Tag Archives: Philip Freneau

4.01 – Madison Pre-Presidency Part One

February 6, 202204 - James MadisonAaron Burr, Edmund Randolph, James Madison, John Blair, New Jersey, Patrick Henry, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, William Bradfordpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1653-1785

As part of a family that had been on a steady rise in society since its earliest days in the Virginia colony, James Madison, Jr. was expected to do great things from the time of his birth, but his family could scarcely have imagined the heights to which he would rise. After an accelerated collegiate career and a few initial stumbles as a young man, Madison gradually worked his way into becoming a force in state and national politics. However, as someone not content with ignoring issues in the status quo, Madison would soon find his calling as a champion for innovation. Sources used for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

Featured Image: “James Madison, Class of 1771” by James Sharples [c. pre-1811], courtesy of Wikipedia

Intro and Outro Music: Selections from “Jefferson and Liberty” as performed by The Itinerant Band

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1.18 – Pestilence

October 1, 201701 - George WashingtonAlexander Hamilton, Benjamin Rush, Congress, Edmund Randolph, epidemic, Gazette of the United States, George Washington, Haitian Revolution, Henry Knox, James Madison, John Adams, John Fenno, National Gazette, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Philadelphia, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, Tobias Lear, US Supreme Courtpresidencies

The Arch Street Wharf by William Birch [c. 1800] (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Year(s) Discussed: 1786-1793

Washington, his household, and his administration struggle to deal with an epidemic of yellow fever as it makes its way through the city of Philadelphia, indiscriminately infecting people from all walks of life including a resident at the President’s House. In addition to the loss of life, the epidemic brings up questions about how best to utilize medical knowledge to the public good, the role of the press, the relationship of individuals to their environment, and the ability and role of the government in a crisis management situation. Source information for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.17 – Genet Must Go

September 17, 201701 - George WashingtonAlexander Hamilton, Alexander J Dallas, Edmond-Charles Genet, Edmund Randolph, France, George Clinton, George Hammond, George Washington, Gouverneur Morris, Great Britain, Henry Knox, James Madison, James Monroe, Jean-Antoine Fauchet, John Jay, John Marshall, National Gazette, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mifflin, US Supreme Courtpresidencies

PA Gov. Thomas Mifflin, courtesy of Wikipedia

Year(s) Discussed: 1793

Washington returns to Philadelphia to deal with the continued agitations of French Minister Genêt. Meanwhile, Attorney General Randolph goes south on a fact-finding mission, Philip Freneau continues his attacks against Washington and his administration in the pages of the National Gazette, and events continue to unfold in Europe which have ramifications across the pond. Through all of this, the President has to decide what to do with his partisan Cabinet and how to preserve neutrality without offending either Britain or France. Source information can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.16 – Don’t Mess With Washington

September 3, 201701 - George WashingtonAlexander Hamilton, Alexander J Dallas, David Rittenhouse, Democratic-Republican Party, Edmond-Charles Genet, Edmund Randolph, Federalists, France, George Hammond, George Washington, Great Britain, Henry Knox, Mount Vernon, Philip Freneau, Spain, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Mifflin, William Branch Gilespresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1793

The new French Minister to the US arrives in Philadelphia and begins causing a stir both within the Washington administration and out in the streets. Meanwhile, Washington has another bout of ill health but recovers just in time to have to rush back to Mount Vernon despite being in the midst of diplomatic tensions. Party politics are taken to the next level with partisans beginning to organize their efforts just as both Jefferson and Hamilton contemplate their respective exits from the Cabinet to be free to pursue their own aims. Source information for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.14 – The Second Inaugural

August 6, 201701 - George WashingtonAbraham Venable, Alexander Hamilton, Election of 1792, Fisher Ames, Frederick Muhlenberg, Gazette of the United States, George Beckwith, George Hammond, George Washington, Great Britain, James Madison, James Monroe, James Reynolds, John Beckley, John Fenno, Maria Reynolds, Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, National Gazette, Oliver Wolcott Jr, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, Washington DC, William Branch Gilespresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1791-1793

The lead up to Washington’s second inaugural ended up being much more dramatic than anyone could have imagined as personal conflicts threatened the construction of the Federal City, Hamilton’s affair with Maria Reynolds threatened to be made public knowledge, and Representative William Branch Giles filed resolutions against Hamilton accusing him of official misconduct and calling for his dismissal. In the middle of all this, a reluctant president turns to his family for support as he prepares himself for what already appears will be a more turbulent four years ahead than his first term had been. Source information can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.13 – Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

July 24, 201701 - George WashingtonAlexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Election of 1792, First Bank of the United States, George Washington, James Madison, Maria Reynolds, National Gazette, Panic of 1792, Philip Freneau, Thomas Jefferson, William Duerpresidencies

George Washington, Esq, by Edward Savage [c. 1793], courtesy of the Library of Congress

Year(s) Discussed: 1792

Washington has an important decision to make as the Election of 1792 looms. Should he accede to the wishes of many and stand for reelection or should he take his weary bones back to Mount Vernon for the remainder of his days? The growing factional agitations that were exacerbated by Hamilton’s submitting his Report on Manufactures as well as a financial panic in 1792 do little to make the situation better. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s affair with Maria Reynolds gets ever more complicated. And did the Attorney General just say something about a potential civil war? Washington’s action-packed first term hits some bumpy roads in this episode. Source information can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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1.09 – Agitations

May 28, 201701 - George WashingtonAaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, Chancellor Robert Livingston, Elias Boudinot, Fisher Ames, Gazette of the United States, George Cabot, George Washington, Henry Lee, James Madison, James Monroe, John Adams, John Fenno, John Quincy Adams, John Taylor of Caroline, Maria Reynolds, National Gazette, Native Americans, Oliver Ellsworth, Philip Freneau, Philip Schuyler, Reynolds Affair, Rufus King, Samuel Johnston, State Department, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Treasury Department, War Department, William Loughton Smithpresidencies

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-1791

Increasingly during the Washington administration, tensions were beginning to build between pro-administration and anti-administration factions which would ultimately culminate in the development of the First Party System. This episode looks at some of the structural and cultural reasons for these divisions as well as some of the early leaders of the two factions including, of course Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. Source information for this episode can be found at http://presidencies.blubrry.com.

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Presidencies of the United States

A journey through presidential history from the beginning to the present day

Tag Archives: Philip Freneau

4.01 – Madison Pre-Presidency Part One

1.18 – Pestilence

1.17 – Genet Must Go

1.16 – Don’t Mess With Washington

1.14 – The Second Inaugural

1.13 – Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

1.09 – Agitations