Imagery of Regent people and campus

Dissertation Abstract

The Leadership Assumptions of American Statesmen During the Federal Convention and Ratification Debates, 1787-1789

Darin Gerdes
Regent University

This study sought to ascertain and analyze the leadership and assumptions of American Statesmen during the Constitutional Convention and ratification debates. The researcher examined the primary source public debates from 1787-1789. This study identified the Statesmen's view of leadership, which emerged from their writings and debates. Their assumptions were classified into assumptions on the nature of man, the nature of power, the nature of people, the nature of government, and the nature of society. The Statesmen's views were then compared and contrasted to contemporary leadership literature using Bass' (1990) framework in his Handbook of Leadership.