James Burgh, Legislative Representation, and American Revolutionary Thought
Class
Article
Graduation Year
2017
College
College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department
Political Science Department
Faculty Mentor
Peter McNamara
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
The purpose of my study is to examine the writings of the unjustly obscure English radical James Burgh and his influence on Revolutionary-era American thought. It focuses on ideas of achieving a just and effective representation of people in the legislative branch, free from control or overreach from the executive. This major theme of Burgh's writings most interested the Founders. Starting with proof that James Burgh's political writings were widely read and accepted as authoritative works, it uses two case studies to demonstrate this influence. It discusses the citation by Thomas Paine of Burgh's Political Disquisitions in his work Common Sense, and speculates on a direct influence of James Burgh on the political thought of Thomas Paine. It discusses the citations of James Burgh by James Madison in his Federalist Paper #56 and his "Additional Memorandums on Ancient Memorandums on Ancient Modern Confederacies, 1787." In concludes that James Burgh's political thought was closer to the beliefs of the Anti-federalists rather than the Federalists.
Location
Room 101
Start Date
4-13-2017 3:00 PM
End Date
4-13-2017 4:15 PM
James Burgh, Legislative Representation, and American Revolutionary Thought
Room 101
The purpose of my study is to examine the writings of the unjustly obscure English radical James Burgh and his influence on Revolutionary-era American thought. It focuses on ideas of achieving a just and effective representation of people in the legislative branch, free from control or overreach from the executive. This major theme of Burgh's writings most interested the Founders. Starting with proof that James Burgh's political writings were widely read and accepted as authoritative works, it uses two case studies to demonstrate this influence. It discusses the citation by Thomas Paine of Burgh's Political Disquisitions in his work Common Sense, and speculates on a direct influence of James Burgh on the political thought of Thomas Paine. It discusses the citations of James Burgh by James Madison in his Federalist Paper #56 and his "Additional Memorandums on Ancient Memorandums on Ancient Modern Confederacies, 1787." In concludes that James Burgh's political thought was closer to the beliefs of the Anti-federalists rather than the Federalists.