Wendell Phillips Role In The American Political Tradition

Throughout the sixth chapter of The American Political Tradition, Richard Hoftstader the author, refers to Wendell Phillips’ role in history as an agitator. For Wendell Phillips the role of an agitator was a profession, very different from that of a politician, throughout his course he could never be satisfied to the fullest. Hoftstader believes that Phillips’ role as an agitator “was not to make laws or determine policy, but to influence the public mind in the interest of same large social transformation” (Richard Hoftstader). However Richard Hoftstader contrasts the role of an agitator with the role of a politician. Wendell Phillips was much like William Lloyd Garrison. Both Garrison and Phillips were known to be agitators, and both were also against slavery, and …show more content…
As previously stated Richard Hoftstader believes that the role of an agitator “was not to make laws or determine policy, but to influence the public mind in the interest of same large social transformation”. He contrasts the role of an agitator to the role of a politician as which he believes a politicians purpose “is not absolute right, but, like Solon’s laws, as much right as the people will sanction. His office is not to interact public opinion, but to represent it” (Richard Hoftstader). Wendell Phillips began his career with a low reputation. He then opened his law office but, to then soon close it to follow his dream of abolitionist agitations. The role of an agitator could be potentially dangerous for some such as, Wendell Phillips and William Lloyd Garrison. They both had been mobbed, as for Phillips, he was mobbed three times in one month. Most politicians do not have to live in fear of being mobbed. Phillips purpose was to influence the publics mind. He fulfilled his purpose in many different ways