George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic
From an upstart Ulster County militia officer to "Pharaoh of New York" and vice president under both Jefferson and Madison, George Clinton cast a political shadow over the young republic for almost forty years. As outspoken supporter of the patriot cause, antifederalism, and later of Republican politics, he dominated the imbroglio of New York politics until his death in 1812. The first biography of this pivotal figure in over half a century, George Clinton analyzes the public career of this leader who, because of the destruction of his papers, has remained largely lost to history. In addition to exploring the complexities of Clinton's life, Kaminski clarifies the often arcane issues of Confederation politics. His mastery of detail, his broad knowledge of the period, and his sensitivity to the subtleties of politics on state and national levels enable him to redefine Clinton and his age. George Clinton describes how politics worked from county to Congress and how Clinton worked from behind the scenes to dominate New York. In a revelatory new interpretation, Kaminski describes how Clinton, the leading Antifederalist in the coutnry, allowed the New York State Convention to ratify the Constitution in pursuit of his ambition to become Washington's first vice president and ultimately, his successor. With this book Clinton is given his rightful place in American historiography alongside Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, and Samuel Adams.
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George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic
From an upstart Ulster County militia officer to "Pharaoh of New York" and vice president under both Jefferson and Madison, George Clinton cast a political shadow over the young republic for almost forty years. As outspoken supporter of the patriot cause, antifederalism, and later of Republican politics, he dominated the imbroglio of New York politics until his death in 1812. The first biography of this pivotal figure in over half a century, George Clinton analyzes the public career of this leader who, because of the destruction of his papers, has remained largely lost to history. In addition to exploring the complexities of Clinton's life, Kaminski clarifies the often arcane issues of Confederation politics. His mastery of detail, his broad knowledge of the period, and his sensitivity to the subtleties of politics on state and national levels enable him to redefine Clinton and his age. George Clinton describes how politics worked from county to Congress and how Clinton worked from behind the scenes to dominate New York. In a revelatory new interpretation, Kaminski describes how Clinton, the leading Antifederalist in the coutnry, allowed the New York State Convention to ratify the Constitution in pursuit of his ambition to become Washington's first vice president and ultimately, his successor. With this book Clinton is given his rightful place in American historiography alongside Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, and Samuel Adams.
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George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic

George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic

by John P. Kaminski
George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic

George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic

by John P. Kaminski

Paperback(1st ed)

$34.00 
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Overview

From an upstart Ulster County militia officer to "Pharaoh of New York" and vice president under both Jefferson and Madison, George Clinton cast a political shadow over the young republic for almost forty years. As outspoken supporter of the patriot cause, antifederalism, and later of Republican politics, he dominated the imbroglio of New York politics until his death in 1812. The first biography of this pivotal figure in over half a century, George Clinton analyzes the public career of this leader who, because of the destruction of his papers, has remained largely lost to history. In addition to exploring the complexities of Clinton's life, Kaminski clarifies the often arcane issues of Confederation politics. His mastery of detail, his broad knowledge of the period, and his sensitivity to the subtleties of politics on state and national levels enable him to redefine Clinton and his age. George Clinton describes how politics worked from county to Congress and how Clinton worked from behind the scenes to dominate New York. In a revelatory new interpretation, Kaminski describes how Clinton, the leading Antifederalist in the coutnry, allowed the New York State Convention to ratify the Constitution in pursuit of his ambition to become Washington's first vice president and ultimately, his successor. With this book Clinton is given his rightful place in American historiography alongside Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton, and Samuel Adams.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780945612179
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 04/01/1993
Edition description: 1st ed
Pages: 352
Product dimensions: 5.86(w) x 8.98(h) x 1.03(d)

About the Author

John P. Kaminski is the founder and director of The Center for the Study of the American Constitution at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he is also co-editor of the multivolume The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution. Dr. Kaminski earned his B.A. and M.A. from Illinois State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was presented the 1991 Chancellor's Distinguished Research Award. He is the author of Paper Politics: The Northern State Loan Offices During the Confederation, 1783-1790 (1989) and co-editor of The Constitution and the States: The Role of the Original Thirteen in the Framing and Adoption of the Federal Constitution (1989), The Bill of Rights and the States: The Colonial and Revolutionary Origins of American Liberties (1992)—both of which received the 1993 Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award. He also co-edited Federalists and Antifederalists: The Debate Over the Ratification of the Constitution (1989), A Great and Good Man: George Washington in the Eyes of His Contemporaries (1989), and Creating the Constitution: A History in Documents (1991). In addition, Dr. Kaminski was president of The Association for Documentary Editing in 1986-87.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction: George Clinton: The Enigma Part 3 Preparing for Leadership Chapter 4 Laying the Foundation Chapter 5 The Lawyer Becomes a Legislator Chapter 6 An Advantageous Marriage Chapter 7 The Call to Congress Chapter 8 The Militia General Part 9 The Wartime Governor Chapter 10 The General Becomes Governor Chapter 11 Outnumbered in the Highlands Chapter 12 Further Defenses for the Hudson Chapter 13 Slaughter on the Frontier Chapter 14 Stemming the Mutinies Chapter 15 A Stronger Congress Chapter 16 A New Danger Chapter 17 Business With the Commander-in-Chief Chapter 18 The Governor's Advice Chapter 19 The State Reunited Chapter 20 The Commander-in-Chief and the Governor Part Part 21 Shaping the Empire State Chapter 22 The State Faces Peace Chapter 23 Vermont Secedes Chapter 24 The Loyalist Problem Chapter 25 The Western Lands Endangered Chapter 26 The Western Posts Chapter 27 The Impost: A Harbor for Whose Benefit? Chapter 28 A Devastated Economy Chapter 29 Mobocracy Part 30 The New Constitution Chapter 31 The Constitutional Convention Chapter 32 Attacked by an Old Friend Chapter 33 A Quiet Stance Chapter 34 Electing the Governor Chapter 35 The State Convention Chapter 36 The Second General Convention Chapter 37 An Antifederalist Vice President Chapter 38 A Fifth Term Part 39 A State Republican Leader Chapter 40 Rebuilding a Majority Chapter 41 Reacting to Hamilton's Plan Chapter 42 Campaigning in '92 Chapter 43 A Tarnished Victory Part 44 A National Republican Chapter 45 A Second Attempt at the Vice Presidency Chapter 46 The Decision to Retire Chapter 47 A Short Retirement Chapter 48 Another Term as Governor Chapter 49 The Vice Presidency Chapter 50 An Unsuccesful Bid for the Presidency Chapter 51 The Lamented Patriot Chapter 52 Notes Chapter 53 Bibliography of Short Titles Chapter 54 Index
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