught at columbia, indicted what he called the far right wing for a categorical folkish dislike of the educated classes and of anything respectable, established, pedigreed, or cultivated. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the american political tradition by richard hofstadter.
Hofstadters introduction proposes that the major political traditions in the united states, despite contentious battles, have all. Rejecting his earlier communist approach to history, in the 1950s he came closer to the concept of consensus history, and. Richard hofstadter the american political tradition thesis. Richard hofstadter the american political tradition thesis proposal literary masterpieces, volume 4 david brown begins this phenomenal biography using the observation that richard hofstadters name is constantly on the stimulate a certain mystique. The american political tradition, by richard hofstadter. By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way americans understand the.
A continuing encounter with the progressive traditionthe tradition on which he and most other intellectuals had been reared, as he put it in the introduction to the age of reform, but in which he found much to criticizeinforms all hofstadters work and provides a direct link, for example, between the american political tradition. Preeminent richard hofstadter examines the passion for progress and reform that colored the entire period from 1890 to 1940 with startling and stimulating results. Apr 16, 2020 hofstadter was a deft, wideranging chronicler of american intellectual and political life, beginning with his landmark revisionist study, the american political tradition 1948. Richard hofstadters abraham lincoln and the selfmade. Richard hofstadter was an american public intellectual, historian and dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. Published in 1948, the american political tradition was written by american author and historian richard hofstadter. The american political tradition is one of the most influential and widely read historical volumes of our time. The book was written at a time when progressive ideas were the most prevalent school of thought. The paranoid style in american politics harpers magazine. 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. Following is a selective list of books by richard hofstadter, who is the subject of a new biography by david s. Hofstadter writes very well and makes big claims, which is a pleasant change from a lot of contemporary history. 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. 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.
Actually, as he told me, that muchquoted introduction was drafted almost as an afterthought, at the request of the. Hofstadters 1948 epic continues to find new readers among undergrads and grad students, as well as the oftmentionedbutrarelyobserved educated general interest. Throughout his career, he worked at many universities, most recently as the dewitt clinton professor of history at columbia university. In the american political tradition, hofstadter warned of the dangers of turning the past into an ideological tool. Richard hofstadter 19161970 was one of the leading american historians and intellectuals of the twentieth century. Richard hofstadter 1916 1970 was a leading american historian of the 1940s and 1950s, based at columbia university. What richard hofstadter got wrong the new republic. Rejecting his earlier approach to history from the far left, in the 1950s he embraced consensus history, becoming the iconic historian of postwar liberal consensus, largely. Hofstadter was a deft, wideranging chronicler of american intellectual and political life, beginning with his landmark revisionist study, the american political tradition 1948. In retrospect it seems clear that hofstadters work on the political right revealed as much about the.
The american political tradition background gradesaver. American political tradition and the men who made it. Hofstadter s formative years were witness to the abrupt failure of longestablished moral, intellectual, and political currents in american life. The biographical sketches in the american political tradition, for example, were not written so as to argue for the common climate of american opinion, which hofstadter in his introduction announced as his main theme. Throughout the american political tradition, hofstadter reminded the reader that history yields few simple verdicts and that american ideals are frequently irreconcilable. Soon after, he decided to pursue a writing career and study the history of politics. The american political tradition and the men who made it richard. The american political tradition by richard hofstadter. Richard hofstadter 6 august 1916 24 october 1970 was an american historian and public intellectual of the mid20th century. The american political tradition summary supersummary. The american political tradition and the men who made it by. After earning his ma and phd from columbia, hofstadter joined the faculty in 1946.
By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way americans. Richard hofstadter was an eminent historian, who wrote well on significant issues. Born in 1916, richard hofstadter was one of the leading american historians and public intellectuals of the twentieth century. By writing a kind of intellectual history of the assumptions behind american politics, richard hofstadter changed the way americans understand the relationship. Richard hofstadter author of antiintellectualism in. Aug 06, 2006 upheaval too, can abet the imagination. America at 1750, by richard hofstadter david donald. The american political tradition study guide contains a biography of richard hofstadter, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. His book antiintellectualism in american life was awarded the pulitzer prize for general nonfiction in 1964. The american political tradition is a 1948 book by richard hofstadter, an account on the ideology of previous u. First published in 1948 by random house, the book explores the assumptions behind our understanding of american politics, and it provides an overview of. The american political tradition and the men who made it. American politics did not allow for an alternative to liberalism.
The american political tradition by richard hofstadter penguin. The american political tradition and the men who made it is a political history book by richard hofstadter. Hofstadter published the american political tradition in 1948, at the age of 32, and it immediately created controversy and caused people to rethink history. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political. Americas political tradition the american political tradition and the men who made it.
The american political tradition audiobook by richard. Its the only industrial nation in which the possession of rifles, shotguns, and handguns is lawfully prevalent among large numbers of its population. 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. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition. Telling the tales of the work and ideas of all of the prior presidents harry truman was president at the time the book was published, a common theme shown throughout all of the details is that all of these men fought to have. The books general thesis that the american political tradition is by and large an ongoing defense of the property rights of the welloff seems correct. Richard hofstadter 19161970 was the author of many classic and bestselling works of american history, among them social darwinism in american thought 1944, the american political tradition. 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 august 6, 1916 october 24, 1970 was an american historian and public intellectual of the mid20th century. American political tradition became an immediate milestone in the field of american political study, propelling author richard hofstadter to the frontal ranks of historians at the age of 32 upon its publication in 1948. A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. The american political tradition essays are academic essays for citation. 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.
He spent most of his career teaching at columbia university. Hofstadter s introduction proposes that the major political traditions in the united states, despite contentious battles, have all. Richard hofstadter project gutenberg selfpublishing. It was written by one of the most important american historians in the twentieth century, richard hofstadter. Richard hofstadter audio books, best sellers, author bio. 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. His american political tradition 1948, an enduring classic, remains today a standard work in both college and highschool history classes and has been read by millions outside the academy. First published in 1948, its elegance, passion, and. First published in 1948 by random house, the book explores the assumptions behind our understanding of american politics, and it provides an overview of the relationship between power and ideas. And the men who made it 1948 today hofstadter s most widely read book, this study of the ideology of american statesmanship, with its profiles, often satirical, of leaders from thomas jefferson to franklin d. First published in 1948, its elegance, passion, and iconoclastic erudition laid the groundwork for a totally new understanding of the american past.
Richard hofstadter was dewitt clinton professor of american history at columbia university. Roosevelt, introduced the consensus theory of american history. Hofstadter was part of a growing number of writers who challenged these selfglorifying. Hofstadter s classic work points out the ambivalence tif those who wrote the constitution. The american political tradition, by richard hofstadter for the last quartercentury and more, a dull dead hand has rested over the writing of american political history. The american political tradition let the eccentric john calhoun carry the case for nineteenthcentury conservatisma telling selection in a book that found no place for alexander hamilton, henry clay, charles evans hughes or henry stimson. American historian richard hofstadter explored the emergence of conspiracy theorizing by proposing a consensus view of democracy. Reflections on hofstadters the american political tradition. In his seventh published book, hofstadter wrote his most acclaimed piece, the american political tradition 1948. Richard hofstadters the american political tradition 1948 depends for its reputation on the authors rich historiographical heritage, includ. His works include the age of reform, antiintellectualism in american life, social darwinism in american thought, 18601915, the american political tradition, and others. Reflections on richard hofstadter and the american political tradition. The american political tradition and the men who made it by richard hofstadter this article was originally published on and is republished here with their permission.