Analysis of Joseph’s Ellis “Second American Revolution”
Introduction
The paper aims to study the topic of building America from the perspective of Essay Option 1. This Essay Option revolves around the statement of Joseph Ellis who stated that U.S. Constitution is now resulted from a term named as Second American Revolution. Moreover, he further stated in his book “The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789” that a total of 13 colonies have become the subordinates which also reflects the history. The history of the years between the end of the Revolution as well as the formation of federal government. The Second Revolution will also be explained from the perspective of American Republic of 1776. In short he proved Abraham Lincoln wrong who stated about the Founding Fathers, and that they will bring a new nation in the lasting sense.
In “The Quartet,” Joseph Ellis who is also the author of “Founding Brothers” kept arguing that the United States did not become the nation because it lacked the fundamental foundation values that makes a country a homeland. Moreover, the phenomenon according to him about the American nationhood is exaggerated and overvalued. Rather, he said that American nationhood arose from the “Second American Revolution” which is made up creation, adoption and effectuation from the United State Constitution. The political matter stated by the quarter, and the term of second American Revolution basically states that America is based on systematic dysfunctions and manipulated political process. This process led to Constitutional Convention, and its agenda somewhat was set to state the ratifying the convention, thus it failed to attain a foundation. The issue is the constitutional settlement without a real foundation that makes a country live for a lasting period. [i][ii]
Furthermore, the convention and constitution gave rise to the institutions and processes to the reform of the United States movement and eventually ratifying, implementing the statements. Political processes involved in this is only, and merely built on the basis of wrongheaded, uncooperative and unpredictable political leadership that has led to long-term destruction of the country. According to the personal point of view, it is also stated that the case of United States and politics has resulted into the current problems in the country. There is a reason that the United States is currently suffering due to lack of an authentic foundation. There are several leaderships that did not work in the favor of America, for example Hamilton wanted a consolidated government but he was unable to establish it.
He also failed to demand a constitutional reform despite seven years of experience, aware of his failure he further shared his draft with Madison of a constitution. Ellis raises the larger questions which may be too bitter to comprehend, however, these are the real truths lied beneath the deep rooted problem in the foundation of the country. Joseph Ellis also failed to recognize a relationship between national identity in the country and the form of government. He further believed both of the driving forces of the country were not in compliant with each other. And therefore, this further resulted into a lack of sense of identity in the people.
The book has also addressed the Lincoln’s address at the Gettysburg. However, according to other review of the book it is stated that Honest Abe’s and Ellis calculations went wrong, and therefore their whole argument is invalid. I personally disagree with this statement because the reason such a large economy is disturbed, and politically suffering only because of the lack of a real foundation. The second American Revolution according to the author is a sensitive subject which reflects on the subtle idea that America does lack a real foundation. According to other reviewers of the book, they said that Ellis had a greater influence on the final statements of the Constitution than anyone else. Therefore, shortcomings were quickly observed as well as the idea of a limited government. Although, the book may lack some important facts or may have put them wrongly, however the book still serves as an important part of the American history. The American establishment as well as its history is usually very distorted, and history itself can be easily manipulated, however the book was able to give a clear explanation that later led to the notion of Constitutional involvement. [iii]
Joseph Ellis has authored a several of books, however, this remained as an important evolution in the ideas of political history of the country. A researcher states, “His second argument is that four men were central to this transition from a confederation of very independent-minded states to a nation of Americans: namely, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. He further recognizes an essential supporting cast consisting of Robert Morris, Gouverneur Morris, and Thomas Jefferson.” [iv]
Overall, the American Revolution means the foundation of the country is led by the others, rather than the very well-known founding fathers. Joseph Ellis also recognized some important and critical issues during the book that reflected his notion of 13 colonies, and the constitutional involvement in the establishment of country. I personally agree with the idea that it was Second America Revolution that led the foundation of the country.
Hence, in order to support the idea the author even stated that Lincoln was historically incorrect, especially when he asserted the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln, a scholar of the constitution himself as a consummate political who knew exactly what he was doing yet his historical inaccuracies led to some problems. The idea of a collective identity is also a part of the lack. He further reflected on the Constitution by stating, “This meant that politics in America was open to a whole class of talented men – women were still unimaginable as public figures – who would have languished in obscurity throughout Europe because they lacked the proper bloodlines and inherited wealth.”[v]
He widely celebrated the idea of diversity, and further stated that the American foundation is severely rooted in racism, classism as well as separation of the outcasts from the experience of the country. A researcher further stated about the Second American Revolution that “The Second American Revolution, by contrast, pitted Americans against other Americans, Confederate slave owners, and came on the heels of a bloody conflict that ripped the nation asunder and still sparks conflict today.” Thus, these are some of the important findings throughout the essay. [vi]
Another point of the Second Revolution is reflected in the constitution that they heavily relied on the importance of a police society, military, and polling places. These are one of the most important aspects of the country’s current situation.
However, the Second Founder were still able to serve the country and save it from all kind of threats that could have shaken the foundation. They are better-known, but on a larger level they were ultimately unsuccessful. The American Revolution heavily involves the violent and the permanent rebuilding of the country that introduced new, and persistent set of arguments regarding citizenship, voting rights as well as federal power. Hence, the discussion has proved that the foundation of America, and its establishment is based on the Second American Revolution. [vii]
Conclusion
Hence, the paper has successfully argued the topic of Second American Revolution as well as its linkage to the America’s foundation. There are some ways it impacted, “The political matter stated by the quarter, and the term of second American Revolution basically states that America is based on systematic dysfunctions and manipulated political process. This process led to Constitutional Convention, and its agenda somewhat was set to state the ratifying the convention, thus it failed to attain a foundation. The issue is the constitutional settlement without a real foundation that makes a country live for a lasting period” as stated earlier. Moreover, it is also observed that the revolution is made up creation, adoption and effectuation from the United State Constitution. The political matter stated by the quarter, and the term of second American Revolution basically states that America is based on systematic dysfunctions and manipulated political process.
References
Ellis, Joseph J. The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution, 1783-1789. Vintage, 2016.
Ellis, Joseph J. American creation: Triumphs and tragedies at the founding of the republic. Random House Large Print Publishing, 2007.
Ellis, Joseph J. Founding brothers: The revolutionary generation. Vintage, 2002.
Ellis, Joseph J. After the revolution: Profiles of early American culture. WW Norton & Company, 2002.
YouTube. (2018). Founding Fathers in the Age of Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOyTNfK87Uc [Accessed 4 Feb. 2018].
YouTube. (2018). Founding Fathers in the Age of Trump. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOyTNfK87Uc [Accessed 4 Feb. 2018].
