In the early years of the United States, how did the federal government operate on a day-to-day basis? What responsibilities did the government take on, how many people did it employ, and what crises did it face? Peter Kastor, professor of history at Washington University in St. Louis, sheds light on how debates over government have evolved over time, from the country's earliest days to the 2012 presidential election. For more information, visit Washington University's Humanities Digital Workshop."Creating a Federal Government" first aired in fall 2012 as part of Hold That Thought's ongoing series People, Places, and Ideas to Explore.