Summary Of First American Political Hernanigans By Richard Larson

Most often when we think about the past, our Founding Fathers and early Presidents, we picture the men we see in portrait and history books as dignified, soft spoken men in dressed in formal attire and white powdered wigs. However, as Larson narrates the First American Political Campaign for President it is not so unfamiliar to our more recent history and current day. After years of being ruled by a one-party system, declaring independence from Great Britain, and designing a new form of government for America, our nation to a deep dive into bipartisan political shenanigans and a view into the future of our nation each four years there to come. In this essay I will discuss some aspects of Larson’s book and take a critical look of American political

Adams, a Massachusetts born and Harvard-educated lawyer was better known as political philosopher and delegate of the First and Second Continental Congress, instrumental in our nations independence, then what we consider a Politian. His opponent was one of the most prominent names we hear when studying American history, one Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was first seen in our history books as principal authors of the Declaration of Independence. Born in Virginia to a large plot of farming land and high social standing in which he was raised, he studied, read law and was known to write eloquently and so authored this fundamental document for our nation.
After George Washington served his terms as 1st President for our nation, the late 1790’s brought about our first full-fledged election, complete with mud-slinging, debate and the all-to-familiar dirty-tactics we see in modern-day elections. With Adams at the helm of the Federalist Party worry spread that there was far too much support for England and centralized government he leaned toward. Jefferson and the Republican Party, on the other hand, advocated for more decentralized state governments that would continue to maintain the American character of opportunity and

But Jefferson’s party couldn’t disagree more. Jefferson and the Republicans feared that this approach and thinking would be unfavorable to the freedoms fought for and was designed for the elite and wealthy, undermining rural Americans. Jefferson was a man of the people and enlightenment science, reason and natural law were seen to him as superior to authoritarian rule.
Federalists and Adams position juxtaposed Republican thought and distrusted that common people would have aptitude to properly govern the new nation. Alexander Hamilton, whose views align with Adams stated that "the people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right." (Hamilton, 1787). He went on to describe the need for a 2 house system that would create a system of checks and balances necessary to divide power and ensure government could not over-power the people in which it was designed to