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Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America
"Washington and Hamilton were the duo that made the Revolution and the Constitution work; Knott and Williams are the duo that explain how." -Richard Brookhiser, author of Founders' Son: A Life of Abraham Lincoln
In the wake of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers faced a daunting task: overcome their competing visions to build a new nation, the likes of which the world had never seen. Washington and Hamilton chronicles the unlikely collaboration between two conflicting characters working together to protect their hard-won freedoms. Yet while Washington and Hamilton's different personalities often led to fruitful collaboration, their conflicting ideals also tested the boundaries of their relationship-and threatened the future of the new republic.
From the rumblings of the American Revolution through the fractious Constitutional Convention and America's turbulent first years, this captivating history reveals the stunning impact of this unlikely duo that set the United States on the path to becoming a superpower.
"In a sweeping narrative enlivened by vivid details, Stephen Knott and Tony Williams provide fascinating insights that illuminate the collaboration between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton while carefully tracing the contours of their characters . . . as entertaining as it is informative." -David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, authors of Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President and Henry Clay: The Essential American
In the wake of the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers faced a daunting task: overcome their competing visions to build a new nation, the likes of which the world had never seen. Washington and Hamilton chronicles the unlikely collaboration between two conflicting characters working together to protect their hard-won freedoms. Yet while Washington and Hamilton's different personalities often led to fruitful collaboration, their conflicting ideals also tested the boundaries of their relationship-and threatened the future of the new republic.
From the rumblings of the American Revolution through the fractious Constitutional Convention and America's turbulent first years, this captivating history reveals the stunning impact of this unlikely duo that set the United States on the path to becoming a superpower.
"In a sweeping narrative enlivened by vivid details, Stephen Knott and Tony Williams provide fascinating insights that illuminate the collaboration between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton while carefully tracing the contours of their characters . . . as entertaining as it is informative." -David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, authors of Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President and Henry Clay: The Essential American
337 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
108 people are currently reading
933 people want to read
About the author
Tony Williams
6 books4 followersTony Williams is the author of six books including the brief and engaging "Hamilton: An American Biography" (Rowman Littlefield) and "Washington & Hamilton: The Alliance that Created America," (Sourcebooks,2015), co-authored with Stephen F. Knott.
He has also written "America's Beginnings: The Dramatic Events that Shaped a Nation's Character,"(2011), "The Jamestown Experiment:The Remarkable Story of the Enterprising Colony and the Unexpected Results that Shaped America"(2011),"Pox and the Covenant: Franklin, Mather, and the Epidemic that Changed America's Destiny"(2010), and, "Hurricane of Independence: The Untold Story of the Deadly Storm at the Deciding Moment of the American Revolution"(2008)
He is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute and holds history degrees from Syracuse University and Ohio State University He taught history for fifteen years and was a fellow at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He lives with his family in Williamsburg, VA. He blogs regularly at www.wjmi.org and www.constitutingamerica.org
He has lectured across the country including Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia Festival of the Book, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Education, National Park Service Revolutionary War Battlesites, NASA, several universities and countless civics and history groups. He appeared as a commentator on Bill O'Reilly's "Legends & Lies: The Patriots" and has appeared several times on C-SPAN's Book TV.
He can be reached for speaking engagements by contacting him at Twitter @TWilliamsAuthor
He has also written "America's Beginnings: The Dramatic Events that Shaped a Nation's Character,"(2011), "The Jamestown Experiment:The Remarkable Story of the Enterprising Colony and the Unexpected Results that Shaped America"(2011),"Pox and the Covenant: Franklin, Mather, and the Epidemic that Changed America's Destiny"(2010), and, "Hurricane of Independence: The Untold Story of the Deadly Storm at the Deciding Moment of the American Revolution"(2008)
He is a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute and holds history degrees from Syracuse University and Ohio State University He taught history for fifteen years and was a fellow at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He lives with his family in Williamsburg, VA. He blogs regularly at www.wjmi.org and www.constitutingamerica.org
He has lectured across the country including Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia Festival of the Book, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Education, National Park Service Revolutionary War Battlesites, NASA, several universities and countless civics and history groups. He appeared as a commentator on Bill O'Reilly's "Legends & Lies: The Patriots" and has appeared several times on C-SPAN's Book TV.
He can be reached for speaking engagements by contacting him at Twitter @TWilliamsAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 16, 2016
The title indicates that this will be about the relationship of Washington and Hamilton, but it is more like a dual biography.
The authors show how the two shared a vision and agreed on major policies. They show them both working towards goals, but it seems that they are working independently. The book starts with about 70 pages of background on Washington and at the beginning and ending there are about 30 pages of biography of Hamilton and his widow. The remaining 159 pages have very little on the two as an "alliance".
While they share experiences in the war, most notably in attempting to "comfort" Mrs. Benedict Arnold and Washington sends Hamilton on sensitive missions, some were what we might call today "fund raising", most of the war sections relate their separate work. At some point during the war, Hamilton took offense at something Washington said or did and the two parted company for a few years.
Similarly, on governance where they work for the same goals, most of their work is separate. Washington silently monitors endless meetings of creating the constitution and Hamilton writes what are known today as the "Federalist Papers". There must be a lot more than is presented here on how the two founded the National Bank (mentioned), the Coast Guard (not mentioned), how they set up the administrative structure (touched on) etc.
The authors like their subjects. The showed the pettiness of John Adams and have little good to say about Thomas Jefferson.
The authors show how the two shared a vision and agreed on major policies. They show them both working towards goals, but it seems that they are working independently. The book starts with about 70 pages of background on Washington and at the beginning and ending there are about 30 pages of biography of Hamilton and his widow. The remaining 159 pages have very little on the two as an "alliance".
While they share experiences in the war, most notably in attempting to "comfort" Mrs. Benedict Arnold and Washington sends Hamilton on sensitive missions, some were what we might call today "fund raising", most of the war sections relate their separate work. At some point during the war, Hamilton took offense at something Washington said or did and the two parted company for a few years.
Similarly, on governance where they work for the same goals, most of their work is separate. Washington silently monitors endless meetings of creating the constitution and Hamilton writes what are known today as the "Federalist Papers". There must be a lot more than is presented here on how the two founded the National Bank (mentioned), the Coast Guard (not mentioned), how they set up the administrative structure (touched on) etc.
The authors like their subjects. The showed the pettiness of John Adams and have little good to say about Thomas Jefferson.
February 14, 2016
Sometimes I wish the people who rant the loudest about returning to "Constitutional truths" and what the Founding Fathers intended for our country would read more non-fictional accounts of what was really going on at the time (not Bill O'Reilly types who spin their version of American values and traditions, but authors whose work stands up in academic circles).
This book provided a fascinating look into the characters and the conflicts of America's earliest days.
Whenever I get discouraged now by politicians, I have only to remember the petty and sometimes dirty political in-fighting which began our history.
I have a new appreciation of both Washington and Hamilton.
This book provided a fascinating look into the characters and the conflicts of America's earliest days.
Whenever I get discouraged now by politicians, I have only to remember the petty and sometimes dirty political in-fighting which began our history.
I have a new appreciation of both Washington and Hamilton.
August 11, 2015
I received a republication copy of this book (September 15, 2015) through NetGalley with the understanding that I would publish are review on my blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google + pages along with NetGalley, Amazon and Goodreads.
I requested this book because I am interested in american history and I have never read any of the books by Tony Williams and Stephen Knott. I have read a great deal about the Revolutionary War period.
I found this book well researched and easy to read and follow. It starts with a brief overview of the early life of Washington and Hamilton and quickly moves into the Revolutionary War period and the early years of our nation. While not providing the depth of detail about the two that other biographies have (Ron Chernow comes to mind) it does focus more on the relationship between the two and how that helped established some of the principles under which we still operate.
I recommend this book to those who have an interest in the establishment of the United States and the role that these two individuals played in it. It will also provide a good overview of their lives, but not to the level of a detailed biography.
I requested this book because I am interested in american history and I have never read any of the books by Tony Williams and Stephen Knott. I have read a great deal about the Revolutionary War period.
I found this book well researched and easy to read and follow. It starts with a brief overview of the early life of Washington and Hamilton and quickly moves into the Revolutionary War period and the early years of our nation. While not providing the depth of detail about the two that other biographies have (Ron Chernow comes to mind) it does focus more on the relationship between the two and how that helped established some of the principles under which we still operate.
I recommend this book to those who have an interest in the establishment of the United States and the role that these two individuals played in it. It will also provide a good overview of their lives, but not to the level of a detailed biography.
August 2, 2018
This book about the military, political, and ultimately personal alliance between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton - which spanned over 20 years - begins as a fairly straightforward dual biography, as opposed to an in-depth analysis of the pair's relationship. Perhaps the book is written with a more general audience in mind and thus gives the reader more background information.
HOWEVER, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the last half of the book, which discusses the pair's role in the Constitutional Convention, the arguments over ratification of the Constitution, the Washington Administration, and the legacy of the Washington-Hamilton partnership. While I still think the subject deserves a more in-depth, analytical treatment - and certainly the authors have the scholarly background in the subject matter to provide such a treatment - I nevertheless believe that this book is a worthwhile read and provides insights into what made this indispensable partnership tick.
WARNING: Hard-core Jeffersonians are unlikely to like what the authors have to say, but may (and probably could stand to) learn something from reading this book. Let's just say that the authors - both of whom (as do I) have ties to Jefferson's hometown of Charlottesville (Stephen F. Knott is a former Co-Chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia and Tony Williams is the program director of the Washington, Jefferson & Madison Institute in Charlottesville) - don't think much of the so-called "Sage of Monticello" or of his near neighbors James Madison and James Monroe. They offer compelling reasons for their disaffection, and they don't mince words. Jefferson and his partisans exposed themselves as radical utopian extremists via their infatuation with even the most extreme elements of the French Revolution, they appealed to the worst instincts of populism, and they disingenuously accused both Washington and Hamilton of being pro-British traitors to the ideals of the Revolution (the irony being that Washington and Hamilton, unlike civilian Jefferson, whose closest brush with the British army involved his fleeing to Carter's Mountain to escape Tarleton's Legion, had played the key military roles in winning America's independence). The authors further fault the Piedmont trio for what they see as, at best, duplicitous and, at worst, treasonous, activities that put the interests of France ahead of the interests of their own government (while Jefferson served in Washington's cabinet, Madison was a leader in the House of Representatives, and Monroe was Washington's Minister to France). The authors do not shy away from engaging in polemics - at times, I felt like they may have been a bit too polemical. In setting the historical record straight, especially a record that has gone in the Jeffersonian direction for two centuries, the authors are unsparing in their criticisms of Jefferson (they even TWICE mention the level of hubris and glorified sense of one's own importance it takes for someone to take a pair of scissors to the New Testament and excise all references to Christ's divinity).
(In general, it's a tough time for Mr. Jefferson these days, when even those more favorably disposed toward Jefferson can do no better than muster an argument that he is "neither god nor devil" - see, e.g., the recently published book ‘Most Blessed of the Patriarchs’: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination by Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf.)
The authors don't gloss over the shortcomings of Washington and Hamilton (and especially the self-destructive impulses of Hamilton). But despite the shortcomings, these two great men brought out the best in each other, forming a partnership that was greater than the sum of its parts, which the authors describe as "the indispensable alliance".
I'm going to close this review by noting that I could not help getting the feeling that the authors had a specific modern-day audience in mind when they wrote this book. Specifically, it seemed to me that they were speaking to conservatives in general, and Republican Party voters in particular, in an effort to dissuade them from embracing populism. In the closing paragraph of the last chapter, the authors explicitly refer to the founding of the Republican Party (noting that it was within the lifetime of Hamilton's widow, Eliza), and argue that the party was "composed of heirs to the antislavery Federalists", noting that, "in addition to their opposition to slavery, the Republican Party embraced Hamilton's belief in a dynamic, diversified economy supported by federal policies, including 'internal improvements' that encouraged commerce and individual opportunity," and concluding that "the Republican Party's embrace of these Hamiltonian principles contributed to the emergence of the United States as a world power at the dawn of the new century ..." Especially in the book's Postscript, the authors argue for an embrace of the sort of Washingtonian and Hamiltonian principles that eschewed populism, "never suffered any illusions about the flawed nature of man, and ... stood firmly for reason over passion and stability over speculative change." Again: "There would be times when statesmanship would require the president to resist the wishes of the people. At its core, this is what Washington and Hamilton's Federalism was about, and it is this that was slowly but surely undone by the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian movements of the first half of the nineteenth century and whose task was completed by the Progressive movement of the early twentieth century." The book was worth reading for that line alone. In fact, the entire Postscript is full of stuff like that.
So, yes, I believe that this is a book for (and about) conservatives. Not the so-called "conservative movement" we hear so much about today. But genuine conservatism that values tradition, organic change, and a healthy skepticism over the ability of mankind to operate without self-interest, while shunning all utopian schemes for perfecting the human condition. On the other hand, I'm not sure there's much here for modern-day "progressives", who embraced populism, demagoguery, and utopianism as virtues long ago - in fact, it's practically in their political DNA, which they used to (although not so much any more in this age of political correctness) trace all the way back to Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. My feeling is that the authors are warning conservatives and Republicans to not go there ... advice which the modern-day descendants of Washington, Hamilton, and Lincoln seem prepared to ignore in this particular election season.
HOWEVER, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the last half of the book, which discusses the pair's role in the Constitutional Convention, the arguments over ratification of the Constitution, the Washington Administration, and the legacy of the Washington-Hamilton partnership. While I still think the subject deserves a more in-depth, analytical treatment - and certainly the authors have the scholarly background in the subject matter to provide such a treatment - I nevertheless believe that this book is a worthwhile read and provides insights into what made this indispensable partnership tick.
WARNING: Hard-core Jeffersonians are unlikely to like what the authors have to say, but may (and probably could stand to) learn something from reading this book. Let's just say that the authors - both of whom (as do I) have ties to Jefferson's hometown of Charlottesville (Stephen F. Knott is a former Co-Chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia and Tony Williams is the program director of the Washington, Jefferson & Madison Institute in Charlottesville) - don't think much of the so-called "Sage of Monticello" or of his near neighbors James Madison and James Monroe. They offer compelling reasons for their disaffection, and they don't mince words. Jefferson and his partisans exposed themselves as radical utopian extremists via their infatuation with even the most extreme elements of the French Revolution, they appealed to the worst instincts of populism, and they disingenuously accused both Washington and Hamilton of being pro-British traitors to the ideals of the Revolution (the irony being that Washington and Hamilton, unlike civilian Jefferson, whose closest brush with the British army involved his fleeing to Carter's Mountain to escape Tarleton's Legion, had played the key military roles in winning America's independence). The authors further fault the Piedmont trio for what they see as, at best, duplicitous and, at worst, treasonous, activities that put the interests of France ahead of the interests of their own government (while Jefferson served in Washington's cabinet, Madison was a leader in the House of Representatives, and Monroe was Washington's Minister to France). The authors do not shy away from engaging in polemics - at times, I felt like they may have been a bit too polemical. In setting the historical record straight, especially a record that has gone in the Jeffersonian direction for two centuries, the authors are unsparing in their criticisms of Jefferson (they even TWICE mention the level of hubris and glorified sense of one's own importance it takes for someone to take a pair of scissors to the New Testament and excise all references to Christ's divinity).
(In general, it's a tough time for Mr. Jefferson these days, when even those more favorably disposed toward Jefferson can do no better than muster an argument that he is "neither god nor devil" - see, e.g., the recently published book ‘Most Blessed of the Patriarchs’: Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination by Annette Gordon-Reed and Peter S. Onuf.)
The authors don't gloss over the shortcomings of Washington and Hamilton (and especially the self-destructive impulses of Hamilton). But despite the shortcomings, these two great men brought out the best in each other, forming a partnership that was greater than the sum of its parts, which the authors describe as "the indispensable alliance".
I'm going to close this review by noting that I could not help getting the feeling that the authors had a specific modern-day audience in mind when they wrote this book. Specifically, it seemed to me that they were speaking to conservatives in general, and Republican Party voters in particular, in an effort to dissuade them from embracing populism. In the closing paragraph of the last chapter, the authors explicitly refer to the founding of the Republican Party (noting that it was within the lifetime of Hamilton's widow, Eliza), and argue that the party was "composed of heirs to the antislavery Federalists", noting that, "in addition to their opposition to slavery, the Republican Party embraced Hamilton's belief in a dynamic, diversified economy supported by federal policies, including 'internal improvements' that encouraged commerce and individual opportunity," and concluding that "the Republican Party's embrace of these Hamiltonian principles contributed to the emergence of the United States as a world power at the dawn of the new century ..." Especially in the book's Postscript, the authors argue for an embrace of the sort of Washingtonian and Hamiltonian principles that eschewed populism, "never suffered any illusions about the flawed nature of man, and ... stood firmly for reason over passion and stability over speculative change." Again: "There would be times when statesmanship would require the president to resist the wishes of the people. At its core, this is what Washington and Hamilton's Federalism was about, and it is this that was slowly but surely undone by the Jeffersonian and Jacksonian movements of the first half of the nineteenth century and whose task was completed by the Progressive movement of the early twentieth century." The book was worth reading for that line alone. In fact, the entire Postscript is full of stuff like that.
So, yes, I believe that this is a book for (and about) conservatives. Not the so-called "conservative movement" we hear so much about today. But genuine conservatism that values tradition, organic change, and a healthy skepticism over the ability of mankind to operate without self-interest, while shunning all utopian schemes for perfecting the human condition. On the other hand, I'm not sure there's much here for modern-day "progressives", who embraced populism, demagoguery, and utopianism as virtues long ago - in fact, it's practically in their political DNA, which they used to (although not so much any more in this age of political correctness) trace all the way back to Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. My feeling is that the authors are warning conservatives and Republicans to not go there ... advice which the modern-day descendants of Washington, Hamilton, and Lincoln seem prepared to ignore in this particular election season.
October 9, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5
Let's just state the obvious fact that I'm not a non-fiction reader most of the time. And history is hard to read.
As a book I chose for AP, I'm glad I definitely chose something I'm interested in. Admittedly a big fan of the musical Hamilton (I even have tickets!) I was happy to read a book about Washington and Hamilton. And overall, I enjoyed it.
That being said, I fell asleep multiple times trying to read this. And I definitely skimmed part of it.
I did, however, like that I figured out things between Washington and Hamilton I would've never known before and I laughed really hard at how petty our founding fathers were. They were really petty... (I'm looking at you John Adams)
If you like history, or are even just a fan of the musical, it's not a bad read!
Let's just state the obvious fact that I'm not a non-fiction reader most of the time. And history is hard to read.
As a book I chose for AP, I'm glad I definitely chose something I'm interested in. Admittedly a big fan of the musical Hamilton (I even have tickets!) I was happy to read a book about Washington and Hamilton. And overall, I enjoyed it.
That being said, I fell asleep multiple times trying to read this. And I definitely skimmed part of it.
I did, however, like that I figured out things between Washington and Hamilton I would've never known before and I laughed really hard at how petty our founding fathers were. They were really petty... (I'm looking at you John Adams)
If you like history, or are even just a fan of the musical, it's not a bad read!
March 17, 2017
It's amazing to me that a book about our founding fathers can still be so relevant today. This was a well-researched look at the intertwined lives of some of our most respected founders....and often made me wonder whether they all deserve that respect.
June 14, 2018
I feel kinda disappointed by this book because the title made me believe that it would be about Washington and Hamilton's friendship - their "alliance", but instead it's really just a dual biography. A well written, detailed, biography.
June 7, 2021
I am not aware, nor do I believe, that a more succinct work of academia exists as informative and engrossing as Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America by Tony Williams and Stephen Knott. The authors performed a tremendous feat of compressing several lengthy volumes of text and assorted correspondence previously necessary to understanding the relationship between Washington and Hamilton into a scant 258 pages. Remarkable !
As the title implies, the book is focused on one relationship. The reader should not expect, nor will he get, any insights or observations on either the American Revolution or the cast of same. References to battles and conditions of the war are scant as their inclusion is not to independently educate, but rather, to qualify the author's assertion in regards to either Washington or Hamilton. The same goes for the co-stars of The Revolution ; Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Benedict Arnold, Horatio Gates, Nathaniel Greene, Baron von Steuben, etc. Not one of those individuals rate more than perhaps a half dozen references ( Benjamin Franklin ), while several are not mentioned at all ( Paul Revere, Samuel Adams ). The only exceptions, and they are so BECAUSE of their influence and interaction with both Washington and Hamilton, are Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and to a lesser degree, James Monroe.
The reader can expect not only a fairly all encompassing overview of the titles two principle characters and their interaction amongst themselves but also a comprehensive synopsis of the three future presidents on our title characters. In conclusion, a must read !
As the title implies, the book is focused on one relationship. The reader should not expect, nor will he get, any insights or observations on either the American Revolution or the cast of same. References to battles and conditions of the war are scant as their inclusion is not to independently educate, but rather, to qualify the author's assertion in regards to either Washington or Hamilton. The same goes for the co-stars of The Revolution ; Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Benedict Arnold, Horatio Gates, Nathaniel Greene, Baron von Steuben, etc. Not one of those individuals rate more than perhaps a half dozen references ( Benjamin Franklin ), while several are not mentioned at all ( Paul Revere, Samuel Adams ). The only exceptions, and they are so BECAUSE of their influence and interaction with both Washington and Hamilton, are Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and to a lesser degree, James Monroe.
The reader can expect not only a fairly all encompassing overview of the titles two principle characters and their interaction amongst themselves but also a comprehensive synopsis of the three future presidents on our title characters. In conclusion, a must read !
May 21, 2019
The latest book in my Revolutionary period fetish. (Thanks to falling in love with both the music and the play "Hamilton." Seriously people, what are you waiting for?? Listen to the music NOW, then get yourself to the play PRONTO. You're welcome.) :) Back to the book, my husband and I listened to this on a recent road trip and although it was a bit slow at times, overall it was pretty good. My eyes have been opened to our founding fathers as I've googled and read and researched their lives. I have no doubt they were all great men, filled with talents and genius levels of intellect as well as the guiding hand of the Lord. But they were also very, very human. This particular book delves into the lives of these two men whom our nation owes an immense debt for their sacrifice and fortitude. How grateful I am to get to live in this country and for all those who built it!
August 22, 2016
A very informing, entertaining read. Though this book is primarily about the relationship between Washington and Alexander Hamilton, now of Broadway musical fame, it also by necessity covers a great deal of the events of the times: the Revolutionary War, Washington's two presidential stints, and the rivalry between Washington/Hamilton and Jefferson/Madison that defined so much of the flow of American politics in that era (and continues to have a lasting legacy to this day).
As with any book focused mainly on Hamilton or Washington, it definitely didn't enhance my opinion of Thomas Jefferson in many positive directions, though this one did enlarge my perspective of him. I appreciate the author's objectivity in reminding us that both Hamilton and Jefferson were highly informed by the experiences of their lives, and came upon their beliefs honestly. But their beliefs were so different. Freedom was Jefferson's driving thought. Washington's was unity. And Hamilton's, perhaps, was legacy.
After reading this, it's very hard to imagine an America where Washington didn't exist. The American experiment was doomed to failure, I think, if not for this one figure that everyone could respect, and who truly bent over backwards to unite this country. And it wouldn't have lasted very long without the brilliance of Hamilton, and the humble but secure and stable Washington to guide him, calm him down, and see the good in his perspective and advice. Washington was the wind that gave Hamilton's fire direction.
All in all, this was a great read with lots of great research and quotes, and it will remain a reference for me for years to come.
As with any book focused mainly on Hamilton or Washington, it definitely didn't enhance my opinion of Thomas Jefferson in many positive directions, though this one did enlarge my perspective of him. I appreciate the author's objectivity in reminding us that both Hamilton and Jefferson were highly informed by the experiences of their lives, and came upon their beliefs honestly. But their beliefs were so different. Freedom was Jefferson's driving thought. Washington's was unity. And Hamilton's, perhaps, was legacy.
After reading this, it's very hard to imagine an America where Washington didn't exist. The American experiment was doomed to failure, I think, if not for this one figure that everyone could respect, and who truly bent over backwards to unite this country. And it wouldn't have lasted very long without the brilliance of Hamilton, and the humble but secure and stable Washington to guide him, calm him down, and see the good in his perspective and advice. Washington was the wind that gave Hamilton's fire direction.
All in all, this was a great read with lots of great research and quotes, and it will remain a reference for me for years to come.
August 6, 2016
Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America was worth reading primarily because of the way Williams draws the relationship between these Founding Fathers. The almost filial respect and rebellion of Hamilton for Washington, the high expectations and warm regard of Washington formHamilton does remind one of a father-son relationship. But the things that really stand out are (1) the way their world views appear to have aligned; (2) the growth that Washington displayed in his professional and political thought; and (3) the way each man's talents and character complimented the other's.
I had some quibbles. For example, the author seems, in places, to depend heavily on the work of others as opposed to first sources, and he is not always even-handed - Jefferson could not be more wicked - but he clearly loves his subject, and the writing is pretty good.
I had some quibbles. For example, the author seems, in places, to depend heavily on the work of others as opposed to first sources, and he is not always even-handed - Jefferson could not be more wicked - but he clearly loves his subject, and the writing is pretty good.
August 21, 2022
Very enlightening. If like me you read this book after watch Hamilton you will learn a lot. The relationship was far more complex, and the individuals were far more complex than most of us imagine from school history books. The founding fathers weren’t perfect, and their ideas and words did not come down written on stone tablets by God. Overall, it’s a well written book that will expand your understanding of American history and the founding events of our nation.
November 28, 2016
Read my full review here: http://www.conservativebookclub.com/b...
February 6, 2017
Definitely recommended for history buffs. The arguments are convincing. If you love Hamilton, you probably want to add this one to your "To read" stack.
June 15, 2017
Well-written and well-detailed book. However, I thought I would learn more about the Alliance of these two men. Maybe you will feel differently. Enjoy!
August 23, 2017
In a word: disappointing. Largely a shallow regurgitation of the works of Joseph J. Ellis and Ron Chernow with little originality to call its own. There's almost no depth or analysis, and it doesn't even support its own theses very well. When a book posits that the partnership between Washington and Hamilton arose out of their time as soldiers together in the Revolutionary War, I expect more than a small handful of pages about their time serving together.
The writing lacked style, it was often sloppy and uneven, and the conclusion kind of lost the plot. The authors spent more time discussing Jefferson and his followers attacks on Hamilton and Washington than concluding their thoughts on the Washington/Hamilton partnership. I get that those old and oft repeated slanders can be frustrating (don't get me started on my own rants about Jefferson), but it weakened what was already not a very strong book.
I almost bought this book, and I'm glad I got it out of the library instead, as I can't see myself ever re-reading or recommending it. I thought that a book with this title would have a bit more actual information and analysis on said alliance, but I was sadly mistaken.
The writing lacked style, it was often sloppy and uneven, and the conclusion kind of lost the plot. The authors spent more time discussing Jefferson and his followers attacks on Hamilton and Washington than concluding their thoughts on the Washington/Hamilton partnership. I get that those old and oft repeated slanders can be frustrating (don't get me started on my own rants about Jefferson), but it weakened what was already not a very strong book.
I almost bought this book, and I'm glad I got it out of the library instead, as I can't see myself ever re-reading or recommending it. I thought that a book with this title would have a bit more actual information and analysis on said alliance, but I was sadly mistaken.
July 5, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the information contained therein regarding the calaboration of Washington and Hamilton. This is not a lengthy tomb about each man, if you are looking for that read Ron Chernow's books about each. This is rather a side by side biography with emphasis on where the two men's lives intersect and how their strengths supported each other and their goals for the new country. Several reviews indicated that this book just skims the surface, and in a way that is true. However, this book has merit in the substance it does hold. I enjoy reading real history, not the made up conspiracy theories of some who purport to be historians, and I found this book insightful and filled with new information, which I had not yet discovered elsewhere. It was interesting how the authors also related the strategies of Washington and Hamilton to those of the other Founding Fathers. Of particular note was the contrast for those founders who fought for the freedoms they were trying to incorporate into the Constitution and those who were statesmen during the war and espoused theories developed by thinking rather than action. A good read.
February 5, 2017
With the success of the Broadway musical, Hamilton, it seems that everyone is an expert on Alexander Hamilton these days. But how much of what we’re hearing is the myth versus the man? Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance that Forged America does an excellent job of separating fact from fiction by focusing on one of the most intriguing relationships in the history of America’s founding.
George Washington is the austere father figure for whom loyalty and reputation mean everything. Alexander Hamilton is the hot-headed by brilliant youth who is capable of greatness—and of destruction. (Who needs quasi-fictional musicals when you so much drama is built right in the history books?) Together, they forge a great nation. Sure, there are a host of secondary characters, but it’s undeniable: Without this dynamic duo, the constitution, if not the country, would not exist as we know it.
It's clear the authors are fond of Hamilton and Washington, but they are not blind to their faults. Thankfully, they didn’t write 95 pages worth of specifics regarding Hamilton’s extramarital affair—as Hamilton himself did. But, nor do they shy away from detailing the many mistakes the men made as well as the often-outlandish accusations levied by their detractors, most notably Jefferson. Each of their allegations and characterizations is derived from original source documents. There are plenty of end notes for the diligent reader who needs to check it out for themselves.
George Washington is the austere father figure for whom loyalty and reputation mean everything. Alexander Hamilton is the hot-headed by brilliant youth who is capable of greatness—and of destruction. (Who needs quasi-fictional musicals when you so much drama is built right in the history books?) Together, they forge a great nation. Sure, there are a host of secondary characters, but it’s undeniable: Without this dynamic duo, the constitution, if not the country, would not exist as we know it.
It's clear the authors are fond of Hamilton and Washington, but they are not blind to their faults. Thankfully, they didn’t write 95 pages worth of specifics regarding Hamilton’s extramarital affair—as Hamilton himself did. But, nor do they shy away from detailing the many mistakes the men made as well as the often-outlandish accusations levied by their detractors, most notably Jefferson. Each of their allegations and characterizations is derived from original source documents. There are plenty of end notes for the diligent reader who needs to check it out for themselves.
June 8, 2017
An excellent examination of the nearly 22-year relationship between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, years Washinton's junior was a close, if someone hotheaded, confident of Washington's during the war. Yet, it was after the war that they really began to rely on each other. Hamilton is vilified as a royalist and a person consumed with defeating personal liberties but the book makes clear that many of Hamilton's thoughts were also the thoughts of Washington himself.
Don't let the fact that it took me nearly a year to read this book put you off to it. I started it right before beginning my first year teaching middle school and have now picked it back up since summer vacation began.
Williams' research is very thorough and he does try to avoid the common trap of lionizing and villainizing the founding fathers especially with regards to Jefferson. What comes is a fairly balanced look at these men. While it is clear he has great admiration for Hamilton, in particular, Williams never lets it color his opinion of Jefferson and Adams.
Don't let the fact that it took me nearly a year to read this book put you off to it. I started it right before beginning my first year teaching middle school and have now picked it back up since summer vacation began.
Williams' research is very thorough and he does try to avoid the common trap of lionizing and villainizing the founding fathers especially with regards to Jefferson. What comes is a fairly balanced look at these men. While it is clear he has great admiration for Hamilton, in particular, Williams never lets it color his opinion of Jefferson and Adams.
March 9, 2021
I read Chernow’s bios on Washington and Hamilton prior to this - so I was looking for something that focused specifically on their relationship. This was a lot more dual biography than I was hoping for, but the last 75 pages or so were really entertaining. The authors have a very clear disdain for Jefferson, but their account of the Hamilton/Jefferson cabinet battle is the strongest part of the book by far.
March 20, 2021
An abbreviated history of the major events of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the fledgling American government with particular focus on the essential roles of Washington and Hamilton. More than a history, this book is a tribute to the inestimable merits of Washington and Hamilton and a scathing attack on their Republican adversaries, especially the malevolent, deceitful Jefferson and his lackey Madison.
December 9, 2017
Well done. A bit hard on Jefferson and Madison, but good to get this perspective. The authors clearly love our great country and I appreciate that very much.
A well deserved Washington hagiography.
A very good book - helped tie in the sequence of our founding events from the 1750's to the turn of the century.
A well deserved Washington hagiography.
A very good book - helped tie in the sequence of our founding events from the 1750's to the turn of the century.
December 8, 2019
I definitely learned more about the many steps that took place to develop our government & constitution. I definitely could tell the authors had no love for Jefferson, Madison, or Adams. Wish there was a little less opinion, or perhaps judgement, in the writing.
January 30, 2020
This was a well written book that examined the political climate during the birth of America. It also reminded me that the political intrigue and partisanship that exists in our government today was prevalent over 240 years ago.
September 2, 2020
As a novice to revolutionary US History, and inspired by watching the Broadway "Hamilton", I found this book fascinating and informative. There were some definite biases that I picked up in regards to Jefferson, so I'll read something about him next :)
September 7, 2023
A great read. This is a well-written and thoughtful examination of the two founders the authors believe to be the key players in the creation of the American republic. Well worth your time!
September 13, 2024
This joint subject matter had so much potential, but the writing seemed rather like a mediocre cobbling together of other really great biographies I’d already read.
November 25, 2015
This book is filled with information about our Founding Fathers. Some of it is new to me, some of it is not new to me but all of it is fascinating and informative.
George Washington was a control freak, in a good way. He was so concerned about his reputation that he considered all aspects of a situation when making decisions. He was a man who cared greatly for his staff during the Revolution, but he did not express his feelings well. All these years, we have been told that he was the Father of our Country and a really honest man. All those stories are true. He was aware that he was the one who was needed in order to create a country. He was a hero in the truest sense of the word.
He could not find it within himself to be dishonest. By the time he became President he was a man who was weary but he took on the position because he knew it was needed to unite the states into a true country.
Among all the men who were part of the Founding Fathers Washington became closest friends with Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton was everything Washington was not. He was a self promoter. He was impetuous. He was also a genius. As a young teenager he was running a company. He wrote essays and articles that explained the ideas of the Revolution and then uniting the states. He was brash and made enemies among other Founding Fathers. I found it interesting that Adams, Madison and Jefferson were particularly anti-Hamilton. I think for Jefferson it was jealousy. (No one could be a genius but Jefferson.) Adams didn't like anyone whether friend or enemy. And Madison had different goals. None of these men were fans of George Washington.
These three men and others ruined Hamilton's reputation in the public eye. In fact, some historians have continued the emphasis on his flaws rather than his heroics. There were even rumors that Hamilton was Washington's illegitimate son. This rumor was intended to damage both Washington and Hamilton. Even the heroic Washington was not beloved by the strongly competitive among the men who wanted to become in charge of this newly forming country.
Hamilton was a true military hero during the War. He regularly took chances which provided artillery fire in order to protect others. He believed strongly that the Revolution was important. He also believed that the new country could become important in the world. His heroics and good military planning are what brought him to Washington's attention.
Hamilton was also a womanizer and generally he could be difficult to like. He produced a large family at the same time he was building a reputation as a user of women. Upon his death his wife had 8 children to support. She spent the rest of her life promoting her husband's reputation and reminding people of his heroics.
These two men grew to depend upon one another and admire one another. Even after a rift which damaged their friendship they reconciled and became as close as they had ever been. Washington ignored Hamilton's flaws. In fact, he tried to ignore many of the faults of others. His goal was to produce a new country which would be a democracy for all. In order to do so, he believed it was important to work and compromise with everyone.
One of the few things which was a true dividing line between the two was the idea of slavery. Washington was a slave owner who believed that he and other plantation owners could not survive without slavery. Hamilton truly believed that slavery should be ended immediately because no man should own another.
When Washington died, Hamilton was heartbroken. It was evident there was a feeling of admiration and love on both sides of the relationship.
I was sad to find that the political infighting and ugliness among people who wanted power was no better than what we see today. Men who are now considered heroic Founding Fathers were actually human beings who had flaws and faults. Some of them were not always heroic or good. But, this country was blessed that at a certain time and place, those flaws and faults combined to provide strengths which gave us a new country.
This is a very good book. The authors have provided life to historical figures who have been allowed to become cold marble rather than human beings.
I received this book from the publisher through Goodreads in the hope that I would write a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
George Washington was a control freak, in a good way. He was so concerned about his reputation that he considered all aspects of a situation when making decisions. He was a man who cared greatly for his staff during the Revolution, but he did not express his feelings well. All these years, we have been told that he was the Father of our Country and a really honest man. All those stories are true. He was aware that he was the one who was needed in order to create a country. He was a hero in the truest sense of the word.
He could not find it within himself to be dishonest. By the time he became President he was a man who was weary but he took on the position because he knew it was needed to unite the states into a true country.
Among all the men who were part of the Founding Fathers Washington became closest friends with Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton was everything Washington was not. He was a self promoter. He was impetuous. He was also a genius. As a young teenager he was running a company. He wrote essays and articles that explained the ideas of the Revolution and then uniting the states. He was brash and made enemies among other Founding Fathers. I found it interesting that Adams, Madison and Jefferson were particularly anti-Hamilton. I think for Jefferson it was jealousy. (No one could be a genius but Jefferson.) Adams didn't like anyone whether friend or enemy. And Madison had different goals. None of these men were fans of George Washington.
These three men and others ruined Hamilton's reputation in the public eye. In fact, some historians have continued the emphasis on his flaws rather than his heroics. There were even rumors that Hamilton was Washington's illegitimate son. This rumor was intended to damage both Washington and Hamilton. Even the heroic Washington was not beloved by the strongly competitive among the men who wanted to become in charge of this newly forming country.
Hamilton was a true military hero during the War. He regularly took chances which provided artillery fire in order to protect others. He believed strongly that the Revolution was important. He also believed that the new country could become important in the world. His heroics and good military planning are what brought him to Washington's attention.
Hamilton was also a womanizer and generally he could be difficult to like. He produced a large family at the same time he was building a reputation as a user of women. Upon his death his wife had 8 children to support. She spent the rest of her life promoting her husband's reputation and reminding people of his heroics.
These two men grew to depend upon one another and admire one another. Even after a rift which damaged their friendship they reconciled and became as close as they had ever been. Washington ignored Hamilton's flaws. In fact, he tried to ignore many of the faults of others. His goal was to produce a new country which would be a democracy for all. In order to do so, he believed it was important to work and compromise with everyone.
One of the few things which was a true dividing line between the two was the idea of slavery. Washington was a slave owner who believed that he and other plantation owners could not survive without slavery. Hamilton truly believed that slavery should be ended immediately because no man should own another.
When Washington died, Hamilton was heartbroken. It was evident there was a feeling of admiration and love on both sides of the relationship.
I was sad to find that the political infighting and ugliness among people who wanted power was no better than what we see today. Men who are now considered heroic Founding Fathers were actually human beings who had flaws and faults. Some of them were not always heroic or good. But, this country was blessed that at a certain time and place, those flaws and faults combined to provide strengths which gave us a new country.
This is a very good book. The authors have provided life to historical figures who have been allowed to become cold marble rather than human beings.
I received this book from the publisher through Goodreads in the hope that I would write a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2017
Tony Williams begins "Washington And Hamilton" by contrasting the early life of both men. They couldn't have been more different. The relationship between the pair began when Hamilton joined General Washington's staff during the Revolutionary War. As a result of their wartime experience, Washington and Hamilton advocated for a strong central governent. As founders of the Federalists, they were in opposition to Jefferson and Madison who advocated a decentralized government. Mr. Williams agrees with the Washington-Hamilton federalist approach, presenting the bruising battle and harsh rhetoric between the two forces. Makes me believe our politics was personal and biting from the beginning. Interesting and enjoyable read.
September 15, 2015
Of the many, many books that have been written on George Washington, the American Revolution, and the founding of our nation, as far as I know this is the first to focus on the relationship between Washington and Alexander Hamilton. Such a book is long overdue—Hamilton remains our most underappreciated Founding Father and his career almost entirely involved working with the Father of our Country. And that is perhaps the book’s greatest weakness—that relationship was so integral to Hamilton’s career that the best book on the relationship is still probably Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton. Chernow’s biography of Washington, on the other hand, curiously has little to say about Hamilton (Knott and Williams reference Chernow often). That is a mistake, I think. Hamilton was just as important to Washington as Washington was to Hamilton.
Washington and Hamilton starts with short biographies of each leading up to the beginning of their relationship during the Revolutionary War. Knott and Williams are highly critical of Hamilton for breaking off the relationship, how he treated (or didn’t treat) Washington after that, and for his role in the Newburgh Conspiracy. Their criticism is somewhat misplaced in my opinion. The relationship between the two was simply not that important at that point.
After both playing prominent roles in bringing about a new constitutional order, Washington and Hamilton’s renewed relationship really began to blossom when Hamilton joined Washington’s cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. Here I think Knott and Williams make their biggest mistake by omitted most of the work that rightly earned Hamilton the title Father of our Government (Chernow’s term, I believe). Instead they choose to focus more on his role after leaving the government, when the Federalists were feuding with what became the Democratic-Republican Party. Knott and Williams harshly criticize Jefferson here, not unfairly. Monroe and Adams are also targets of their scorn, with Madison escaping largely unscathed. It’s one of the great ironies of that period that Jefferson won the battle, Hamilton won the war, but Jefferson won the press conference. So to speak.
It’s a well written, solid work, although again a reader is probably better off starting with Chernow’s biography of Hamilton. Knott and Williams are very much pro-Federalist/anti-Democratic-Republican, but that’s fair and now you know it going in. They correctly see the importance of the war to Washington and Hamilton’s views and understand Washington’s brilliance was his judgment in leveraging Hamilton’s brilliance. They also appreciate that brilliance, although it doesn’t get its full desserts without a focus on his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury and only limited space devoted to the Federalist Papers. Ultimately, that’s its greatest failing. 352 pages doesn’t do its subject matter justice.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Washington and Hamilton through NetGalley.
Washington and Hamilton starts with short biographies of each leading up to the beginning of their relationship during the Revolutionary War. Knott and Williams are highly critical of Hamilton for breaking off the relationship, how he treated (or didn’t treat) Washington after that, and for his role in the Newburgh Conspiracy. Their criticism is somewhat misplaced in my opinion. The relationship between the two was simply not that important at that point.
After both playing prominent roles in bringing about a new constitutional order, Washington and Hamilton’s renewed relationship really began to blossom when Hamilton joined Washington’s cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. Here I think Knott and Williams make their biggest mistake by omitted most of the work that rightly earned Hamilton the title Father of our Government (Chernow’s term, I believe). Instead they choose to focus more on his role after leaving the government, when the Federalists were feuding with what became the Democratic-Republican Party. Knott and Williams harshly criticize Jefferson here, not unfairly. Monroe and Adams are also targets of their scorn, with Madison escaping largely unscathed. It’s one of the great ironies of that period that Jefferson won the battle, Hamilton won the war, but Jefferson won the press conference. So to speak.
It’s a well written, solid work, although again a reader is probably better off starting with Chernow’s biography of Hamilton. Knott and Williams are very much pro-Federalist/anti-Democratic-Republican, but that’s fair and now you know it going in. They correctly see the importance of the war to Washington and Hamilton’s views and understand Washington’s brilliance was his judgment in leveraging Hamilton’s brilliance. They also appreciate that brilliance, although it doesn’t get its full desserts without a focus on his tenure as Secretary of the Treasury and only limited space devoted to the Federalist Papers. Ultimately, that’s its greatest failing. 352 pages doesn’t do its subject matter justice.
Disclosure: I received a copy of Washington and Hamilton through NetGalley.
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