Editorials

This tag will contain essays written by August Glen-James. These works represent the thoughts and analyses of the author and are offered to readers as agents of critical thought, not assertions of infallible doctrine. Whether readers agree or disagree is not a concern; however, that readers may be inspired to think for themselves thus formulating their own theories upon the subjects offered is the desideratum of this category of Raw History.

Editorials

Intellectual Combustion: Ideology and Federalism in America Today

Thoughts by August Glen-James Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) wrote that “Life is known to be a process of combustion; intellect is the light produced by this process.” An interesting metaphor, to be sure, but metaphors can be tricky. Often, some points, premises, or conclusions don’t tuck neatly under a metaphorical

Editorials

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 6: The Right of Revolution

By August Glen-James After running the gamut of innovations from denying a king’s divine right to rule, redefining the purpose of government, denying the supremacy of the Mother Country, invoking the rights of self-government, and denying the validity of “virtual representation,” the American colonists finalized their revolution: They not

Editorials

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 5--Distinguishing between Representation and Virtual Representation.

By August Glen-James Because they were not represented in Parliament, Americans denied the legality and constitutionality of British colonial taxation policies that emerged after the French and Indian War. Parliament had no right either to tax the colonies or to legislate for them generally. Great Britain’s government, however, formulated

Editorials

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 4--Taxation, Representation, and Self-government.

By: August Glen-James The French and Indian War changed the relationship between England and her North American colonies. Victory over the French and her native allies was expensive. Consequently, the British, believing their colonies benefitted from the war, asserted that they should help pay the massive war debt. The colonies

Editorials

Six Innovations on the Road to the American Revolution: Innovation 3--Defining the Relationship of the Mother Country to the Colonies. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Under the economic theory of mercantilism, colonies were subordinate to their Mother Country. Colonies existed primarily to enrich the Mother Country by providing raw materials for manufacturing and serve as a ready market for her commerce. American revolutionaries denied this doctrine. Here are some leading thinkers of the American Revolution

Editorials

Six Innovations on the Road to Revolution: Innovation 2--Minimalist Government. Thoughts by August Glen-James

Despite living in an age of monarchical governments with all its pomp and ceremony, size and power, Englishmen and their “country cousins” in America were notorious throughout the Western world for their “insubordination, their insolence, [and] their stubborn unwillingness to be governed.”[1] While professing their loyalty to the crown,

Editorials

Six Innovations on the Road to the Revolution: Innovation 1--Putting Kings in their Proper Place. Thoughts by August Glen-James

It was widely held in monarchical Europe that God had chosen certain people to rule nations. Known as the divine right of kings, this political doctrine defended monarchical absolutism by asserting that kings, having derived their authority from God, could not, as a consequence, be held accountable for their actions

Editorials

Why Civilizations Fail: Editorial Thoughts by August Glen-James

“History,” wrote Edward Gibbon, “undertakes to record the transactions of the past for the instruction of future ages.”[1] Gibbon well apprehended this task having penned a six-volume tome entitled The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire comprising more than 1200 pages. Deciphering historical lessons, therefore, is no easy