Eagle and Sword: The Federalists and the Creation of the Military Establishment in America, 1783-1802

Richard H. Kohn

Free Press, 1975 - History - 443 pages

This book is the engrossing and little-known story of a powerful circle of men- the wing of the Federalist party led by Alexander Hamilton- who won a bitter fight for a national army, but divided the country and destroyed their own party in the process. Here is history that raises questions about the power and influence of militarism in American politics: Did Alexander Hamilton intentionally provoke the Whiskey Rebellion to prove the need for a federal army? Were the Federalists prepared to use military force to prevent Thomas Jefferson from becoming President in 1800? Were these men militarists? Were they after a national army in order to maintain their own power? Unfolding the critical events of America's first two decades of Independence- the incredible Newburgh Conspiracy of 1783, the first Constitutional debates over "national security," Shay's Rebellion, the Indian War campaigns of "Mad Anthony" Wayne, the Quasi-War with the French- this timely book chronicles the origins of American militarism, and the serious threat it posed to the democratic ideals of the young American nation. -- from Book Jacket

Contents

• The Military Heritage of the Founding: 1
• Power of the Sword: 15
• Reign of the Federalists Dilemmas of Power 1789: 89

Bibliographic information

• Title: Eagle and Sword: The Federalists and the Creation of the Military Establishment in America, 1783-1802
• Author: Richard H. Kohn
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Free Press, 1975
• Original from: the University of Michigan
• Digitized: Aug 11, 2009
• ISBN: 0029175518, 9780029175514
• Length: 443 pages
• Subjects: History / Military / General; History / Military / United States; History / United States / General