Richard Hofstadter

’s The American Political Tradition Essay, Research Paper

Richard Hofstadter’s The American Political Tradition, like all

his other

writings, was greatly influenced by the ideology of the time period in which

he

wrote. The book was written at a time when progressive ideas were the most

prevalent school of thought. Hofstadter was part of a growing number of

writers

who challenged these self-glorifying ideas. In the mid-thirties America had

lost

practically all critical content in favor of a “resurgence of American

cultural

chauvinism, a tiresome celebration of the American past.” This mentality

was

partially fueled by the New Deal , where the government helped pull the

country

out of The Depression. The emergence of Communism also played a big role.

There was a strong reaction to those who believed that communism should

become the new Americanism. Suddenly anti-American thought and critical

writing gave way to a “literature of hero worship” and “national self-

congratulation.” This reaction to communism caused many Americans to rally

behind democracy, becoming more patriotic and less critical of American

history,

its heroes and their flaws. Going against the fashion, Hofstadter wrote true

to his

own philosophy that “American political heroes are not saints in plaster but

live

and vulnerable figures of controversy.”

Much of Hofstadter’s early writing was influenced by Marxism as an

intellectual alternative to capitalism. Although not a supporter of Stalin,

he did

agree with the Marxist economic interpretation of history. He did not,

however,

buy into the whole cultural transformation. It is these early roots in

Marxist

ideology that also contribute to Hofstadter’s critical eye on American

history.

These Marxist ideas inspired a desire to find flaws in the American political

system and its key figures. “The Partisan Review” was one such magazine

which expressed this ideology. Although Marxist in intellectual approach,

“The

Partisan Review” was anti-Stalinist in its politics. This magazine most

efficiently

criticized the new “American Renaissance,” as they called it. Both The

American

Political Tradition and the “Partisan review” focus on American traditions,

but

instead of praising them, they criticized their inadequacies.

Hofstadter’s critical approach to writing affected practically

everything he

wrote. Hofstadter is almost always writing to criticize the progressive

Historians

as much as or more than the subject matter he is writing about. In The

American

Political Tradition, every chapter is filled with his criticism. In the case

of Wendell

Phillips the criticism is not so much directed at Phillips, but actually

aimed

towards the progressive historian’s negative opinion of him. Hofstadter’s

anti-

progressive ideology and cynical approach is evident in his writings on

Abraham

Lincoln, Wendell Phillips, and the spoilsmen.

Abraham Lincoln, despite the fact that he is considered to have

been

one of the greatest, if not the greatest president of The United State, was

not free

of Hofstadter’s critique. This is evident right in the beginning of the

chapter,

when looking at the chapter title, ” Abraham Lincoln and the Self- Made

Myth.” A

myth implies something false. For America, the legends of Abe Lincoln’s

humble

beginnings and rail splitting are all part of his hero status. Hofstadter’s

tone in his

writing as well as his words reveal Lincoln the politician, using his past

for

political gain. Hofstadter also points out, how brief these humble beginnings

were, and how rapidly Lincoln actually rose. Hofstadter by no means believed

that Lincoln was a bad president, he just felt that Lincoln’s sparkling clean

hero

image was a little extreme. Because of the fact that to many Americans

Lincoln

personified the American dream, progressive historians overlooked Lincoln’s

flaws and exaggerated his good qualities. Hofstadter sensed this and

therefore

he made sure he included every minor shortcoming that was ignored by others

in

an effort to polish Lincoln’s heroic status. Throughout the chapter one can

find

Lincoln’s character flaws such as his physical laziness and his political

obsession. Hofstadter is quick to display insults, quoting William Herndon

when

he states, “How are you going to make a great lawyer out of Lincoln. His

soul

was afire with its own ambition and that was not law.” By being so critical

Hofstadter was not trying to be cruel but rather he was attempting to show

America the reality that even the distinguished figures in American history <

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