Thomas Jefferson: A Study in Contradiction
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the apparent contradiction between Thomas Jefferson as a champion of freedom, liberty, and democracy, and Thomas Jefferson the aristocrat and slave owner.
Living Constitution, The: Focus of Conversation and Debate, A
The Constitution was the focus of conversation and debate in late 1787 and 1788 in almost every church, meeting house, roadside inn, and town square. Some of the most remarkable political literature ever published grew out of this political debate, ...
Alexander Hamilton: Target of Republican Mistrust
Historian Peter Onuf says that Republicans both feared and respected Alexander Hamilton, believing that he wanted to make the United States over in the image of Britain. "Many of Hamilton's troubles," Professor Onuf explains, "...go back to the Cons...
Public Response to the Louisiana Purchase
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the reaction of the American public to the Louisiana Purchase. Most Americans were very enthusiastic about the transaction, Professor Onuf explains, because it provided commercial and trade advantages, and ended the ...
Election of 1796, The
Historian Peter Onuf provides fascinating insights into Thomas Jefferson, whose uncanny political instincts enabled him to not only weather the election of John Adams in 1796, but plan his own campaign for the presidency that would lead to his elect...
Party Politics: Two Political Parties Emerge During Washington's Administration
There was no plan for a party system in the early days of the United States. It was thought there would be so many different factions that no one faction would survive. To the surprise of the citizens, two parties--the Federalists favoring a strong ...
Successors to George Washington
Historian and author Bernard Bailyn analyzes the abilities of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who served as the third and fourth U.S. presidents respectively. Professor Bailyn explains that Jefferson was a good administrator and an excellent pol...
Ratification Debate, The
Historian and author Bernard Bailyn talks about the importance of the ratification debate for the eventual success of the United States Constitution. "Once it was clear that there would be amendments to it that would carry the principles of the Anti...
Election of Thomas Jefferson, The
Historian Peter Onuf explains that the primary difference between the Jefferson presidency and that of John Adams was that Jefferson emphasized state's rights over a strong centralized government, and also paid down the national debt by more than fi...
Adams Presidency, The
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the high points as well as the shortcomings of the John Adams presidency. On the downside, President Adams had to contend with an extremely disloyal Cabinet, consisting largely of holdovers from the second Washington...