Federalism
Historian and author Bernard Bailyn talks about the tension inherent in the relationship between the United States federal government and the states. "American federalism is the emergence out of the origins of the country," Professor Bailyn explains...
Madison's Dilemma
Historian Peter Onuf talks about the dilemma of James Madison, who was torn between following the Constitution as closely as possible, and yet recognizing the need to put financial resources towards what Professor Onuf calls, "establish(ing) a robus...
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...
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...
Second Jefferson Administration, The
Historian Peter Onuf explores Thomas Jefferson's strategy of using "aggressive commercial diplomacy" (in the form of an embargo and sanctions) as an alternative to war.
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...
Washington Forms the Executive Branch (Part One)
Historian and author Bernard Bailyn explains that George Washington realized that some kind of Cabinet structure would be necessary, even though there's nothing about a Cabinet written into the Constitution. President Washington named Thomas Jeffers...
A New Nation: Dangers and Challenges
Historian and author Bernard Bailyn talks about some of the most significant challenges facing the newly formed United States, including concerns that the Constitution wouldn't work, and fears that the federal government's power might be excessive.
A Young Nation Moves Forward
Historian and author Bernard Bailyn talks about some of the key challenges the young United States faced in its early years. Among the most pressing was growing the economy to keep pace with the rapidly expanding population. Other challenges include...
Pressures from Within: Aftermath of War of 1812
In the aftermath of the war of 1812, a sense of pride and determination seems to dominate the American scene--pride that the nation had survived yet another war with Great Britain and determination to avoid the mistakes that had weakened the country...