Capital in crisis 1793
In the summer of 1793, Philadelphia was in midst of a political crisis. Great Britain had declared war against revolutionary France, instantly polarizing American public opinion. Many favored France, whose political ideals seemed akin to our own. Other disagreed, pointing out the bloody massacres and other outrages that had recently convulsed Paris.
President George Washington’s own cabinet split along party lines. Secretary of State Tomas Jefferson and his Republican Party were passionately in favor of France, while Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and many other Federalists felt Britain was a bulwark of civilization against the rising tide of revolutionary anarchy. Nominally a Federalist, Washing ton tried to govern with fairness and impartiality. It was a difficult task, and sometimes even Washington’s celebrated patience showed signs of cracking under the strain.
While the president grappled with partisan politics and the......
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Approximate Word Count: 472
Approximate Pages: 2 (260 words per double-spaced page) |