The Never Realized Republic
Subtitle: Political Economy and Republican Virtue
Edition: 2nd edition
Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
Published: June 24, 2004
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 358
ISBN-13: 9780615121147
Subjects: American history, constitution, constitutional history, political economy, founding fathers, federal, Federalists, federalism, Revolutionary generation, federal government, colonial government, Hamilton, republican heritage, ancestral heritage, colonial h; American history; Education / History; Federalists; Hamilton; Revolutionary generation; ancestral heritage; colonial government; colonial history; constitution; constitutional history; federal; federal government; federalism; founding fathers; political economy; republican heritage
Genres: American and Anglo-European History
First sentence: While the northern and southern colonies were essentially English, "between 1607 and 1642 -a time of political and religious troubles in England - some 65,000 adventurous spirits went out to the British West Indies and the [American] mainland colonies."
Description: A synopsis by the author: Peter J. O'Lalor for The Never Realized Republic Political Economy and Republican Virtue.

This book demonstrates European heritage and English Common-law as being the foundation of society in colonial America and ultimately its subsequent republican society.

Before the inception of America's federal republic, in 1788, the Revolutionary generation upheld a traditional republican heritage. This heritage was supported through education, religion, and rooted in the English common-law. The Federalists in the 1790's having rejected this ancient heritage pursued instead, expansion and domination of trade backed by an elite military

By aggrandizing the federal government, the Federalists, in the process, successfully discarded the republican heritage of the Revolutionary generation. James Madison, and others quickly distanced their selves from the political elite who were attempting to change the pristine republican regime. James Madison and many others believed that this new Federalist aristocracy, was deliberately promoting what was thought necessary to forestall.

Hamilton and the Federalists had successfully replaced the heritage of the Duty of the Sovereign with the Right of the Sovereign. The Federalists, in the 1790's, seized control of the economy by interpreting the federal Constitution as an economic document and a means to power rather fulfilling the promise of the Constitution's preamble; the consequence of the struggle for individual liberty, freedom, and social progress. It also explains why as well as how, Hamilton and the Federalists were contrary to the goals and aims of the American Revolution, its generation, and ultimately the cause of the Republic never being realized and the contradictions that confront Americans today.
Notes: Barnes and Noble review on January 1, 2010   See more reviews at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/231842869

This book is definitely a hidden gem. Apparently this well documented book explains what happened to the federal government in the 1790's that not only ill affected the desired outcome of the Revolution; but the reason for an ever increasing central authority today.

I enjoyed how the author traced the meaning of words and ideas and the foundation of a classical education that gave the colonists their purpose. The author stated that "all republics begin because of a need to remedy political evils." He also quotes the Declaration of Independence - "He [the king] has refused his assent to laws most wholesome and necessary for the public good." What a scary reflection of what is happening now! Certainly the author stresses the fact and with a lot of footnotes and research; demonstrates that this kind of history is of paramount importance to liberty. I was amazed at learning about the colonist's own history, and wonder why so much is not taught to children. Is this control of information and or a means of keeping the citizenry ignorant of their governments duty and obligation to the people?

I also enjoyed the legal history of common-law which remains with us today. While the author takes great strides to distinguish between common-law as custom and statutory law as "laws of authority," I wish the author would write more about the principles of the federal Constitution today; including but not limited to - fair and equal treatment under the law, as well as a government of laws not of men. See more reviews at http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/231842869
Table of contents: pagenum: ii
title: Introduction; pagenum: vi
title: Foreword; pagenum: 1
title: Chapter I   The Foundation of Colonial America: Perpetuating Freedom and Justice; pagenum: 52
title: Chapter II  European Heritage and Civil Government: The Virtues of Custom, Law, and Liberty; pagenum: 76
title: Chapter III   Revolution, Confederation and the Constitution: Social Progress and Civil Government; pagenum: 117
title: Chapter IV   The Nature and Form of the Federal Republic: Political Economy and Republican Virtue; pagenum: 153
title: Chapter V  The Foundation of Hamilton’s Vision: The Power of Authority; pagenum: 192
title: Chapter VI   Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury: The Financing of His Vision; pagenum: 238
title: Chapter VII  Utility and the Prime End of All Law: Civic Excellence vs. Republican Virtue; pagenum: 296
title: Chapter VIII  Ancient Dilemmas and Modern Virtues: Capitalism’s Impact upon Republican Virtue