This reader explores the unique combination of theoretical influences - republicanism, liberalism, and covenant theology - that shaped American political thought during the founding. Each chapter combines carefully selected primary sources and substantial commentary that explains the historical context and significance of the excerpts.
Fumurescu reveals the connection between different understandings of the 'people' and attitudes toward compromise, offering valuable lessons on today's worrisome polarization of politics. This book will appeal to students and researchers of political theory, American political development, the American founding, and modern intellectual history.