Michael Lind theorises that the election of Barack Obama marks the actual beginning of the fourth American republic, which interestingly enough, saw its birth in 2004, mid-way through George W Bush’s administration.

As I see it, to date there have been three American republics, each lasting 72 years (give or take a few years). The First Republic of the United States, assembled following the American Revolution, lasted from 1788 to 1860. The Second Republic, assembled following the Civil War and Reconstruction (that is, the Second American Revolution) lasted from 1860 to 1932. And the Third American Republic, assembled during the New Deal and the civil rights eras (the Third American Revolution), lasted from 1932 until 2004.

Sorry about the mention again of politics, and the US election, but this is a great read.