DOC The First Presidential Contest: 1796 and the Founding of American Democracy (American Presidential Elections) by Jeffrey L. Pasley in History

Review

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Informative; if deeply flawedBy Penguinracer546Those of us who have read extensively on this period of time; have grown somewhat accustomed to the often shrill political partisanship that was not only a hallmark of the era; but frequently bleeds into the opinions of those who write about it. This is a meticulously researched effort; but is greatly disservices by the pervasive bias of the author. I have no problem with a "display them; warts and all" mentality; but when one side is consistently extended the benefit of the doubt; while the other is consistently vilified throughout 400 pages of text; to say that it grows tiresome would be an understatement. I find this more problematic; because there will likely be many who will read this as part of the Presidential Election series; and thus will lack the prior awareness to take this blatant and egregious bias; with the proverbial grain of salt. The author clearly has "picked a side". Not only are the motives of all those affiliated with the Federalists disparaged constantly; but the the Democratic-Republicans are somehow always provided with an excuse for any action that may not sit well with the reader; no matter how great a circumnavigation of logic is required. This extends to all elected officials; journalists; nations and even the language selected. Something may be "said" by Madison; whereas the author frequently uses inherently more negative substitute words such as "sniffed" or "decreed"; when attributing statements to Federalists. There are even occasions where the author skips over significant periods of time and pins particular political sins on certain modern day politicians; while ignoring the lengthy periods when the same behavior was attributed to the opposition party. On certain topics; bias is all but unavoidable. Authors are humans. I have no problem with this; as long as it is not cloaked behind a veil of assumptive neutrality; which the other attempts to utilize on a few occasions; despite the blatant absurdity of such a claim. If you are steeped in awareness of the political situation of the 1790's; this is a good read; if you know how to filter it. Anyone without enough prior era specific knowledge to recognize the towering level of hard slant on display here; should proceed with caution.5 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Politics is Politics??By avidreaderImagine no real party structure in the election. Each man for himself. No Elections commission to oversee the electios. You can say anything and you can do anything and the only punishment is that you might be challenged to a duel.Worse yet; your top opponent will end up being Vice President.This book will hold you r attention if you are a politics junkie; a history junie or especially if you are an early American history junkie.This is fascinating reading and will get your blood flowing.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Recommended!By frrobinsonJeffrey Pasley's book on the first presidential contest is a first rate account of the event and the historical characters who took part. This book is more than about the part Thomas Jefferson and John Adams played in it; in fact they are minor characters in Pasley's narrative. The book methodically develops the theme of how the American political system started to develop; especially nationally; with forming of the two party system. Pasley starts the story in the second term of the Washington Admininstration and shows how two different political philsophies developed(Federalist vs Democratic=Republican). The two founders who drove this division were Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. But Pasley also discuusses other historical characters and their contribution to the split into the two parties; most of whom are not names often read in history text books.Although the founders did not intend for political parties to develop and took measures in the Constitution to try to prevent it(electorial college); it happened anyway and now seems it was inevitable.Once you read Pasley's account; you can understand where today's Presidential campaigns orginated from; especially concerning the media; politicans; and professional campaign politicos.This book is recommend for those interested in the early republic or political science buffs. The casual history reader may find Pasley's book a little dense.