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A review by jmdaly95
The First Congress: How James Madison, George Washington, and a Group of Extraordinary Men Invented the Government by Fergus M. Bordewich
4.0
Book 4 of 40 for 2016
The Constitutional Convention created the framework for the government but the making of the Constitution into a working government was done my the First Congress. Which is the subject of Fergus Bordewich excellent new book.
The First Congress created the Executive Departments, the judiciary, and the Bill of Rights. In addition it laid the foundation for how Congress functions to this day.
We see the beginnings of compromise driving legislation in determining the new location of the capital. We see the creation of the Treasure Department by Hamilton along with his laying the foundation for our financial systems.
We see Madison in the first session of the First Congress acting as a majority leader in the House working and pushing legislation through but as time passes we see the Congressman begin to push back and begin to factionalism take its place in the House.
We see John Adams as President of the Senate totally miserable and a Senate that meets behind closed doors and does not keep a record of its proceedings. Bordewich depends upon members letters and dairies to piece together the debates of the upper chamber.
We also see Washington develop his role as Chief Executive and how to work with Congress. We see Washington over the course of this First Congress switch allegiances from Madison to Hamilton as debates over the finances of the nation would be handled.
In light of the current struggles of the 114th Congress Bordewich provides a great and concise history of how Congress started and how its early days still impact how the Congress works today.
I highly recommend it.
The Constitutional Convention created the framework for the government but the making of the Constitution into a working government was done my the First Congress. Which is the subject of Fergus Bordewich excellent new book.
The First Congress created the Executive Departments, the judiciary, and the Bill of Rights. In addition it laid the foundation for how Congress functions to this day.
We see the beginnings of compromise driving legislation in determining the new location of the capital. We see the creation of the Treasure Department by Hamilton along with his laying the foundation for our financial systems.
We see Madison in the first session of the First Congress acting as a majority leader in the House working and pushing legislation through but as time passes we see the Congressman begin to push back and begin to factionalism take its place in the House.
We see John Adams as President of the Senate totally miserable and a Senate that meets behind closed doors and does not keep a record of its proceedings. Bordewich depends upon members letters and dairies to piece together the debates of the upper chamber.
We also see Washington develop his role as Chief Executive and how to work with Congress. We see Washington over the course of this First Congress switch allegiances from Madison to Hamilton as debates over the finances of the nation would be handled.
In light of the current struggles of the 114th Congress Bordewich provides a great and concise history of how Congress started and how its early days still impact how the Congress works today.
I highly recommend it.