The First Congress: How James Madison, George Washington, and a Group of Extraordinary Men Invented the Government

From the back cover: "The Constitution provided a set of principles but offered few instructions about how the government should actually operate. This was the challenge faced by the Congress." The author "...brings alive the passions and conflicts of James Madison, Roger Sherman, and Elbridge Gerry, among others - who created the actual machinery of government under President George Washington and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. They clashed, sometimes savagely, but ultimately forged a consensus that gave strength and credibility to the new government, addressing issues such as the Bill of Rights, the creation of the president's cabinet, and the adoption of a new capitalist financial system. Had this Congress failed in its work, the United States as we know it might not exist." Book - Very Good+ condition. Slight edge/corner wear. Covers are nice. Text is clean and binding is tight. Please use photos as part of the description. 396 pages including Index.