Defining Republicanism
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document in english
history 1789 to present
presentation
date published 28/04/2008
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SummaryWhen the Treaty of Paris officially ended the American Revolution in 1783, the new American citizens were faced with the challenge of forming a system of government that was functional, well structured, and non-oppressive. Over the course of six years, the former colonies searched for a political identity, and finally ratified the Constitution of the United States in 1789. The Constitution sculpted the American government into a republic, where the power rested in the citizen body and a series of checks and balances protected them from the tyranny of any one man. George Washington took office as the first President of this new American republic in 1789, and from this moment until the end of James Madison’s presidency in 1817, presidents attempted to understand and define the nature and shape of republicanism. Though each president attempted to define republicanism through different and unique methods, the ideal of creating an informed and educated citizen body was a common goal among the first four presidents, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. The commonality of this aim suggests that the founding generation considered it an essential facet to the survival of the republic.
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