Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison, and the Creation of the American RepublicAlthough the friendship between George Washington and James Madison was eclipsed in the early 1790s by the alliances of Madison with Jefferson and Washington with Hamilton, their collaboration remains central to the constitutional revolution that launched the American experiment in republican government. Washington relied heavily on Madison's advice, pen, and legislative skill, while Madison found Washington's prestige indispensable for achieving his goals for the new nation. Together, Stuart Leibiger argues, Washington and Madison struggled to conceptualize a political framework that would respond to the majority without violating minority rights. Stubbornly refusing to sacrifice either of these objectives, they cooperated in helping to build and implement a powerful, extremely republican constitution. Observing Washington and Madison in light of their special relationship, Leibiger argues against a series of misconceptions about the two men. Madison emerges as neither a strong nationalist of the Hamiltonian variety nor a political consolidationist; he did not retreat from nationalism to states' rights in the 1790s, as other historians have charged. Washington, far from being a majestic figurehead, exhibits a strong constitutional vision and firm control of his administration. By examining closely Washington and Madison's correspondence and personal visits, Leibiger shows how a marriage of political convenience between two members of the Chesapeake elite grew into a genuine companionship fostered by historical events and a mutual interest in agriculture and science. The development of their friendship, and eventual estrangement, mirrors in fascinating ways the political development of the early Republic. |
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... term as president ( 1793-97 ) illuminates the growth of the Republican counterpersuasion in response to the advance of Hamiltonianism . I demonstrate that during the 1780s and into the 1790$ , the two men did not dif- fer as widely as ...
... term . When Jefferson retired as secretary of state in 1793 , Madison's refusal to succeed him deprived the ... terms , as evidenced by the Washingtons ' en- couragement of Madison's 1794 marriage to Dolley Payne Todd . Ultimately , how ...
... term . 12 Be- side our distorted image of Washington's political philosophy has been an equally inaccurate and damaging picture of his style of political leadership and an un- derestimation of his contributions to constitutionalism ...
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Contents
Winning Independence | 11 |
Improving Rivers and Friendships | 33 |
Framing and Ratifying the Constitution | 58 |
Washingtons Prime Minister | 97 |
Friendship Tested | 124 |
Founding Washington DC | 140 |
Four More Years | 153 |
Neutrality | 169 |
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References to this book
James Madison: The American Presidents Series: The 4th President, 1809-1817 Garry Wills No preview available - 2002 |
James Madison: The American Presidents Series: The 4th President, 1809-1817 Garry Wills No preview available - 2002 |