Thread by @MattGlassman312

These assertions are almost always built on three errors: (1) mistaking Jacksonian America for the Early Republic; (2) believing Jacksonian America was a libertarian paradise; and (3) believing the Founders aimed for Jacksonian America. 1/

Here's the thing: the Founders didn't build Jacksonian America, they built the Early Republic. By 1835 or so, America *already* didn't resemble politically what was being contemplated in the 1780s. 2/

https://twitter.com/mattglassman312/status/1304405745413259264

This confusion---the belief that the Founders were aiming for antebellum America rather than a republic version of the 18th century English mixed system---fuels a lot of nonsense, since it lets people give the Founders the semi-familiar political structures of the 19th c. 3/

https://twitter.com/MattGlassman312/status/1304405747946659840

But the Founders had largely non-Jacksonian ideas about suffrage, rotation in office, parties, loyal oppositions, mass political media, public opinion, etc.

The political world of Lincoln would have been quite foreign to them. 4/

https://twitter.com/mattglassman312/status/1305198048008646659

The world the Founders built and lived in was something truly special---against the relief of an 18th century world of monarchies. But that 1790s early republic was dead and gone just a generation later. And by 1835 it already looked old and rusty in the rear view mirror. 5/

But the core problem here is this very common fantasy belief that Jacksonian America was some libertarian paradise. Just total nonsense. 6/

https://twitter.com/MattGlassman312/status/1343993494445170691

I can't say what the Founders would think of modern America, but IMO their first reaction would be amazement and pride.

Their wild plan for a republic---in the age of monarchy---didn't collapse! Instead, it became a powerful, prosperous nation of 300M+ free citizens! /7

A lot of people, I'll guess, will say America is better now b/c women and African-Americans are treated like humans. True!

But I'll go further. America is better now for even the sliver of people who would have been privileged in 1795. Way better. On almost every dimension. 8/8

My favorite convention anecdote is Morris' response to the suggestion new states might ruin the interests of the (existing) Atlantic states: "There is no chance new states will ever outnumber the existing ones."

They built a beautiful republic. They had no idea what was coming.