The Hamiltonian Vision, 1789-1800: The Art of American Power During the Early Republic

by Nester, William

• ISBN13: 9781597976756
• ISBN10: 159797675X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-06-30
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

From 1789 to 1800, the Federalist and Republican parties held opposing visions for America's future. Led by Alexander Hamilton, the Federalists sought to establish a strong central government that would lead an American commercial, financial, technological, industrial, and military revolution and thus propel the United States into the ranks of the world's great powers. Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans feared that new wealth, power, and competing interests would corrupt the classic republic they envisioned. Instead, they extolled the romantic notion of a republic of yeoman farmers, states' rights, and frontiers defended by militias and gunboats, all presided over by a weak federal government. Hamilton's vision largely prevailed in battles with the Republicans over the U.S. Bank, the role and composition of the army and navy, the Whiskey Rebellion, the French Revolution, the Indian war in the Northwest Territory, British confiscations of American ships and sailors, the Jay and Pinckney treaties, and a 'œquasi' naval war with France, among other conflicts. Ultimately, Jefferson and his Republican Party would triumph in the 1800 election and permanently eclipse the Federalists. Historians and general readers alike will be riveted by the conflict between Federalists and Republicans'”a conflict that remains one of the most divisive issues in American politics today.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: The Inauguration	p. 1
Washington, 1789-1793
The Father of His Country	p. 9
Hamilton versus Jefferson	p. 12
Nurturing American Power	p. 17
Frontier War	p. 26
British Intrigues	p. 30
Spanish Stonewalling	p. 38
America and the French Revolution	p. 41
The Widening National Rift	p. 44
Washington, 1793-1797
The Second Term Team	p. 51
The Genet Wild Card	p. 53
British Aggression and Trade War	p. 66
The Whiskey Rebellion	p. 72
Winning the West	p. 75
The Jay Treaty	p. 81
The Pinckney Treaty	p. 92
Fraying Ties with France	p. 97
The Farewell Address	p. 101
Adams, 1797-1800
H John Adams and American Power	p. 107
The XYZ Affair	p. 112
Mustering for War	p. 121
The War at Home	p. 126
The Quasi-Alliance	p. 131
The Fate of Saint-Domingue	p. 135
Back Channels	p. 138
The Quasi-War	p. 144
British Depredations and American Honor	p. 148
Settling Scores with France	p. 151
The 1800 Election	p. 156
Consequences: Hamiltonism and the Art of American Power	p. 159
List of Abbreviations	p. 165
Notes	p. 169
Index	p. 189
About the Author	p. 193
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