George Washington: Uniting a Nation

In 1776, thirteen colonies declared their independence from Britain. Although they came together to fight a war, the colonies were far from a unified nation. In George Washington: Uniting a Nation, Don Higginbotham argues that Washington's greatest contribution to American life was creating a sense of American unity. In clear and concise prose, Higginbotham shows that as Revolutionary War commander, proponent of the Constitution, and president, George Washington focused on building national identity and erecting institutions to cement the fledgling nation. The first book on Washington to examine exclusively his role in state formation, George Washington is essential reading for scholars, students, and everyone interested in America's first, and most formative, president.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Unity and Symbolism Chapter 2: Political Unity and Consolidation Chapter 3: The Unifier as President Chapter 4: Reflections on the Unifier Appendix 1: Sentiments on a Peace Establishment, May 1783 Appendix 2: Circular to State Governments, June 1783 Appendix 3: To the President of the Confederation Congress, September 17, 1787 Appendix 4: First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789 Appendix 5: Farewell Address, September 19, 1796 Appendix 6: Eighth Annual Message to Congress, December 7, 1796

About the Author :
Don Higginbotham is Dowd Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Review :
No one else combines Don Higginbotham's knowledge of the Revolutionary era and familiarity with Washington's writings. In George Washington: Uniting A Nation the result is a sure-handed, gracefully adventurous portrait of the man who became a legend in his own time, and the reasons why legendary status was deserved. A penetrating analysis of Washington's major strength as a leader-as well as his greatest gift to the nation-his ability to forge conflicting interests and emotions into a unified whole, militarily, politically, and culturally. A masterful and unusually well-written analysis of Washington's contribution to the creation of the United States, complemented by Washington's principal writings on the subject of national unification. For classroom use, this book provides an excellent means of addressing Washington's significance. It also presents both students and scholars with a fresh perspective on the great man's outlook and role. The less familiar documents, along with classics such as his farewell address, support Higginbotham's argument well. The clarity and preciseness of Higginbotham's writing and the inclusion of primary documents make this small book a natural for use in classes on early American history. This small but important book distills the essence of what drove George Washington through his long, burdensome years as general and president: the quest for the grail of American unity. Anyone who wishes to understand Washington and the nation that resulted from his quest can do no better than to start here. Don Higginbotham may not be the first to write about Washington's central role in uniting the American nation, but in four brief essays he articulates that role better than anyone to date. [He] solidifies his position as the most astute interpreter of George Washington writing today. This book is a gripping depiction by a wise historian and is aimed at general readers as well as specialists in the era of the American Revolution. Subtle, complex, and easily taken too lightly due to its briefness of exposition, this book ranks with Joseph Strayer's On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State or Philip Aries's Western Attitudes Towards Death for sheer economy and weight of argument. George Washington: Uniting a Nation will probably find its greatest use in the classroom where the combination of a comprehensive interpretation augmented by original sources will be helpful as a supplemental text.