Join Local Historian and Author William M. Fowler Jr. as he discusses his newest book: George Washington and the Creation of the American Republic.
\nThe twentieth-century pub lication of Washington's writings\, and more recently the digital editions of his papers\, have provided George Washington's biographers with increa sed access to the details of his life. Despite the availability of these m aterials\, however\, biographers continue to pay close attention to the ye ars of the Revolution and his presidency\, while quickly passing through t he period between the Revolution and his call to the presidency. Described by historians as the "Critical Years" (1781-1789)\, this was a period whe n the new nation stood on the precipice of anarchy and disunion. Although appearing occasionally during these years\, Washington is portrayed as ass iduously avoiding any direct involvement that might draw him into the poli tical fray until he emerges\, reluctantly\, in Philadelphia to preside ove r the Constitutional Convention. This is not the Washington revealed in hi s papers\, or those of his political allies and enemies. Washington was a superb strategist and a skilled tactician. During these critical years bet ween the end of the Revolution and the formation of the Union\, Washington was deeply involved in land speculation\, western expansion\, scientific farming\, canal building\, political affairs\, and family matters. While c areful to husband his influence and maintain his Olympian stature\, Washin gton deftly maneuvered to direct the nation toward a strong central govern ment able to govern a "rising empire." How he managed to do it is the subj ect of this book.
\nWilliam M. Fowler Jr. is Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at Northeastern University. He is the author of multi ple books on American history\, including American Crisis: George Washingt on and the Dangerous Two Years After Yorktown\, 1781-1783\, The Baron of B eacon Hill: A Biography of John Hancock\, Samuel Adams: Radical Puritan\, and Rebels Under Sail: A History of the American Navy in the Revolution. I n 2006 he was named the first Gay Hart Gaines Distinguished Visiting Fello w at Mount Vernon. Between 2008 and 2010 he was the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati George Washington Distinguished Professor. \; \;
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