In this Book
- The Revolutionary Years, 1775-1789: The Art of American Power During the Early Republic
- Book
- 2011
- Published by: University of Nebraska Press
summary
The Revolutionary Years, 1775–1789, reveals how the nation’s leaders asserted power during the fourteen crucial years from the Revolution’s first shots at Lexington in April 1775 to the adoption of the Constitution in 1789.The American Revolution unfolded in two phases, winning independence and then creating “a more perfect union” that guaranteed representation and natural rights for all citizens. To prevail in those struggles the Founders had to tap and eventually master two powerful historic forces—nationalism and liberalism.National leadership is about mastering the dynamic among a country’s interests, power, and policies. Although military battles were relatively infrequent during the leisurely pace of eighteenth-century warfare, political battles were incessant. Those who championed the United States of America triumphed during the sweltering, seemingly endless months at Philadelphia from May to September 1787, when the delegates hammered out the Constitution.With the Constitution’s ratification, the Revolution came to a symbolic and substantive end. Ever since, Americans have debated, and at times shed blood over, just what the Founders intended and how to realize those ideals. In this fascinating book, William Nester examines how the Founders’ experience in revolution and nation-building caused them to understand leadership as an art—one that ultimately became the distinctive art of American power.
Table of Contents
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- Acknowledgments
- pp. xv-xvi
- Part 1: The American Revolution, 1775–1781
- 3. The Declaration of Independence
- pp. 23-25
- 5. The Diplomatic Surge
- pp. 32-34
- 6. Turning Points
- pp. 35-40
- 7. The Alliance with France
- pp. 41-44
- 8. The Widening War
- pp. 45-49
- 9. Foreign Intrigues
- pp. 50-55
- 11. Parallel Wars
- pp. 60-63
- 13. Stalemate, Betrayal, and Mutiny
- pp. 66-68
- 14. Yorktown
- pp. 69-72
- Part 2: The American Revolution, 1781–1789
- 15. French Subversion
- pp. 75-77
- 16. The First American Government
- pp. 78-80
- 17. Winning the Peace
- pp. 81-92
- 18. Why America Won
- pp. 93-97
- 20. The Struggle with Britain
- pp. 102-107
- 21. The Struggle with Spain
- pp. 108-113
- 22. The Struggle with France
- pp. 114-116
- 23. The Struggle with the Tribes
- pp. 117-123
- 24. The Struggle with the Barbary States
- pp. 124-126
- 25. “A More Perfect Union”
- pp. 127-132
- Consequences: What Did It All Mean?
- pp. 133-138
- Abbreviations
- pp. 139-140
- About the Author
- p. 157
Additional Information
ISBN
9781597977500
Related ISBN(s)
9781597976749
MARC Record
OCLC
759114759
Pages
174
Launched on MUSE
2016-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No