Reginald Horsman's powerful and comprehensive survey of the early years of the American Republic covers the dramatic years from the setting up of the US Constitution in 1789, the first US presidency under George Washington, and also the presidencies of Adams, Jefferson and Madison. A major strength of the book is that the coverage of the traditional topics about the shaping of the new government and crisis in foreign policy is combined with chapters on race, slavery, the economy and westward expansion, revealing both the strengths and weaknesses of the government and society that came into being after the Revolution.

Key features include:

• Combines extensive research with the best recent scholarship on the period
• A balanced account of the contributions of the leading personalities
• Impressive coverage is given to questions of race and territorial expansion
• Chapter One provides a concise and lucid account of the state of American politics and society in 1789
• Extensive chapter bibliographies

The work will be welcomed by students studying the early republic as well as general readers interested in a stimulating and informative account of the early years of the American nation.