Politician and statesman are two terms that are used to define a political individual, and usually collaborate in their meanings. Many times, these two works can be used as synonyms when describing an individual, but they do have their subtle differences. Both a politician and a statesman are defined as “man who is a leader in national or international affairs” or “a man who is a respected leader in a given field” (http://dictionary. reference.
com/search?q=statesman / http://dictionary. reference. com/search?q=politician). Although these two words are termed the same, they do have their differences in their actual meanings.
A politician is someone who attempts to gain personal advantages, most likely by scheming or maneuvering. Also, a politician belongs to a political party, and most likely is far more interested in the betterment of their party then that of the nation in whole (http://www. unique-design. net/library/word/politic. html).
On the other hand, a statesman is a person who, even if they do belong to a political party, can put their party obligations aside and do what is in the best interest of the country. In a long-term perspective, statesmen who put the needs of their country before their personal or party needs will better benefit out nation (http://www. bartleby. com/61/71/S0717100. html). George Washington: I would label George Washington as a statesman because during his time of leadership of our country, there were no political parties present.
Also, Washington made his decisions in regard to what would best benefit our country in short and long term perspectives. George Washington also made the decision of limiting a president’s power to where he could not have such authority as that of a dictator or such other type of leader. Alexander Hamilton: I would also call Alexander Hamilton a statesman. Hamilton’s six part plan to relieve the United States of its foreign and domestic debts was indeed for the good of the country.
Also, Hamilton called together the Continental Congress to amend the Articles of Confederation and proceeded to carry it out in a fair and just manner. Finally, Alexander Hamilton refused to join Aaron Burr’s campaign because he believed Burr was in it for the wrong reasons and principles (http://www. colonialhall. com/hamilton/hamilton. php).
James Monroe: I would say James Monroe was a politician because he opposed the ratification of the Constitution because it would centralize the country and it would not directly benefit him in any way. In addition, he was strong connected to the racial wing of the Republican Party who opposed Madison’s election. He agreed with many of the ideas that Thomas Jefferson also believed in (http://www. infoplease. com/ipa/A0760590. html).
Thomas Jefferson: I would label Thomas Jefferson as a politician because of the fact that he was the leader of the untitled “leader” of the Democratic – Republican Party. Jefferson opposed the idea of a centralized government and was for the idea of more power towards the individual states. This, as we now know, would not have been in the best interest of the country. Jefferson opposed many of Hamilton’s ideas of a unified, centralized nation, and Hamilton’s ideas proved to be successful in our nation’s progression (http://www.
whitehouse. gov/history/presidents/tj3. html). Aaron Burr: I would definitely call Aaron Burr a politician because he was devoted to his Republican party and would do almost anything to benefit it. Burr was so erratic in his party that he challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel, and shot Hamilton during the duel.
When Hamilton refused to support Aaron Burr’s campaign, Hamilton said that Burr was “a man of irregular and insatiable ambition, who ought not be trusted with the reins of the government (http://www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk/WWhamiltonA. htm).
“John Quincy Adams: I would call John Quincy Adams a statesman. I would probably say this because Adams also urged the United States to take a lead in the development of the arts and sciences through the establishment of a national university and the financing of scientific expeditions. This basically meant that he wanted out nation to advance as a whole. While he was Secretary of State under Monroe, Adams arranged the joint occupation of the Oregon country with England and the obtainment of Florida from Spain (http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presi dents/ja6.html).”Bibliography”1.http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=statesman2.http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=politician3.http://www.unique-design.net/library/word/politic.html4.http://www.bartleby.com/61/71/S0717100.html5.http://www.colonialhall.com/hamilton/hamilton.php6.http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0760590.html7.http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tj3.html8.http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWhamiltonA.htm9.http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/ja6.html
