"This is a highly readable, nicely fleshed-out distillation of key themes and developments in the early republic, most notably the new nation's transformation from an (ideally) orderly republic to a tumultuous democracy and from a 'colonial' economy dependent on exports to a more 'developed' economy with strong internal markets. It makes sense of Americans' hopes and expectations coming out of ... Read morethe ratification period and provides a map for navigating the economic, social, and political developments not only up to 1829, but also afterwards."
Kirsten Wood, Florida International University "This text, written by a master historian and incorporating the outpouring of research on the New Republic from the last two decades, should prove very useful. Johnson's scholarship is impeccable."
Lawrence Peskin, Morgan University "No other work I can think of would provide as clear or as quick an introduction."
Christopher Clark, University of Warwick, U.K. Show Less