Americans’ successes in overcoming the impediments during the Early Republic to become a prosperous and unified nation were linked to the settlers’ perseverance, confirmed by primary documents as evidence of real-life conditions. According to these pieces, they viewed themselves as invincible despite poor conditions, and “hard duty to perform” and “little or no strength” did not affect their decisiveness in achieving this goal (“06.2. The Volunteer” 1). Hence, it can be claimed that no external circumstances could stop the nation’s formation and the future well-being of its citizens, even though there is a controversy in this regard.
Some scholars emphasize the presence of disagreements among the American political leaders of the time, whereas they appear to be insignificant to the outcome of the matter. The problems were mainly connected to minor details, but the orientation on majority rule, individual rights, and the division of power between the governmental entities was apparent (Broadwater 202). In other words, the shifting attitudes of James Madison concerning the feasibility of decisions in the life of the country, accompanied by the support of the monarchy by some people, could not change the results (Newman 1776; “07.1. The Theorist” 1). In this way, the emergence of a strong nation was inevitable despite the mentioned challenges due to a solid basis for it presented by the effectiveness of policies.
Another circumstance contributing to this stance is the leadership exercised by the political actors during the Early Republic, which ensured a favorable outcome of creating a positive environment for all people. For instance, the respect for George Washington demonstrated by his contemporaries is evidence of this position (Newman 478). Such “natural rulers” significantly contributed to initiating a change in the settlers’ mindsets for shifting their preferences (Newman 478). They were also considered symbols of the stability of the new country, which correlated with the notion of a prosperous nation (Newman 477). Hence, the qualities of these individuals, allowing them to lead others during hard times, were the main factor influencing the outcomes of their policies’ implementation.
In addition to this idea, the actions of political representatives of the United States were directed toward cooperation in different areas. Firstly, there were opposing opinions concerning monetary decisions, but Madison emphasized the readiness of the government to introduce “some radical amendment” as a compromise (“08.1. The Genius” 1; “07.1. The Theorist” 1). Secondly, the willingness to negotiate was spread to the conducted peaceful discussions with American Indians in 1802, with the involvement of Sacagawea and her husband Toussaint Charbonneau (“09.1 The Guide – Sacagawea;” McCall 163). Thus, prioritizing the harmonious co-existence among all population groups on the continent alongside fair treatment of individuals in the political arena was doomed to bring positive results for the nation sooner or later (“07.2. The General” 1; Freeman 290). This field was also crucial for addressing the obstacles emerging during the activity of settlers in various spheres.
The establishment of equality alongside independence became the government’s core values, which were promoted in the course of its emergence as an independent entity, as opposed to the monarchy. These elements were reflected in the claim of Madison, according to which actions “adverse to the rights of other citizens” were unacceptable for the new country, highlighting the need for fairness in this respect (“07.1. The Theorist” 1; Hofstadter 50). Moreover, “the struggle for independence was the greatest test” to these people as well as its consequences were determined by the stance that the harder their efforts were, the more rights they had afterward (Royster 5; “08.2. The Sphinx” 1). Thus, a prosperous nation was promoted by the growing capability of American leaders to overcome any challenges.
Works Cited
“06.2. The Volunteer – Joseph Plumb Martin (Primary Sources).” N.d., p. 1 [Word Document].
“07.1. The Theorist – James Madison (Primary Sources).” N.d., p. 1 [Word Document].
“07.2. The General – George Washington (Primary Sources).” N.d., p. 1 [Word Document].
“08.1. The Genius – Alexander Hamilton (Primary Sources).” N.d., p. 1 [Word Document].
“08.2. The Sphinx – Thomas Jefferson (Primary Sources).” N.d., p. 1 [Word Document].
“09.1 The Guide – Sacagawea.” N.d. [PPT Presentation].
Broadwater, Jeff. “James Madison and the Constitution: Reassessing the” Madison Problem.” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 123, no. 3, 2015, pp. 202-234.
Freeman, Joanne B. “Dueling as Politics: Reinterpreting the Burr-Hamilton Duel.” The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 53, no. 2, 1996, pp. 289-318.
Hofstadter, Richard. The American Political Tradition: And the Men Who Made It. Vintage Books, 1989.
McCall, Laura. “Sacagawea: A Historical Enigma.” The Human Tradition in America From the Colonial Era Through Reconstruction, edited by Charles W. Calhoun, SR Books, 2002, pp. 163-178.
Newman, Simon P. “Principles or Men? George Washington and the Political Culture of National Leadership, 1776-1801.” Journal of the Early Republic, vol. 12, no. 4, 1992, pp. 477-507.
Royster, Charles. A Revolutionary People at War: The Continental Army and American Character, 1775-1783. The University of North Carolina Press, 1979.