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Quote by Bernard Bailyn

“It was an elevating, transforming vision: a new, fresh, vigorous, and above all morally regenerate people rising from the obscurity to defend the battlements of liberty and then in triumph standing forth, heartening and sustaining the cause of freedom everywhere.”

Book:The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

Work

The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

This book delves into the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings that led to the American Revolution, examining the key thinkers and concepts that shaped the revolutionary movement. more

Author

Bernard Bailyn

Bernard Bailyn is an American historian renowned for his research on early American history. His works delve into the social, political, and cultural dynamics of the American Revolution and the colonial period. more

“The ideas that the colonists put forward, rather than creating a new condition of fact, expressed one that has long existed; they articulated and in so doing generalized, systematized, gave moral sanction to what had emerged haphazardly, incompletely and insensibly, from the chaotic factionalism of colonial politics.”

Long Ideas Facts Moral Conditions Creating Sanctions Chaotic Colonists

Author:Bernard Bailyn

“In England the practice of "virtual" representation provided reasonably well for the actual representation of the major interests of the society, and it raised no widespread objection.”

Wells Interest Practice Majors England Raised Representation Objections

Book:The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

Source: The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

“In effect the people were present through their representatives, and were themselves, step by step and point by point, acting in the conduct of public affairs. No longer merely an ultimate check on government, they were in some sense the government.”

People Government Acting Steps Effects Ultimate Affair Checks Representatives Public Affairs

Book:The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

Source: The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution

“The primary function of a constitution was to mark out the boundaries of governmental powers-hence in England, where there was no constitution , there were no limits (save for the effect of trail by jury) to what the legislature might do.”