Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American RepublicOxford University Press, 2012 M11 6 - 416 pages One of leading figures of his day, Roger Sherman was a member of the five-man committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence and an influential delegate at the Constitutional Convention. As a Representative and Senator in the new republic, he had a hand in determining the proper scope of the national government's power as well as drafting the Bill of Rights. In Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American Republic, Mark David Hall explores Sherman's political theory and shows how it informed his many contributions to America's founding. A close examination of Sherman's religious beliefs provides insight into how those beliefs informed his political actions. Hall shows that Sherman, like many founders, was influenced by Calvinist political thought, a tradition that played a role in the founding generation's opposition to Great Britain, and led them to develop political institutions designed to prevent corruption, promote virtue, and protect rights. Contrary to oft-repeated assertions that the founders advocated a strictly secular policy, Hall argues persuasively that most founders believed Christianity should play an important role in the new American republic. |
Contents
| 1 | |
2 Reformed Political Theory in the American Founding | 12 |
3 Connecticut Politics and American Independence | 41 |
4 Achieving Independence | 63 |
5 An Eel by the Tail | 92 |
6 Roger Sherman and the New National Government | 122 |
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Amendment American Founding American Political American Republic American Revolution Anglican appointed argued argument Articles of Confederation Assembly Baldwin Bill of Rights Calvin Calvinist Cambridge Christian Christopher Collier citizens civil clergy colleagues Colonial committee Congregationalist Connecticut Compromise Constitutional Convention contended debates Declaration of Independence delegates DHFFC dissenters draft Dreisbach and Hall elected Eliphalet Dyer England essay executive Ezra Stiles faith Farrand Federal Convention Franklin Haven History House Huntington Ibid influence instance issue John Adams John Witherspoon judges legislation legislature letter Locke Massachusetts ministers national government natural rights noted Oliver Ellsworth Oxford University Press Parliament political ideas Presbyterian president proposed protect PRSC Puritan ratification Records Reformed political theory Reformed tradition Religion religious liberty Rights of Conscience Roger Sherman Roger Sherman's Connecticut Samuel Huntington scholars Senate sermon significant Simeon Baldwin slavery slaves statute Superior Court theological tion vote William Samuel Johnson wrote Yale University York