Parties and Politics in the Early Republic

First published in 1967, Parties and Politics in the Early Republic outlines the vicissitudes of party politics in the early American Republic, showing how these played a part in critical events such as the establishment of a Bank of the United States, the purchase of Louisiana from the French, and the declaration of war on the British in 1812. The problems facing the American nation in 1789 immediately after Independence were considerable, and the obstacles to maintaining a successful federal union seemed formidable. Yet in the early years of the Constitution there developed an effective federal system, a sense of national unity and a good measure of democratic growth, all resulting because of, not despite, the conflict between the emerging parties. The author shows that despite their differences both Federalists and Republicans had the same basic aim-to see America a great power in the world, respected by and at peace with all nations. The study is particularly valuable in that it presents the views of modern historians, thus giving the reader an indication of contemporary historical opinion on the period as well as a basic outline.