Washington's Government: Charting the Origins of the Federal Administration (Early American Histories)

Washington's Government shows how George Washington's administration--the subject of remarkably little previous study--was both more dynamic and more uncertain than previously thought. Rather than simply following a blueprint laid out by the Constitution, Washington and his advisors constructed over time a series of possible mechanisms for doing the nation's business. The results were successful in some cases, disastrous in others. Yet at the end of Washington's second term, there was no denying that the federal government had achieved remarkable results. As Americans debate the nature of good national governance two and a half centuries after the founding, this volume's insights appear timelier than ever. ContributorsLindsay M. Chervinsky, Iona College * Gautham Rao, American University * Kate Elizabeth Brown, Huntington University * Stephen J. Rockwell, St. Joseph's College * Andrew J. B. Fagal, Princeton University, * Daniel Hulsebosch, New York University * Rosemarie Zagarri, George Mason University

Washington’s Government shows how George Washington’s administration—the subject of remarkably little previous study—was both more dynamic and more uncertain than previously thought. Rather than simply following a blueprint laid out by the Constitution, Washington and his advisors constructed over time a series of possible mechanisms for doing the nation’s business. The results were successful in some cases, disastrous in others. Yet at the end of Washington’s second term, there was no denying that the federal government had achieved remarkable results. As Americans debate the nature of good national governance two and a half centuries after the founding, this volume’s insights appear timelier than ever.

Contributors Lindsay M. Chervinsky, Iona College * Gautham Rao, American University * Kate Elizabeth Brown, Huntington University * Stephen J. Rockwell, St. Joseph’s College * Andrew J. B. Fagal, Princeton University, * Daniel Hulsebosch, New York University * Rosemarie Zagarri, George Mason University

Introduction: Creating the Federal Government -- George Washington and the Cabinet: The Unlikely Development of an Unintended Institution / Lindsay M. Chervinsky -- Washington's Workforce: Reconstructing the Federal Government at the Moment of Its Creation / Peter J. Kastor -- The Theory and Practice of Federalist Political Economy / Gautham Rao -- Creating Interdepartmental Collaboration: Federal Judges, the Remitting Act, and Cooperative State Building / Kate Elizabeth Brown -- Indian Affairs and the Relentless American State / Stephen J. Rockwell -- "The Next Great Work to Be Accomplished": American Armament Policy / Andrew J. B. Fagal -- From Constitution Making to State Building: The Washington Administration and the Law of Nations / Daniel J. Hulsebosch -- The Legislative Output of Congress / Max M. Edling -- Afterword: Reflections on the Political History of the Early Republic / Rosemarie Zagarri __Washington’s Government__ shows how George Washington’s administration―the subject of remarkably little previous study―was both more dynamic and more uncertain than previously thought. Rather than simply following a blueprint laid out by the Constitution, Washington and his advisors constructed over time a series of possible mechanisms for doing the nation’s business. The results were successful in some cases, disastrous in others. Yet at the end of Washington’s second term, there was no denying that the federal government had achieved remarkable results. As Americans debate the nature of good national governance two and a half centuries after the founding, this volume’s insights appear timelier than ever. Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 12 George Washington and the Cabinet 40 Washington’s Workforce 68 The Theory and Practice of Federalist Political Economy 97 Creating Interdepartmental Collaboration 118 Indian Affairs and the Relentless American State 145 “The Next Great Work to Be Accomplished” 182 From Constitution Making to State Building 202 The Legislative Output of Congress 227 Afterword 264 Contributors 272 Index 274 "This collection of essays investigates the federal government of the United States at its moment of origin, the Washington Administration."-- Provided by publisher