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The liberal tradition in America;: An interpretation of American political thought since the Revolution

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Hartz defines the American political tradition as Lockean liberalism. He places great emphasis on the fact that the U.S. skipped the feudal stage in its political development. He is especially concerned about the U.S.'s never having developed a tradition of Socialism in politics. He believes that the exclusively dominant Liberal Tradition, and the absence of the political ideologies present in European politics stem in part from America's great natural wealth and open-spaces, from its connection to a founding vital middle- class.
This work has been commented on and criticized now for half- a- century and is still read today by those who would understand the American political tradition.