The Transformation of the American Democratic Republic
By: Stephen M. Krason
Publisher: Transaction Publishers
Published: July 15, 2012
Place of publication: New Brunswick, N.J
Language: eng
Number of pages: 552
Subjects: Politics and government; Philosophy; Democracy
Description: In this stimulating volume, Stephen M. Krason considers whether the Founding Fathers' vision of the American democratic republic has been transformed and if so, in what ways. He looks to the basic principles of the Founding Fathers, then discusses the changes that resulted from evolving contemporary expectations about government. Referencing philosophical principles and the work of great Western thinkers, Krason then explores a variety of proposals that could forge a foundation for restoration.

Acknowledging that any attempt to revive the Founders' views on a democratic republic must start in the public sphere, Krason focuses on concerned citizens who are aware of the extent to which our current political structures deviate from the Founders' vision and want to take action. Ultimately, a democratic republic can exist, be sustained, and flourish only when there is a deep commitment to it in the minds and norms of its people.

Written by a foremost authority in the field of US Constitutional law, this book will appeal to those interested in American history, society, and politics.
Table of contents: title: America's parchment regime: the original character of the American democratic republic and the culture supporting it; title: 1789-1817: the formative years, the Federalist Party era, and Jeffersonianism; title: 1817-1840: the eras of "good feelings" and Jacksonian democracy; title: 1840-1877: expansion, sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; title: 1877-1920: the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, and World War I; title: 1920-1945: the "Roaring twenties", the Great Depression, and World War II; title: 1945-1960: post-World War II America and the Cold War; title: 1960-1980: the welfare state, cultural upheaval, and the reign and decline of liberalism; title: 1980-present: the upsurge of conservatism, economic transformation, and post-Cold War America; title: Analysis and conclusion: how and why the American democratic republic has been transformed.