With the ratification of the Constitution in 1788 by all thirteen states, America began a great democratic experiment. The novelty of this approach drew the wonder and scorn of America's European trade partners and induced Alexis de Tocqueville of France to write Democracy in America (1835 and 1840) in which he analyzed the effectiveness of this type of political system. The Founding Fathers of America, five of whom became presidents under the Constitution, were a group of influential elites that largely sacrificed their own interests to establish a functional nation independent of Great Britain's imperial hand.
Of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 39 signers of the Constitution, and the many who served on the Continental Congress, a legacy was born of rugged, frontier-minded people led by the New World's aristocratic, land-owning elite. An elite group that was versed both in European philosophy and exposed to the natural rigors of the uncivilized colonies. That arrangement fixed the foundation for the dreams of the millions who have called America their home over the last four-hundred years. Since the establishment of Jamestown and other British settlements, the United States as colonies and as states has placed wealthy families in governance over the working classes - with some several exceptions of extraordinary men and circumstances. Aside from those exceptions, the American political and economic systems, often married and self-supporting, have been a reproducible relay of lineages taking residence in the seats of power. Not in ways that have outraged the voter public at large, instead encouraging furthering the democratization powers under Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson's ideologically Progressive presidential terms.
While the lineages of political power extend to all levels and branches of the American political system, the most visible and memorable powerhouse is the head of the Federal Executive branch, the President of the United States. The first recognized dynasty of American presidents was the Adams family. John Adams, one of the most predominant and vocal Founding Fathers, held strong ideas and the strength of character to withstand opposition. As the first vice president and second president, Adams began the precedent of peacefully switching hands of power from one man to another after the electoral process. Four presidents later, his son, John Quincy Adams, became the sixth president and the second in the Adam's dynastic claims to the presidential seat.
A less notable and less influential dynasty over the course of America's destiny is the Harrison dynasty of the early to late nineteenth century. William Henry Harrison became of the ninth president, the last born a British-subject, and the first to die in office. He rose to power from his fame as a military officer and left a legacy in the War of 1812 that solidified America's self-identity. William's grandson, Benjamin Harrison, became the twenty-third president. While the political dynasty ended there, Benjamin's son Russell had a military career in the Spanish-American war that extended the recognized portion of the family's legacy through the nineteenth century.
The Dutch, New York-based Roosevelts have made a permanent impact on their family, the Western Hemisphere, Europe, and the world. Succeeding the assassinated William McKinley in 1901 to become the twenty-sixth president, Theodore Roosevelt captured the support of the American public. Theodore Roosevelt broke up large corporations with trust-busting laws, invigorated the standards of the American army, expanded America's military and economic strength throughout the Western Hemisphere, initialized government reforms, established the legal preservation of many national parks that are still visited by millions today, and has endured lasting admiration for his courage, manliness, foolhardiness, and indomitable spirit. In modern American popular culture, Theodore Roosevelt matches the legendary tall tales of the Founding Fathers with feats of his ferocity and bravado from assassination attempts, distinguished military career, and dozens of legal precedents from re-invigorating the working class to federal government reforms. Despite these triumphs that set up America to claim the twentieth century as her own, Theodore's cousin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, extended the immense influence and power of Theodore to take hold of the reigns of the world. The thirty-second president took his place as the United States endured the Great Depression. While his reforms are still denounced by America's political right, FDR led America through some of its most trying challenges since the Civil War. The Great Depression and a majority of World War II directed FDR's leadership against the antagonists of the American population. Franking's dying on the brink of America's victories in both European and Pacific theaters, the Roosevelt family's incredibly immense legacy on the world had only begun. The institutions established by both men still affect any residents of the United States and began the current ties of America's political alliances with European and Asian-Pacific powers.
As the "land of the free" and home of the brave," America declares that all who take up the work can achieve their earthly goals, but for the dynastic families of American politics, hard work, money, a familiar name, and legal support extend normal labor into the most prominent chair of the American system of governance. Many families control local elections whether in small towns or giant cities like New York. Other families become fixtures of the political scene in Washington's federal government as exhibited by the success of the Kennedy family. The legacy of America's political families is as recognizable as the aristocratic and monarchical dynasties of Europe, yet seemingly inexplicably, the American dynasties gain their power not only through wealth and connections but through the support of the ballot box.
As noted at the beginning, the modern system of democratic-republic representation in America is weak, with voter turnout low and inconsistent. Despite the dismal participation, contenders for the coveted seats of power are never in short supply, yet since 1981 with only the exception of the current occupier Barak Obama, a member of the Bush or Clinton family has been in one of the two most powerful positions in America.
Americans recognize these problems, yet change does not come. Perhaps this is due to 90% re-election of state representatives to Congress despite 70+% disapproval of recent Congress performance. The general population is unable to become involved or contribute to the political system because of the slow financial stripping of their means. Despite an increasing number of Americans working more than fifty hours, and being forced to find non-full time positions to make ends meet, the average family income is stagnant. This is the core economic quandary of modern America. Adjusted for inflation, an average middle class family in 1970 would make nearly $95,000 in 2015 which contrasts the real national average of about $52,000. Even the richest state, Maryland, only has an average family income of $69,000, twenty-five thousand dollars below 1970 levels.
The connection between political dynasties and American economic woes is correlated in recent decades by the repetitious re-election of Bush and Clinton candidates into the White House. One of the easiest ways to gain support or disdain from a large number of people instantly is to have a recognizable name. In a sea of people who have unheard of names with no known political credit to them, familiarity triumphs whether or not its authenticity and ideas are more widely supported. Because of the instantaneous recognition "Bush" and "Clinton" have on the American population, individuals with the "brand" are instantly more successful despite being little different from or potentially worse than the competition.
The next year and a half will captivate the American media on the domestic and foreign problems of the country. The famous people who promise to fix those problems will likely fair better in the approval ratings. History has revealed the strengths and weaknesses of family dynasties. Part of their success is from their simplicity and consistency. Dynasties in democratic societies, notably America, have long been successful and even good for the overall trajectory of a nation's people, but as the money to fund the positions of power is concentrated into fewer hands, are the choices between two dynasties the best options or is it time to clear the board and reset some of the pieces?
If corporations are people and money talks, the loudest voices will not be the American people.
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Agatha Tyche
