Political Philosophy and Rhetoric: A Study of the Origins of American Party Politics

by John Zvesper

This book analyses the origins of modern party politics in America. Dr Zvesper argues that the partisan conflict between Federalists and Republicans in the 1790s was not merely an interesting historical sequel to the American Revolution and the framing of the Constitution, but was a confrontation of two of the fundamental alternatives of modern political philosophy. Consideration of this fact, along with evidence of the class structure of American society, is then used to explain why the Republican party was the natural superior in the dispute with Federalism, and why Republican philosophy and rhetoric have been so essential to American politics ever since.

237 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

John Zvesper studied political science in the Claremont Colleges in California and at the London School of Economics and Political Science. After completing his doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, he supervised research and taught at the University of East Anglia, the Claremont Colleges, and the University of London. His research and publications focus on the history of political thought, contemporary liberalism, and the politics of the USA.
Among his books: Nature and Liberty, London and New York, 1993 and 2002, and From Bullets to Ballots: The Election of 1800 and the First Peaceful Transfer of Political Power, Claremont, 2003. The latter can be read online here along with related historical documents.
Among his journal articles and chapters in books: “The Madisonian Systems”, “Interpreting The Federalist”, “Liberty and Nature”, “The Separation of Powers in American Politics : Why We Fail to Accentuate the Positive”, and “The American Founders and Classical Political Thought”.
More recently he has published some book reviews and comments on French history and politics: Napoleon, the Revolution, France-USA relations, and the national elections of 2007.
Has also continues to research and write about the USA, especially the founders and the revolution, the nature and origins of party politics, modern federalism, neoconservatism, the welfare state, ethnicity and “race”, and citizenship and immigration.