The Vineyard of Liberty, 1787–1863

by James MacGregor Burns

A Pulitzer Prize winner looks at the course of American history from the birth of the Constitution to the dawn of the Civil War.  The years between 1787 and 1863 witnessed the development of the American Nation—its society, politics, customs, culture, and, most important, the development of liberty. Burns explores the key events in the republic’s early decades, as well as the roles of heroes from Washington to Lincoln and of lesser-known figures. Captivating and insightful, Burns’s history combines the color and texture of early American life with meticulous scholarship. Focusing on the tensions leading up to the Civil War, Burns brilliantly shows how Americans became divided over the meaning of Liberty. Vineyard of Liberty is a sweeping and engrossing narrative of America’s formative years.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Politics, American Revolution, 19th Century, 18th Century

576 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 1982

About the author

An award-winning author of presidential and leadership studies, James MacGregor Burns was the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Government Emeritus at Williams College and Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, College Park. He received his bachelor's degree from Williams College and his Ph.D. in political science from Harvard, and he also attended the London School of Economics. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was past president of the American Political Science Association and the International Society of Political Psychology.

Reviews

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, readable history of the United States through mid-Civil War. The author's comprehensive look at the various factors that went into the making and near sundering of the new republic makes this a must for all students of US history.

[Tony Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in the 80s, recently found it online, bought and read again. The best history of America I've ever read.

[Paul Hyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

I lost interest in the book and couldn't finish !

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by Pulitzer Prize winner James MacGregor Burns, this first volume in his American Experiment trilogy encompasses American history from the events leading up to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to 1863, the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln. Impressively, he’s able to more than just scratch the surface on some of what has gone into the making of America—politics and presidents, wars, slavery, recession, depressions and panics, currency, inventions, Indian relations, suffrage movements, industry, farming, canals, cattle drives, railroads, Manifest Destiney, you name it. Perhaps, though, the book’s unique contribution to furthering the understanding of history is its coverage of the development of political factions and parties. It’s a difficult thing for one to explain and another to comprehend, but Burns has managed to present it in such a way as to make it graspable for the reader. But don’t ask me to explain it!

The prominent theme in the book though is liberty—how the framers of the Constitution defined it (or didn’t), how different groups defined it, how to get it, how to keep others from getting it, how it was fought over.

At 629 pages the book was a slow read for me, seeming more like 900 because of a high word count and my slowness when moving through topics like different political factions. I look forward to the other two volumes.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burns is a tremendously good writer. This is not one of those history books that "brings history alive" but rather a narrative about the ideas and ideals of liberty, liberty vs. equality, and the rise and fall of the American political and two party system from the Constitutional Congress to the Emancipation Proclamation (I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the book ends with a cliffhanger). Along the way, we get a variety of interesting and inspirational stories about men and women who struggled for freedom and made the United States great. Or sometimes not so great- Burns doesn't mince words about the lack of equality for everyone but rich white males for a good chunk of American history, and how vile those with power often treated those without. American history is a fascinating journey - and Burns has crafted the perfect vessel to take that trip in. Warning: the parallels between the current political situation now in America and some of the most troubling times of American's past, may keep you up at nights.

[David Rider]

The book gives a glimpse into the politics of the day, making the history much more three-dimensional. The differing views, behind-the-scenes machinations of the political forces, although not to the extent of current politics, show much more of the give and take and disagreements just as in our real life. You just don’t get that insight from most history books. I’m up to about 17% complete. Unfortunately, it’s my bedtime book, and I find I doze off much more readily than when I was younger. I guess I’d say it’s not exciting, as a novel, but interesting. Thankfully, there’s not too many direct correlations to current political activities. I did find it surprising and interesting the divergence of views and directions that leaders of the young nation attempt to head, and how close, several time, the Union came to actually dissolving.

[Studebhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something New in the New World
In a very fine detailed story of the beginning years of the republic, the author does an enviable job making American history enjoyable.
The book is beautifully researched, it shows in detail on every page. The personalities of the central figures, the colorful stories that he describes make for an enjoyable read, and add much to the story of our nation. It’s a shame our schools do such a poor job making the stories of our nation’s birth interesting and enjoyable. While, at times, the story does bog down in some details, this book, The Vineyard of Liberty, is well worth reading.

[Lori Tian Sailiata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for US high school students...as well as their parents. Burns breathes life into the facts. He not only covers the nuts and bolts of the subject but fleshes out the issues and even puts it in fashionable attire. He alternately focuses in close with the citing of personal correspondences dealing with the details of an intimate life and zooms into a worldview that contextualizes our nation's storyline in the story of contemporary civilization. Book 1 of the trilogy, The American Experiment, it deals with a he first 80 years of nationhood.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vineyard of Liberty, 1787-1863
Book I of the American Experiment (3 Volumes)
James MacGregor Burns

Apparently a few people actually read my book reviews, and, further, they asked me why I quit writing them. So not to disappoint my legions of fans (actually the 2 or 3 people that inquired), I’m going to start writing them again.

Every once in a while, I take a chance on Kindle books that are on sale on Amazon, and, every once in a while, that pays off. This is one of those times. I actually bought all 3 books of The American Experiment, but decided to split up my reviews into each volume. The Vineyard of Liberty is a fascinating book. It covers the political, cultural, and economic history of the United States through the years 1787-1863, and manages to make this history interesting. We all know that I’m a nerd, I will not reject that label, but if you are not a nerd, but are forced to read a comprehensive volume of American history, choose this one.

I won’t cover the whole book, but will point out an area of interest for me. I learned how the original political parties formed, and how the Whig party split apart, and, finally, how the Republican Party was formed. These political developments were explained in a way I could understand, and explain to somebody else if so inclined.

Anyways, for the sake of brevity, I will end by saying I’m going to read more books by the author, and I’ll keep writing reviews of them for my many (3 at the most) fans of my reviews.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always enjoyed history. Fascinated by those events that could “turn the course of history”. At times this book was rather dry. Other times it was quite interesting when the author described how this “great experiment” some how worked. I was amazed by what I read. No wonder Europe thought the United States of America would fall flat. People governing themselves? Impossible! Only a supreme ruler could prevent the will of the majority from tramping the rights of the minority.

But by God’s grace (and the founding fathers constantly sought divine help) the great experiment worked.

[Josh Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 1 of a three-part trilogy of American history. This one begins with Shay's Rebellion and ends with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Burns has a sharp political eye and a taste for the poetic which at times borders on the idealistic, but he never loses sight of the conflicts and tensions that were baked into this democracy at its founding. All the issues he surveys here relate to questions we have yet to answer and problems we have yet to solve, and likely never will.

[Kim Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a great history book about the first 75 years of the United States. Unlike many History books, this book covered culture and economics of the period not just the politics and leaders of the time period as well.

[Heather G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed

Detailed but not too dry. This book gives a great overview of the beginnings of American history, the good, the bad and the ugly.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Paul Eberhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good review of US history as I prepare for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Generally balanced, occasionally revisionist.

[Rod Zemke · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you expect to win arguments about American politics, you need to know the facts and to know the facts you should read James MacGregor Burns.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, and very interesting. The history of America, with an emphasis on the political world. I think it should be required reading in election years.