Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
W. H. Brands, the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History, at the University of Texas at Austin. In this Conversation Prof. Brands discusses his book "Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, and Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics" which outlines the history of American political development from the early fear of political factions to how the founders came to reluctantly embrace partisan politics and the parties they created. Originally from the Northwest, Dr. Brands studied history and mathematics at Stanford University upon graduation he became a traveling salesman until he decided to become a teacher. For nine years he taught history and mathematics in high school and community college. He completed his Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught for seventeen years at Texas A&M; and in 2005 he returned to Austin. He is the author of thirty books and has published articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, the Journal of American History, Political Science Quarterly, and many other newspapers, magazines, and journals. In 2023 he delivered the James Madison Lecture on the Constitution.
00:00 Founding Partisans
05:45 Cast of Characters
12:20 Washington
18:45 The Rise of Factions in America
27:45 Political Parties, Past and Present
35:43 Nature of Practical Politics
43:39 Two Party Necessity
50:49 Founding Partisan Necessity
American History Videos is sponsored by the James Madison Foundation. These videos are offered to help teachers, students and the general public to learn more about America's founding and the Constitution of the United States.
W. H. Brands, the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History, at the University of Texas at Austin. In this Conversation Prof. Brands discusses his book "Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, and Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics" which outlines the history of American political development from the early fear of political factions to how the founders came to reluctantly embrace partisan politics and the parties they created. Originally from the Northwest, Dr. Brands studied history and mathematics at Stanford University upon graduation he became a traveling salesman until he decided to become a teacher. For nine years he taught history and mathematics in high school and community college. He completed his Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught for seventeen years at Texas A&M; and in 2005 he returned to Austin. He is the author of thirty books and has published articles in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, the Journal of American History, Political Science Quarterly, and many other newspapers, magazines, and journals. In 2023 he delivered the James Madison Lecture on the Constitution.
00:00 Founding Partisans
05:45 Cast of Characters
12:20 Washington
18:45 The Rise of Factions in America
27:45 Political Parties, Past and Present
35:43 Nature of Practical Politics
43:39 Two Party Necessity
50:49 Founding Partisan Necessity
American History Videos is sponsored by the James Madison Foundation. These videos are offered to help teachers, students and the general public to learn more about America's founding and the Constitution of the United States.
