Synopses & Reviews
In this engaging, succinct study of the accomplishments and difficulties of the young American republic, key historical questions are discussed with references to important scholarship. Among the topics covered are the development of political parties, the animosity between the Republicans and Federalists and the eventual disintegration of the latter group, the leadership abilities of the first presidents, and the foreign relations problems that led to the War of 1812.
Table of Contents
One. The Contributions of Federalist and Republic, 1789-1801 1Problems of a New Nation 1
Public Credit and Majority Rule 15
Limits of the American Political Tradition 30
The Development of Parties 43
Two. Republican Domination, 1801-1815 57
Jefferson in Power 57
Federalist Extremism and Republican Schism 74
Jefferson Keeps the Peace 86
The War of 1812 93
Selected Bibliography 107
Index 113