The Origin Of Political Party Thoughts In Britain And America

In the research we mainly discusse topics on the history of political party thoughts of Britain and America from seventeenth to eighteenth century, therefore, the essay has two two main parts:in the first part we talk about political party thought in Britain, and in the second part we concerns about political party thought in America. Before going into the details of the political party thoughts of the these two countries, we introduce the backgroung first.In chapter 1 of the first part, we introduce the background of the political party thought in Britain. Where a political party comes from? Through the history of Britain, we can see it has grown along with the development of economics, the evol vement of politics, religious strife, theories of politics and modern western civilization, and so on. Since the middle of sixteen century, there has undergone a great change in the history of Britain. For the first one, as a driving force the economics of Britain has undergone a blossoming. For the second one, bourgeois is expanding increasingly, constitutional monarchy is establishing. For the third one, nationality consciousness is rising, hoping to break away from Pope. In a word, what lay the foundation for political party are the transformation from agricultural civilization to industrial civilization, nationality consciousness, modern political system, enlightened rationalism, modernity, and so on.In chapter 2 of the first part, we discusse Bolingbroke’s political party thought. Bolingbroke is considered as a pioneer in political party thought theory. His major contribution on political party thought theory is as follows:For the first, he has defined the word "party" and "faction", meanwhile he has pointed out the difference between them. Second of all, he has pointed out that there are some principle difference among parties. Last but not the least, he discusses the Opposition theory in primary stage. We may consider Bolingbroke as the father of the Opposition theory.In chapter 3 of the first part, Hume’s political party thought is discussed. Hume has made many contribution on the political party thought theory. First of all, he classifies party into two categories:Personal Faction and Real Faction, and through it people can get a rational understanding on party. Giovanni Sartori thinks that it is the main contribution that Hume has made. Second, Hume discussed the factors contribute to the origin of party. With information on the history and reality of politics in Britain, Hume points out that what result in party approximately are regime, religion, interest and the nature of human being. Third, he addresses a new notion of coalition.In chapter 4 of the first part, we discusse Burke’s political party thought. In Britain Burke was the first one who agreed with the idea of parties. Burke lived in the time when most people are against the parties, but Burke supports the party strongly by speech and debate. Burke defined the word "party" as following:Party is a body of men united, for promoting by their joint endeavours the national interest, upon some particular princilpe in which they are all agreed. And his definition is considered as the earliest one in Britain history, and it has been quoted by scholars who has done researches on the origin of political party thought thereafter. Burke makes clear descriptions on the necessity of party, principals and goals on party forming, and his political party thought theory has made a breakthrough. What worth mentioning is that Burke addresses his theory in the primary stage of parties, and he is surrounded by people who are against party by then, this specially shows Burke’s penetrating insight and great innovatory spirit.The second part is to discuss political party’s thought of America. First of all, it expounds the background of American political party’s thought. What provide nutritious soil approximately for party are unique social and historical background, immigrant society, no feudality, democratic and free tradition. Generally speaking, we can summarize:firstly, freedom, democracy and equality are the precondition and base of political party; secondly, the most decisive factor is to scramble for interest; thirdly, where gestates American party is the parliament; fourthly, political party is the makeup of government operation; fifthly, faction must be changed into political party if it wants to obtain a new lease of life; sixthly, the rivalship between parties is beneficial to public.In chapter 2 of the second part, we discuss political party’s thought of Madison. He thinks that the most important factors are liberty, the various and unequal distribution of property, the nature, of man, communication and concert. He also thinks that the conflicts of rival parties can result in the violence of faction and over-bearing majority. If we want to cure the mischiefs of faction, he says, "extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens". From the above mentioned, we can know that Madison has the unsurpassed knowledge of political party in his era. He is the forthgoer in the history of the American political party in early stage.In chapter 3 of the second part, we discuss political party’s thought of Washington. His perspective and action towards political party is gradually changing in his lifetime. It can be divided into two phases:he is against party in ideology, and mediates the conflicts between Jefferson and Hamilton to the best of his abilities when he is President. He definitely acknowledges that there is a party in the U.S., points out that interest difference and human nature are the reasons that bring on political party when he leaves off one’s post. He calls for the Federalist to unite with each other in the face of which is increasingly strengthening. His transformation confirmedly reflects two aspects:political party are unavoidable in free modern countries, and going beyond faction and turning into modern polity accords with human being’s expectation.In chapter 4 of the second part, we discuss political party’s thought of Jefferson. His experiences are decisive factors in his transformation of thought of political party. Namely, Jefferson’s thought and practice of political party go through four periods of evolvement. Firstly, Jefferson is disgusted extremely with party when he assumes the office of minister, because he is afraid that rival parties would affect the building of the U.S., declaring that "if I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all". Secondly, he founded the first American political party with Madison when he becomes the Secretary of State. Thirdly, He tries to reconcile with two parties when he is President, declaring that "we are all republicans-we are all federalists". This is only a political strategy of uniting various forces and interests. Upon his retirement from public life, he insists that differences between parties are differences of principle. Republican and Federalists are inborn parties, can not unite and need not to unite. Jefferson’s thought and practice of political party are complicated, because he is a complex person, and more importantly, political struggle is intense and intricate. In addition, Jefferson’s experience reflected the process of man’s identifying with political party.The conclusion points out the evolution of political party’s thought:in the first place, they are anti-party; in the second place, they distinguish party from faction; in the third place, they analyse the reason of party; in the fourth place, they discuss the characteristic and function of party. These political party’s thoughts are correlative to some extent with political system of the two countries.