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The Founding Fathers
From Revolution to Republic . . . Thomas Jefferson concluded the Declaration of Independence by proclaiming that the men who signed the document were waging “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” on a an independent republic. The Founding Fathers charts the course of those remarkable individuals who waged a successful revolutionary war against Great Britain, developed the liberal ideas celebrated in the Declaration of Independence, created a republican form of government as defined in the United States Constitution, and turned colonial America into a democratic nation.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 7, 2016
I have to credit Drunk History for leading me to this book. If you haven't seen it, you are missing out.
It's hilarious, but also really interesting. So many crazy details I didn't know about famous historical figures. (Did you know Roald Dahl was a spy?!)
Anyway, I was intrigued and decided to delve into some history. This book seemed like a good start and it didn't disappoint. It provided a really human look at America's founders -- their passions, contributions, and flaws. It was also a nice reminder, especially in light of present-day politics, that American leaders have always been sharply divided on numerous issues, and some of those arguments were just as contentious as modern ones, but maybe less well-known since Facebook wasn't around yet to publicize them. There is such a tendency to romanticize the Founding Fathers (and to neglect completely the contributions of women) and to lump them all in one cohesive agreeable bunch. But they each had very different visions about what the new country should look like and they had to compromise and make changes as they learned what worked and what didn't as the country became more populated.
If you paid better attention during history classes than I did, this is old news to you, but I learned a lot from this little book.
It's hilarious, but also really interesting. So many crazy details I didn't know about famous historical figures. (Did you know Roald Dahl was a spy?!)
Anyway, I was intrigued and decided to delve into some history. This book seemed like a good start and it didn't disappoint. It provided a really human look at America's founders -- their passions, contributions, and flaws. It was also a nice reminder, especially in light of present-day politics, that American leaders have always been sharply divided on numerous issues, and some of those arguments were just as contentious as modern ones, but maybe less well-known since Facebook wasn't around yet to publicize them. There is such a tendency to romanticize the Founding Fathers (and to neglect completely the contributions of women) and to lump them all in one cohesive agreeable bunch. But they each had very different visions about what the new country should look like and they had to compromise and make changes as they learned what worked and what didn't as the country became more populated.
If you paid better attention during history classes than I did, this is old news to you, but I learned a lot from this little book.
September 1, 2020
This 2007 "Founding Fathers" book is well-written, well-researched, and infused with interesting touches of new (for the average reader) information. In approximately 272 pages, it provides fairly reasonable coverage of the American Revolution and the Founding era at a decent price. I would rate the book somewhere between three and four stars but will tilt to four stars due to its often unique information and interpretations.
Having read many books on this era, I found only one technical “mistake,” that the book reports George Washington died at 10 pm on 14 December 1799. From his personal secretary Tobias Lear’s reports, Washington died between 10 pm and 11 pm. Some reports say he died at 10:20 pm, which jibes with the reputed “death clock” that is said to have been stopped at the moment of Washington’s death, and that now resides at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. So, my compliments to the excellent research one normally ascribes to the Encyclopedia Britannica people.
By a quick count, the book covers 66 topics: 2 women (Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison), 43 men, 19 documents/acts/actions, and 2 concepts (not including three “closer looks”). “These closer looks (second takes) are given to the Declaration of Independence (4 original pages; 4 closer-look pages); Thomas Jefferson (22, 4); Thomas Paine (5, 4); and George Washington (32, 9). You’ll thus note that main characters are given quite a bit of coverage. Other the other hand, somewhat sketchy coverage is given to more than a few individuals, eg Francis Hopkinson (increasingly known for America’s “first flag”), and Roger Sherman (not mentioned is his being one of the five on the committee to write the Declaration of Independence).
The book’s title is “Founding Fathers: The Essential Guide to the Men (emphasis Men) Who Made America.” Authoring the book’s introduction, noted historian Joseph Ellis writes: “While there are no agreed-upon criteria for inclusion, membership in this select group customarily requires conspicuous contributions at one or both of the American foundings: during the rebellion against Great Britain, when independence was won, or during the Constitutional Convention, when nationhood was achieved.”
So, it is with a very broad vision of Founding Fathers that the book includes two women. Among others of questionable definitional qualification, the book includes Button Quinett, known for signing the Declaration of Independence but mostly for his rare autographs. Nathan Hale is also included, but no General and Secretary of War Henry Knox or General Greene, Washington’s favorite general. No famous foreigners are included: Lafayette, von Steuben, Kosciuszko, or Pulaski. And somewhat arguably, the book gives the “Apostle of Liberty” title to Thomas Jefferson, while other sources give this title to both George Washington and Thomas Paine.
I am indebted to this book to what I expect to be an update to my own book, which touches a bit upon the “magic” of Revolutionary Era events having to do with numbers, among them the number 5, which surprising shows up many times in important events. Specifically, as the “Essential Guide” points out, the seminal statement of American culture in the Declaration of Independence has 55 words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” In addition, Thomas Jefferson served 5 years as Ambassador to France. For these two fascinating additions to my collection, I am grateful! FWIW, here's a very small sample of the Revolutionary magic I've found elsewhere for the number 5: The Declaration of Independence had 55 signers under John Hancock. The Constitution had 55 signers.
Bottom line from a fellow author, despite a few faults, I think you’ll find the Britannica book, while not ultra-essential, a very enjoyable and worthwhile read.
Having read many books on this era, I found only one technical “mistake,” that the book reports George Washington died at 10 pm on 14 December 1799. From his personal secretary Tobias Lear’s reports, Washington died between 10 pm and 11 pm. Some reports say he died at 10:20 pm, which jibes with the reputed “death clock” that is said to have been stopped at the moment of Washington’s death, and that now resides at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. So, my compliments to the excellent research one normally ascribes to the Encyclopedia Britannica people.
By a quick count, the book covers 66 topics: 2 women (Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison), 43 men, 19 documents/acts/actions, and 2 concepts (not including three “closer looks”). “These closer looks (second takes) are given to the Declaration of Independence (4 original pages; 4 closer-look pages); Thomas Jefferson (22, 4); Thomas Paine (5, 4); and George Washington (32, 9). You’ll thus note that main characters are given quite a bit of coverage. Other the other hand, somewhat sketchy coverage is given to more than a few individuals, eg Francis Hopkinson (increasingly known for America’s “first flag”), and Roger Sherman (not mentioned is his being one of the five on the committee to write the Declaration of Independence).
The book’s title is “Founding Fathers: The Essential Guide to the Men (emphasis Men) Who Made America.” Authoring the book’s introduction, noted historian Joseph Ellis writes: “While there are no agreed-upon criteria for inclusion, membership in this select group customarily requires conspicuous contributions at one or both of the American foundings: during the rebellion against Great Britain, when independence was won, or during the Constitutional Convention, when nationhood was achieved.”
So, it is with a very broad vision of Founding Fathers that the book includes two women. Among others of questionable definitional qualification, the book includes Button Quinett, known for signing the Declaration of Independence but mostly for his rare autographs. Nathan Hale is also included, but no General and Secretary of War Henry Knox or General Greene, Washington’s favorite general. No famous foreigners are included: Lafayette, von Steuben, Kosciuszko, or Pulaski. And somewhat arguably, the book gives the “Apostle of Liberty” title to Thomas Jefferson, while other sources give this title to both George Washington and Thomas Paine.
I am indebted to this book to what I expect to be an update to my own book, which touches a bit upon the “magic” of Revolutionary Era events having to do with numbers, among them the number 5, which surprising shows up many times in important events. Specifically, as the “Essential Guide” points out, the seminal statement of American culture in the Declaration of Independence has 55 words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” In addition, Thomas Jefferson served 5 years as Ambassador to France. For these two fascinating additions to my collection, I am grateful! FWIW, here's a very small sample of the Revolutionary magic I've found elsewhere for the number 5: The Declaration of Independence had 55 signers under John Hancock. The Constitution had 55 signers.
Bottom line from a fellow author, despite a few faults, I think you’ll find the Britannica book, while not ultra-essential, a very enjoyable and worthwhile read.
October 10, 2018
This publication serves as a good, brief reference source of basic information on many aspects of the American revolution. The length and quality of information varies from topic to topic. A few articles are quite detailed while others appear to have been assembled very quickly from longer documents. A well detailed bibliography is included.
August 30, 2019
You know the history! Found the book to be well written. Being a history enthusiast I learned a few things I didn't know. I was enthusiastic reading the material.
April 26, 2022
Joseph J. Ellis doing the Introduction
should get people's notice
should get people's notice
February 20, 2025
Nice easy read for anyone who knows or wants to know about the founding fathers and this era in American history
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews