The Historical Presidency : “Generalissimo of the Nation”: War Making and the Presidency in the Early Republic

This article explores the nature of congressional‐presidential relations regarding war making in the early republic. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, I argue that C ongress was not primary in war making during this period. Examining small wars, particularly those against native tribes, demonstrates how little influence C ongress had, with oversight generally occurring only after the fact. Rhetorical presidential support for C ongress's role did not accord with their practical readiness to initiate and manage hostilities unilaterally. The willingness of modern presidents to act without congressional consent is therefore not necessarily a historical aberration.