James Madison and the Spirit of Republican Self-Government

In The First Study That Combines An In-depth Examination Of Madison's National Gazette Essays Of 179192 With A Study Of The Federalist, Colleen Sheehan Traces The Evolution Of Madison's 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 Madison's 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. Madison's Story Is The Story Of An Idea--the Idea Of America. - Publisher. Introduction: Madison's Legacy -- Republican Opposition -- The Federalist Agenda -- Madison And The French Enlightenment -- The Commerce Of Ideas -- The Politics Of Public Opinion -- Madison And Jefferson : An Appeal To The People -- The Spirit Of Republican Government -- Epilogue: The Philosopher's Stone And The Poet's Reprise. Colleen A. Sheehan. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 185-195) And Index. In a study that combines an in-depth examination of Madison's National Gazette essays of 1791–2 with a study of The Federalist, Colleen Sheehan traces the evolution of Madison's 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 Madison's 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. Madison's story is 'the story of an idea' - the idea of America. "In the first study that combines an in-depth examination of James Madison's National Gazette essays of 1791-92 with a study of The Federalist, Colleen A. Sheehan traces the evolution of Madison's 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 Madison's 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."--Jacket Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Dedication......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Abbreviations for Sources......Page 13 Preface......Page 15 Introduction: Madison’s Legacy......Page 23 1 Republican Opposition......Page 37 2 The Federalist Agenda......Page 53 3 Madison and the French Enlightenment......Page 79 4 The Commerce of Ideas......Page 106 5 The Politics of Public Opinion......Page 129 6 Madison and Jefferson: An Appeal to the People......Page 146 7 The Spirit of Republican Government......Page 178 Epilogue: The Philosopher’s Stone and the Poet’s Reprise......Page 198 Bibliography......Page 207 Index......Page 219