FORMING THE NEW NATION

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9

FORMING THE NEW NATION

1789–1800

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> What were the developments that led to the establishment of political parties with distinctive agendas by the end of the 1790s? Chapter 9 examines the efforts to achieve political stability in the decade following the ratification of the Constitution. It explores Alexander Hamilton’s plans to bring economic stability to the federal government and the external threats and internal arguments the new United States faced.

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Figure false: George Washington takes the oath of office. Federal Hall, Philadelphia, April 30, 1789. Courtesy, The Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum.

> What were the sources of political stability in the 1790s?

> What were Hamilton’s economic policies?

> What external threats did the United States face in the 1790s?

> How did partisan rivalries shape the politics of the late 1790s?

> Conclusion: Why did the new nation ultimately form political parties?