George Bancroft The Office Of The People By: Brooke Betts

Historical Context Born on October 3, 1800 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Educated at Phillips Exter Academy, Exeter, Harvard University, Heidelberg, Gottingen, and Berlin. Served as U.S. Secretary of the Navy by President Polk Supporter of the Jackonian Democracy Established the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1845. Best known for his writing for History of the United States. Intended Audience is the Adelphi Society of Williamstown College.

Main Points Truth is one…. The best government rests on the people…. It never contradicts itself: One truth cannot contradict another truth. Truth is a bond of union. But error not only contradicts truth, but itself also, so that there may be many errors, and each at variance with the rest. Truth is a necessity, an element of harmony; error as necessarily an element of discord. Thus there can be no continuing universal judgement but a right one. The best government rests on the people…. It exists only through individuality. They must rest upon mind; not wealth, not brute force, the sum of the moral intelligence of the community should rule the state. The measure of the progress of the civilization is the progress of the people. The world can only advance through the culture of the moral and intellectual powers of the people. “People can make right, but people can discern right” Is this always true?? Do people always do what is right?

Main Points Public happiness is the true object of legislation…. This can be done only by the masses of mankind awakening to the knowledge and the care of their own interests. The world can only advance through the culture of the moral and intellectual powers of the people. “Philosophy has sometimes forgotten God; a great people never did.” All of mans work can be changed, but the spirit of the truth is incorruptible. Self Reliant Capitalism “The Duty of America is to secure the culture and happiness of the masses by their reliance on themselves.

Historical Significance Jefferson and Bancroft both believed in the people. Bancroft believed that instead of picking leaders, let democracy lead and it will elect the people for us. Truth is the essential factor the progress of the people, without truth there is nothing.