Great American Political Thinkers

Book excerpt: Volume 1: "This volume presents a comprehensive survey of the major American political thinkers from the early seventeenth century to pre-Civil War days, when immigrants and settlers from disparate cultures united to form a new political community. The traditionalism of early New Englanders, the Revolution, the rebuilding of governmental authority, and the rise of mass democracy constituted the crucible in which America was shaped. Works by such theorists as Thomas Paine, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison captured the spirit of their age, the crises of their time, and the profound meaning of the American political experience." -- Back cover.