American Politics in the Early Republic: The New Nation in CrisisDuring the years from 1789 to 1801, the republican political institutions forged by the American Constitution were put to the test. A new nation, born in revolution, divided over the nature of republicanism, faced the challenge of creating a stable, enduring national authority and union. In this book, James Sharp offers a new assessment disputing the conventional wisdom that the birth of the country was a relatively painless and unexceptional one. Instead, he tells the dramatic story of how the euphoria surrounding the inauguration of George Washington as the country's first president quickly soured. Soon, the Federalist defenders of the administration and their Republican critics regarded each other as bitter political enemies. Despite the polarization, the nation did manage to survive its first trial. The election of Thomas Jefferson in 1801 and the nonviolent transfer of power from one political group to another ended the immediate crisis. But sectionally based politics continued to plague the nation and eventually led to the Civil War. |
Other editions - View all
American Politics in the Early Republic: The New Nation in Crisis James Roger Sharp Limited preview - 1993 |
American Politics in the Early Republic: The New Nation in Crisis James Roger Sharp No preview available - 1993 |
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action Adams Federalists Adams's administration Alien and Sedition American politics American Revolution Antifederalists argued Bayard believed Britain Burr Burr's candidate Carolina citizens classical republican Congress Constitution crisis critical DeConde defense Democratic Democratic-Republican societies effort election election of 1796 electoral England feared federal government Federalist Papers Federalists force Ford France French Gallatin Genet Gerry Hamilton historian House of Representatives ibid interests Jay Treaty Jeffer Jefferson Papers Jefferson to Madison Jeffersonian Republicans John Adams June King leaders legislature letter Madison Papers Madison to Jefferson Malone ment militia National Gazette Oliver Wolcott opponents opposition Ordeal of Liberty Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pinckney presidential principles proto-parties Quasi-War quoted radical ratification republic Revolution role Rufus King secretary sectional Sedgwick Sedition Laws Senate South South Carolina Southern Syrett Taylor Thomas Pinckney threat tion union United violence votes warned Washington Whiskey Rebellion William Branch Giles Wolcott wrote York