Gov-490
Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Government 490-001: Political Theory
Introduction:
“Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates” by Philip Abbott is one of
the better books that people are required to read during their time in the Helms School of
Government at Liberty University. In this book, the main idea presented is that there are three
key processes of discourse in the United States, these are republicanism, liberalism, and biblical
thought. These three major processes are then filtered through two ways of thinking, radicalism,
and conservatism. Philip Abbott wrote the book to be able to show the readers the politics
revolving around eleven major instances in American history.
Summary:
The main purpose of “Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates” by
Philip Abbott is to go over eleven key scenarios that have happened within the United States.
These key instances are looked at to go over how they relate to the political process that Abbott
brings forth. Being able to understand and analyze American political thought and its history is
the central premise of Philip Abbott’s book. It is also important to note that Philip Abbott
believes that the political history of America can be understood as a continuous series of debates
and conversations. “The central premise of this book is that the history of American political
thought can be understood as a series of conversations and debates.” One thing about American
political thought is that to some degree or another, almost every American citizen knows a
portion of the United States Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. To this note, most
Americans on a varying degree apply the knowledge of these documents in some aspect of their
, life. Being able to have civil and orderly conversations on differing opinions is one of the
cornerstones of American political thought. Americans must be able to discuss what they agree
on, but more importantly, Americans need to be able to calmly discuss what they disagree
on politically.
“Inventing New Communities” since the birth of America, the citizens of this great
country have known at their most fundamental level how to overcome adversity and how to
invent new things. “But the history of American political thought as a series of debates and crises
overcome only begins to convey the character of our national experience.” For the opening of the
book, Abbott focused on how Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were founded and the
situations behind their creation. These colonies were foundational to the creation of America and
how it progressed as history ran its course. Next, Abbott goes over the idea of “Revolution”, as
he believes that it is one of the most complex and hardest events to analyze in the realm of
politics. He goes over the causes as well as the effects of revolutions and says that revolutions
can be brief in their tenure or they can be long-lasting. He also gives the possible reasons that
can cause revolutions to take place. “Founding” is the rung on the ladder of Abbotts talking
points. He discusses how a revolution can be complex and can be caused by many things, but he
then goes over how founding a new government after a revolution can be an even more complex
and challenging task.
Next, “Faction” discusses how at the founding of America there were groups that were
formed from the founding fathers and from the original political thoughts that America had. He
goes over how the first leaders of the country had several key principles that they held to and that
they bonded with each other over. “He contends that the causes of factions are myriad. They may
result from religious differences, from differences in wealth, and attachment to different political
theories or different political leaders.” “Civil War” analyses the causes and the reasons for the
Civil War that took place within the United States. It also goes over the other types of civil wars
Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
Government 490-001: Political Theory
Introduction:
“Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates” by Philip Abbott is one of
the better books that people are required to read during their time in the Helms School of
Government at Liberty University. In this book, the main idea presented is that there are three
key processes of discourse in the United States, these are republicanism, liberalism, and biblical
thought. These three major processes are then filtered through two ways of thinking, radicalism,
and conservatism. Philip Abbott wrote the book to be able to show the readers the politics
revolving around eleven major instances in American history.
Summary:
The main purpose of “Political Thought in America: Conversations and Debates” by
Philip Abbott is to go over eleven key scenarios that have happened within the United States.
These key instances are looked at to go over how they relate to the political process that Abbott
brings forth. Being able to understand and analyze American political thought and its history is
the central premise of Philip Abbott’s book. It is also important to note that Philip Abbott
believes that the political history of America can be understood as a continuous series of debates
and conversations. “The central premise of this book is that the history of American political
thought can be understood as a series of conversations and debates.” One thing about American
political thought is that to some degree or another, almost every American citizen knows a
portion of the United States Constitution or the Declaration of Independence. To this note, most
Americans on a varying degree apply the knowledge of these documents in some aspect of their
, life. Being able to have civil and orderly conversations on differing opinions is one of the
cornerstones of American political thought. Americans must be able to discuss what they agree
on, but more importantly, Americans need to be able to calmly discuss what they disagree
on politically.
“Inventing New Communities” since the birth of America, the citizens of this great
country have known at their most fundamental level how to overcome adversity and how to
invent new things. “But the history of American political thought as a series of debates and crises
overcome only begins to convey the character of our national experience.” For the opening of the
book, Abbott focused on how Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were founded and the
situations behind their creation. These colonies were foundational to the creation of America and
how it progressed as history ran its course. Next, Abbott goes over the idea of “Revolution”, as
he believes that it is one of the most complex and hardest events to analyze in the realm of
politics. He goes over the causes as well as the effects of revolutions and says that revolutions
can be brief in their tenure or they can be long-lasting. He also gives the possible reasons that
can cause revolutions to take place. “Founding” is the rung on the ladder of Abbotts talking
points. He discusses how a revolution can be complex and can be caused by many things, but he
then goes over how founding a new government after a revolution can be an even more complex
and challenging task.
Next, “Faction” discusses how at the founding of America there were groups that were
formed from the founding fathers and from the original political thoughts that America had. He
goes over how the first leaders of the country had several key principles that they held to and that
they bonded with each other over. “He contends that the causes of factions are myriad. They may
result from religious differences, from differences in wealth, and attachment to different political
theories or different political leaders.” “Civil War” analyses the causes and the reasons for the
Civil War that took place within the United States. It also goes over the other types of civil wars
