James Madison and the Spirit of Republican Self-Government [Hardcover]

Sheehan argues that Madison's vision for the new nation was informed by the idea of republican self-government.In the first study that combines an in-depth examination of Madisons National Gazette essays of 179192 with a study of The Federalist, Colleen Sheehan traces the evolution of Madisons conception of the politics of communication and public opinion throughout the Founding period, demonstrating how the sovereign public would form and rule in America.In the first study that combines an in-depth examination of Madisons National Gazette essays of 179192 with a study of The Federalist, Colleen Sheehan traces the evolution of Madisons conception of the politics of communication and public opinion throughout the Founding period, demonstrating how the sovereign public would form and rule in America.In the first study that combines an in-depth examination of Madisons National Gazette essays of 179192 with a study of The Federalist, Colleen Sheehan traces the evolution of Madisons conception of the politics of communication and public opinion throughout the Founding period, demonstrating how the sovereign public would form and rule in America. Contrary to those scholars who claim that Madison dispensed with the need to form an active and virtuous citizenry, Sheehan argues that Madisons vision for the new nation was informed by the idea of republican self-government, whose manifestation he sought to bring about in the spirit and way of life of the American people. Madisons story is the story of an idea  the idea of America.1. Republican opposition; 2. The Federalist agenda; 3. Madison and the French Enlightenment; 4. The commerce of ideas; 5. Madison and Jefferson: an appeal to the people; 6. The spirit of republican government. the overall analysis is brilliant, and merits careful reading by anyone seriously interested in the ideas of our greatest political thinker. -Jack RakoveThis book constitutes the most important contribution to the scholarsl3(