The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe

by Kevin R.C. Gutzman

A lively and essential chronicle of the only consecutive trio of two-term presidencies of the same political party in American history, from the bestselling author of Thomas Jefferson: Revolutionary and James Madison

Before the consecutive two-term administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, there had only been one other trio of its type: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.

Kevin Gutzman’s The Jeffersonians is the essential full chronicle of the men, known as The Virginia Dynasty, who served as president from 1801 to 1825 and implemented the foreign-policy, domestic, and constitutional agenda of the radical wing of the American Revolution, setting guideposts for later American liberals to follow.

The three close political allies were tightly related: Jefferson and Madison were the closest of friends, and Monroe was Jefferson’s former law student. Their achievements were many, from the founding of the opposition Republican Party in the 1790s; the Louisiana Purchase; and the call upon Congress in 1806 to use its constitutional power to ban slave imports beginning on January 1, 1808.

Of course, not everything the Virginia Dynasty undertook was a success: Its chief failure might have been the ineptly planned and led War of 1812. In general, however, when Monroe rode off into the sunset in 1825, his passing and the end of The Virginia Dynasty were much lamented. Kevin Gutzman’s new book details a time in America when three Presidents built upon the achievements of his predecessor to strengthen our Republic in a way we rarely see in American politics today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Presidents, American History, Biography, Historical

608 pages, Hardcover

First published December 13, 2022

About the author

Kevin R. C. Gutzman is the New York Times best-selling author of five books--with a sixth forthcoming. Professor of History at Western Connecticut State University, Gutzman holds a bachelor’s degree, a master of public affairs degree, and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as an MA and a PhD in American history from the University of Virginia. Happy to be a former attorney, Gutzman devotes his intellectual energy to teaching courses in the Revolutionary and constitutional history of the United States, to writing books and articles in these fields, and to public speaking on related topics.

Dr. Gutzman's first book was the New York Times best-seller The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Constitution, an account of American constitutional history from the pre-Revolutionary days to the present. This work is unique in joining the fruits of the latest scholarship, a very readable presentation, and a distinctly Jeffersonian point of view. His second book, Virginia’s American Revolution: From Dominion to Republic, 1776-1840, explores the issue what the Revolutionaries made of the Revolution in Thomas Jefferson’s home state. After that, he co-authored Who Killed the Constitution? The Federal Government vs. American Liberty from World War I to Barack Obama with New York Times best-selling author Thomas E. Woods, Jr. and wrote James Madison and the Making of America--a Main Selection of the History Book Club. Most recently, he wrote Thomas Jefferson--Revolutionary: A Radical's Struggle to Remake America (St. Martin's Press, 2017), a selection of the History Book Club. His latest, coming on December 13, 2022 from St. Martin's Press, is The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

Gutzman has edited new editions of John Taylor of Caroline’s Tyranny Unmasked and New Views of the Constitution of the United States. His essay “Lincoln as Jeffersonian: The Colonization Chimera” appeared in editor Brian Dirck’s collection Lincoln Emancipated: The President and the Politics of Race, and his "James Madison and the Ratification of the Constitution: A Triumph Over Adversity" appeared in editor Stuart Leiberger's collection A Companion to James Madison and James Monroe (Blackwell 2012)."

Gutzman has appeared on over 500 radio programs, on Dave Rubin's and Tom Woods' popular podcasts (among others), on syndicated shows such as The Michael Medved Show, the Janet Parshall Show, and the Curtis Sliwa Show and multiple programs on Air America, on Sirius Satellite Radio (including as guest host), on America's Radio News Network, as well as on C-SPAN 2's "BookTV," CNN's "Lou Dobbs Tonight," and Fox News's "The Glenn Beck Program." He has also been interviewed by reporters from the AP, the Washington Times, the Philadelphia Enquirer, the Washington Post, The Hartford Business Journal, the Houston Chronicle online, and the New York Times.

Kevin Gutzman was a featured expert in the documentary films “John Marshall: Citizen, Statesman, Jurist," "Nullification: The Rightful Remedy," and "Safeguard: An Electoral College Story."

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://wp.me/p302YQ-638

Given its title (and the publisher's marketing materials) I expected this book would adroitly review the executive tenures of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe and demonstrate how each of their presidencies were...visionary.

But rather than providing a perspective on how their six consecutive terms were uncommonly ambitious or forward-thinking, the dense 510 page narrative was surprisingly unrevealing and disappointingly dry. In addition, the book's natural audience is a mystery; the narrative presumes too much background knowledge for the general reader but fails to provide the provocative propositions that would tempt someone with significant presidential proficiency.

The narrative begins abruptly as Jefferson is informed of his election to the presidency and ends just after Monroe's second term is completed. Each of the three main characters receives nearly equal attention but none of the three are meaningfully introduced to the reader and their relationships with each other are largely unexplored. And other than a brief blurb on the dust-jacket cover, it is never clear why Gutzman has chosen to focus on these three presidents...or how he perceives they are uniquely connected.

"The Jeffersonians" is organized into three "Parts" - one for each presidency. But the seventy chapters that comprise the book are untitled and include neither introductions nor conclusions to highlight important themes or messages. Context and an appreciation for the "big picture" are notably missing. And if there is an overarching thesis the author intends to convey, it proves remarkably elusive.

Rather than treating readers to a captivating review of three "visionary" presidencies this book exudes the literary warmth of a collection of transcripts from a graduate level history course. And although it does contain moments of insight and wisdom, the book's narrative requires far more fortitude and perseverance than many readers will find they possess.

Overall, Kevin Gutzman's "The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe" falls far short of its full potential. It is a fact-dense but often tedious summary of three presidencies with almost none of the interesting texture or connective tissue that would bring its characters to life or support the premise its title seems to promise.

Overall Rating: 2½ stars but “Unrated” as Biography

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kevin R.C. Gutzman, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

In the early years of the American Republic, the Founding Fathers sought to craft the foundation of the country, then lead it in their own image. Once Washington had laid some of the essential groundwork, it fell to a few men to build on it and create a strong nation. Kevin Gutzman explores three of these men throughout their presidential tenure: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Gutzman argues that they were intertwined under the ‘Jeffersonian’ umbrella, while still being independent from one another. Gutzman presents, in detail, their respective presidencies, which occurred consecutively, thereby creating an era of government, legal precedents, and development of a country from its thirteen colonies into a geographic juggernaut. Full of anecdotes and well-placed arguments, Gutzman does a stellar job of connecting these three men together for the reader.

While all were strong political allies, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe had different outlooks for the country they helped develop. As Gutzman opens the tome exploring the presidency of Jefferson, there is a strong view towards setting the scene and building on core values the country had developed under Washington, while also exploring some of the newer ideas that came to the surface. Many of the constitutional questions that shaped a more modern America came from the Jefferson period, as interpretation of laws and the foundational rules of the country were being hashed out and challenged. Jefferson was also keen to create a mark on the international scene, using his ambassadors to form pathways for the still youthful country seeking to stand on its own. Gutzman effectively shows how Jefferson mandated this and made the country one that Washington would have been happy to see still progressing.

James Madison took up the torch when Jefferson, eager to create the two-term precedent that Washington began, stood down for new blood to take over governing. Madison’s impact was to keep trying to fill Jefferson’s shoes and keep the country on track, while also being faced with the first major international crisis to befall the country, a war with the British. Madison had to develop keen leadership skills and rely on many of his military men to keep America ready for any attack, and to fend off a reverting back to British control. Gutzman shows that the battles of the War of 1812 were hard fought and Madison was not one to get into the fray, but he valued the importance of America remaining independent and ready for whatever was tossed its way. Building on the Jefferson presidency, Madison sought to push America out of its infancy and into rugged adulthood, where it could grow and prove its prowess.

James Monroe was a leader who looked back as much as he did ahead, trying to keep the momentum going without losing much of what’s his predecessors forged for him. A man of great intellect, but not as gritty as the others, Monroe held his head high and focussed his attention to ensure that the work Jefferson and Madison did was not lost. Gutzman shows him to be the less impactful of the three men, but still trying to keep things running effectively and helping to shape Jeffersonian policies to keep Congress working effectively and with a detailed purpose. Gutzman shows how Monroe used the life lessons from his predecessors to shape America into the power that it would be moving towards its most tumultuous years. Monroe did all he could to keep things steady, without toppling too many apple carts along the way.

While the book was well written and full of formidable themes, there was a huge amount to digest. The history and the day-to-day exploration of things in a detailed narrative could, for some, get to be too much. Kevin Gutzman does well to leave the reader feeling as though they are a part of the action, but there is just so much going on that it can be overwhelming. While this is not an academic tome, its detail and analysis could keep only the most dedicated readers holding on. I was so pleased to be able to pluck something from each chapter, which helped me see how things are interconnected. The theme of three independent men directing the country through their respective presidencies is a stellar undertaking and Gutzman easily argues that this occurred. However, the names and places, as well as historic events, proved a great deal, as I sought to synthesis all that I read. Thankfully, he uses relatively short chapters, permitting the reader to launch themselves through the tome with relative ease, should their interest persist. I would gladly explore some of Gutzman’s other works to see if I can take more away from them, but I cannot say enough about this tome and the effort invested in it to give the reader something about which they can feel highly educated by the end of the reading experience.

Kudos, Mr. Gutzman, for piece of historical writing that left me hungry for more, even though I needed to pace myself to absorb it all.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Sherwood Smith]

A solidly readable introduction to the "Jefferson, Madison, Monroe" triumvirate. It is aimed at the armchair reader who knows at least a little about the American Revolution, and is not an academic book. Had it been, I would have felt the fork-poke of obligation to comb through to cite the blips, both grammatical and historical.

As a general history, one to pique the interest enough to send potential readers to do some in-depth further reading, though, it works splendidly. Gutzman covers a great deal of territory in not only overviews of the respective presidencies, but also at least a pass at their private lives. (Yes, there's stuff about Jefferson and Sally Hemings.)

For some balance, to those readers wanting to read on, I recommend Flexner on Washington. Also excellent reading, with scrupulous fact checking.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written and well written. This is an ambitious undertaking interweaving the presidencies of three early presidents highlighting their similarities and differences. This is an intriguing read for anyone who has an interest in Presidents and/or American history.

I received a free ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

[Xenophon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Kevin Gutzman somehow smuggled a serious academic history into the popular history genre. Unlike most history books today, _The Jeffersonians_ doesn't suffer from presentism nor does Gutzman come as a pilgrim to the Founding Father pantheon to seek divine guidance. This is as straight a telling of the major events of the Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe presidencies as one can expect, and the reader is left to draw their own conclusions.

In this way, _The Jeffersonians_ reminds me of an older policy-oriented history (see Samuel Flagg Bemis) or even case law/case law history one has to reckon with as a 1L. This aspect of the book is the main reason I have rated it so high- it's indeed a breath of fresh air to read an author who expects some level of independence and basic familiarity with the subject matter. One may call the approach itself Jeffersonian, but I digress.

That said, there is much else to commend the work. I'll name some points:

1. Quote work and citations. Gutzman lets the men themselves tell the story. I cannot recall a single occasion where he makes an assertion without backing it up.

2. This book is full of amusing anecdotes- a sailor threatening to kill then President Jefferson during the embargo, a Federalist poem comparing Jefferson to a block of cheese, and a truly rousing account of the battle between the Constitution and the Guerriere to name a few.

3. I love how this book handled the War of 1812. Some accounts border on cynical. Others overestimate the war's importance as a Second War for Independence. Gutzman doesn't take a middle path parse but shows there were moments of heroism in a comedy of errors. A national learning experience.

4. In an odd way this book is a comfort- American policy-making has always been a tedious and occasionally absurd process. We can take comfort in the fact that, as Bismarck said, God has a special providence for us along with drunks and fools. The country has matured in some ways for the better though also, in a whole host of other ways, for the worse.

May the Lord bless Dr. Gutzman in all of his labors. I hope a book on the Jacksonians is in the offing.

[Caleb Fogler · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the Jeffersonians, Gutzman tells the political story of presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Starting at the election of 1800, Jefferson deadlocks with Aaron Burr for the presidency until Alexander Hamilton backs Jefferson over Burr. From here we see the heights of the new Republican (aka Jefferson’s) party and eventually the party’s fracturing as young politicians from outside of Virginia join old Virginian politicians who have fallen out with the Jeffersonians.

Overall it was an interesting book, and I feel like a got a little bit better understanding of each president and their interactions with significant people of the time both from America and Europe. What my main takeaway was how I understood the each president before I read the book. For Jefferson I already knew and remembered most of his highlight real as a president, but for Madison I knew the overview but mostly just remembered him as the Father of the Constitution. Lastly, I remembered very little of Monroe from my school days. I know we learned about him, but I couldn’t tell you anything he did before reading this book.

With that being said, I really struggled with the main point of the book and each president’s section. It felt like a lot of unexplained quotes within individual chapters that barely tied together. I’m not sure if this book was meant for academic readers or lay persons but I’m not sure it hit its mark for either.

[Sam Talkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much to unpack in this book. The Virginia Dynasty of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe.

Obviously the most talked about topics regularly hashed out Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark Expedition, Missouri Compromise.

A large part of the east coast was against the Louisiana purchase because they didn’t want to concede any power and also believed it would lead to 2 countries.

Lots of discussion points I’ve never heard talked about.

A volcanic explosion in Indochina in 1815 that put so much carbon dioxide into the air it caused 4-5 yrs of extreme crop failures for everyone in the Northern Hemisphere which led to massive land speculation in the Americas. Winter was starting in July during these few yrs in the Northern Hemisphere.

A lot on the War of 1812 which I only vaguely know. Britain wanted unlimited access to the Mississippi River, Half of Maine, and Massachusetts area (New England) wanted to become a part of England again!!! Redcoats

Charting of the US Banks and Henry Clay.

Large discussion of Spain and South America.

Dolly Madison the first queen of America. Beautiful stories and she saved the portrait of General Washington portrait when the British burnt down DC.

General Andrew Jackson and battle of NOLA as well as the conquests into Florida.

Ends with the Monroe Doctrine which I’ve always heard about but didn’t know the significance. Axis powers stay in Europe. America is ours and we won’t interfere in their issues.

All the founding fathers are featured in this. What a great book. The Virginia Dynasty.

[Momof4 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m extremely disappointed because I had this on hold at my library and was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I gave it up after nearly 100 pages.

I do have more than a passing acquaintance with this era of American history, so it wasn’t so much about the facts and personalities of that time than it was Gutzman’s writing style. His stilted and often convoluted sentence structure, lack of first references in some cases, and other poor mechanics made this book almost impossible to read.

Luckily, there are many other works covering the Jeffersonian experience that I can look into.

Again: Authors, remember your readers. Editors — do your jobs.

[Pamela Potter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a tedious read

[Aaron Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Mr. Gutzman's last book which is a wonderful intellectual and philosophical biography of James Madison as both a man and a founding father. Therefore, I was excited to open his next venture and it does not disappoint. Gutzman returns to Madison but now focuses on his Presidency, as well as the presidencies of his contemporaries and political compatriots Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. These three men constitute the only trio of consecutive, two-term Presidents from the same political party in American history. Gutzman effectively explores the three Presidents' similarities and differences, accomplishments and failures and ultimately the common vision for the country that united them. All three men were suspicious and skeptical of federal power and overreach, yet didn't always adhere to this vision in the course of their presidencies. This book is fantastic history, well written and bubbling with detail and insight. Gutzman knows his subjects better than just about anyone. It is a shame that he is not more well known. I find him as erudite, skilled, insightful and lively as Joseph Ellis or Alan Talyor or other bestselling historians. Highly recommended.

[Devin Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great content. But it is a difficult read. Not necessarily because of the depth of the topic; but because the writing style is difficult to tackle. It’s halting and very abrupt. It gets old after a while. Nevertheless I love the topic and arguments. But the writing style made this book a tough read for me.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the Jeffersonians Mr. Gutsmen covers the ins and outs of the presidentcies of Jefferson Madison and Monroe. I love politics because from the beginning of our government and before it was fueled by gossip in fighting and of course posturing and with the author‘s writing style makes for a very interesting and intriguing read. In the day of the Jeffersons instead of Republicans they had the federalist and they would just is honest as leaders of today. The only thing that was different was the date. It was also the only time in history three presidents from the same party held two terms each making for twenty four years and the Jeffersonian era. If you read this book with a critical eye you’ll see that they faced similar things to what we face instead of slavery we’re trying to end racism but because slavery was a law and racism is a character flaw the fight is much harder. But with both instances it all has to do with changing peoples minds and convincing them to do the right thing. I do love when Monroe said if we do free the slaves and send them to Liberia will we have to force them? Really you force them to come here… I thought that was absurd. I love history in love this book I love reading about our four fathers and especially when we get there personal feelings and in this book to help some personal correspondence and thoughts from each president and hangers on and other people in that area. I thoroughly enjoyed the sport and highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading more from Mr. Gutman in the future. He is clearly an author with a great grasp on our history. I received this book from NetGalley and a publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Patrick Sobkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best works of political history I’ve ever read. Gutzman writes well and covers a lot of ground in a relatively concise book. Likely the standard narrative history of this period for the foreseeable future.

Bravo.

[Robert Muller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this history badly written and unorganized, and much too long for the view of history that it presents--too much detail about some events, completely missing other events, and no real development of the historical context of the subjects. DNF.

[William de_Rham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Potential readers should be aware that “The Jeffersonians” is more of a history book than it is a biography of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. While the research and writing are good (although other reviewers have found minor errors), it is not the immediately engaging kind of “Founding Fathers” biography offered by, say, David McCullough (“John Adams”) or Walter Isaacson (“Benjamin Franklin”). It assumes that readers have a good level of knowledge of late 18th- early 19th century American History and is more instructive than it is entertaining. I'm enjoying it. But some readers may find it quite dry and/or "tough sledding."

[Jonathan Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book as I begin my reading on the Jeffersonians - Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. This book is just out and was a good primer of these three presidencies which is exactly what I intended it to be. However, this book lost a star because of the awkward writing and frankly, the terrible editing. The typos and phrases used by the author became very distracting by the end of the book unfortunately.

[Lashawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up, I never gave much thought to politics—it always felt distant, abstract, and disconnected from my everyday world. But I do remember the Iran hostage crisis vividly. The gravity of the situation and President Jimmy Carter's handling of it captivated me even as a child. At the time, I didn’t understand all the nuances, and I still wouldn’t claim to grasp every historical detail, but that moment planted a seed. It sparked a quiet, growing interest in how political decisions ripple across lives and institutions—not just globally, but especially at home.

Fast forward to today, that early curiosity has evolved into a focused academic pursuit. I now focus on leadership and organizational culture. I’ve come to understand how leadership at the top—whether presidential or administrative—has a lasting effect on the morale, structure, and culture of organizations. With so much shifting in our national political climate recently, I found myself wanting to trace where it all began, to better understand the roots of governance, leadership, and public service.

Reading about the presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe offered me just that opportunity. The book was a deep dive into the complexities of early American governance—how foundational policies, principles, and power struggles shaped the nation's trajectory. It wasn’t just about historical facts; it was about how these men envisioned leadership, dealt with conflict, and laid down systems that still influence our institutions today.

I found myself challenged and inspired, as I enjoy both scholarly research and biographical storytelling. The level of detail was sometimes overwhelming, but the structure—broken into thoughtful, manageable chapters—made space for reflection. It was a reminder that leadership is never linear. It’s messy, full of trial and error, compromise, and conviction.

I’ll return to this book. It offers lessons that go beyond the page—lessons about resilience, vision, and the complexity of change. For someone like me, exploring how administrative shifts impact organizational culture, this history provides valuable context. These early leaders, with all their imperfections and ambitions, laid a foundation not just for a country but for the very systems of leadership, accountability, and public trust that we continue to navigate today.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I regret I had such a hard time making headway into Kevin R.C. Gutzman’s THE JEFFERSONIANS: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, and gave up the ghost for now in Chapter 10 (I hope to return to it one day) . Even in less than 100 pages, I learned much.

To begin, after hearing and reading academics and politicos proclaim the Founding Fathers’ “intent” over and over again, I’d been brainwashed into believing our forefathers held one vision and spoke with one voice. Hogwash and poppycock. Gutzman quickly relieved me of that notion. (I should have been skeptical a long time ago when I heard about Aaron Burr killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel – They disagreed on many critical issues of the day, you see. Burr won the duel. Hamilton got a hit Broadway play named after him two centuries later)).

Basic issues:

Should we have a strong federal government (favored by the wealthy and the capitalists) or grant the individual states the greater power (favored by farmers and small-town folks).

Should The United States have a military? (yes said the Federalists; no said the Jeffersonians).

Should the Federal government incur debt? (Yes said the Federalists; no said the Jeffersonians).

Should the United States have closer ties with England or France (Hamilton favored England. Jefferson favored France).

I’m embarrassed to confess I don’t know as much about American history as I thought I knew, and definitely not enough to put Gutzman’s report in context. Gutzman didn’t help matters. He seemingly jumped from one topic to another without enough guidance and structure. Also, to give credibility to his reporting he’d throw in paragraphs from letters and reports of the time that I couldn’t make heads or tails out of. When Gutzman explained (translated?) those paragraphs, I would re-read the paragraph again, and still be bewildered.

I wish I could understand this book. There’s obviously much in it I would appreciate knowing. I will try reading it again when life for me gets more organized).

For now I’ll rate it four stars

[Mariama Thorlu-Bangura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced review copy, which I voluntarily read. All thoughts are my own.

Kevin R. C. Gutzman's "The Jeffersonians" jumps right in on the topic of 3 of the 4 presidents who made up the Virginia Dynasty. Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe are the first trio of consecutive two-term presidents.

The book is broken into three sections. The first section covers chapters 1 through 27, and focuses on Jefferson's time in office. The next section covers chapters 28 through 48 and details Madison's presidency. The final section covers the last 22 chapters of the book, focusing on Monroe's time as president.

Gutzman's writing is clean, concise, and detailed, but not in overwhelming manner. The chapters are a few pages in length, making it easy for one to read several chapters in one sitting. However, I must say that it would be wise to take your time reading this, as the topic is dense, so there is a lot to absorb. You cannot zip through this.

Downsides to this book: there is no bibliography for further reading; there are no images of any of the main people are included; the notes cannot be accessed by tapping the number corresponding to the note; there is no introduction that could provide a brief history of America's political founding.

This book is meant for the person who is a true American history buff, and I recommend it for those readers particularly. I also feel it would make an excellent book for a class focusing on the overall concept of Jeffersonian politics.

[Don Gerstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading “The Jeffersonians,” one inkling of the future hit me early on. The numerous quotes from personal letters will not be an avenue when future generations attempt to piece together the truth of modern day politics. Many of the thoughts and opinions of people will be washed away in the raging river of social media. Thus, an informative book can be viewed as a reader’s treasure, and this book contains much information about Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. I can’t remember the last time I read a history book that was crammed to the point of overflowing with facts, backed up by quotes featured in print articles or culled from letters to friends, political allies, and opponents. This book contained many of these “first-hand” examples to back up a point or explain a situation.

The only issue I had with the book was its length. While I am usually not overly concerned with the number of pages if there is enough relevant content, there were times that the information presented did not fit that criteria. Additionally, there were times that the author would present the same information again without adding something new.

I recommend this book, especially for those readers brand new to this era in history. It is interesting and informative to read directly how the early government of this country worked and what those who held a position in the government thought without seeing it through the tinted glasses of our current media. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

In-depth and engrossing political and human history…

I never paid too much attention to politics when I was a kid but I remember being enthralled by the diplomat kidnapping/Iran crisis and Jimmy Carter. I was too young to appreciate all the nuances and I’m sure I don’t understand it all, even to this day, but that sparked a casual interest in politics and world events that steadily grew. With the political climates seemingly changing so drastically in the US recently – and to a more sedate version in my own – I couldn’t wait to see how it all began…

Taking the presidencies of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, the author provides an epic amount of information on all three and how they intertwined as well. From the minutiae of the day to day, to the bigger themes and topics of a new-found nation, there was information and conjecture and a thorough undertaking to understand how history was made.

As an avid reader and a lover of history and biography, I admit to being overwhelmed at times but the book was well-written and spoke to the scholar as well as the arm-chair enthusiast (that would be me). I was content to take each well-plotted, smallish chapter and let the words sink in before moving on to the next.

I will be rereading this again to catch any and all that I missed as these men, their struggles and achievements, were the starting point of all that followed…

*I happily reviewed this book
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher

#TheJeffersonians #KevinRCGutzman #StMartinsPress

[Joseph P · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Great book but hard to read, yes I read it in its entirety ) This is a very detailed and in depth book that follows American domestic and foreign politics from 1800- 1824. I personally study and teach U.S history and have a life long passion for history. I found at times this book could be challenging to read. For most people this will not be a book you keep on your nightstand and read a chapter or two before bed. This book requires active reading. I constantly found myself writing on sticky notes and attaching them to the margins. As well as having to do further research on topics mentioned in the book to have a better understanding of some chapters. specially when it came to some of the early legal doctrine. This book is for people who want a near academic level understanding of the time period.

All that being said, I truly enjoyed the book. The book offers a very detailed and personal look at the presidents. Relying on personal correspondents between presidents, diary entries, newspapers, and leading biographers. The book paints a very in depth picture of the political lives of these presidents as well as the greater political landscape at the time.

Early on it may take a few chapters for the reader to adjust to the writing style. The anecdotes included are not always linier compared to the main timeline of the book. Although this happens less and less as the book goes on.

In short I recommend this book for dedicated historians who also are dedicated readers.

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

At two hundred plus years' remove, we tend to think of the Founders as a single group, as if they were all individual slices of the same pie. Kevin Gutzman is at some pains to disabuse us of this nation. He splits out three of the Founders; Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe, making these three presidents a subgroup of their own.

These three two-term presidencies are the only span in American history where the office was occupied by members of the same party for twenty-four years; almost ten percent of our history. All three of these men were from Virginia; Jefferson and Madison were good friends, and Monroe was a student of Madison's. .This book is about the way they influenced each other, especially Thomas Jefferson, and how that translated into policies for the young country.

This is a well-researched and well-written original work of history. Considering his grasp of his subject I sincerely hope that "The Jeffersonians" lifts Gutzman to the celebrated heights of a Gordon Wood or Alan Taylor because he is a truly fine historian. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Shellbus Bog · Rating 3 out of 5]

A valuable text that is nonetheless a boring read. This is a textbook, not a biography. Not only that, but I feel like I've been subjected to some very disorganized thoughts. Entire historical tirades lead nowhere and then circle back to several years beforehand, sometimes causing a double-take as you try to assess when the heck you are. Time tends to move in one direction, so it should be pretty easy to just compile things chronologically. I got very little out of this that I couldn't get out of reading wikipedia pages followed by the first-hand quotes provided by the book. This is more like a reference text you can use once you are more thoroughly educated on each of these presidencies. It may well be a five-star compilation for enthusiasts, but for laymen like myself, it's not a particularly pleasurable experience to read. When I had reached the end of the text, I could hardly believe I had just read what was supposed to be the conclusion of the book rather than one of thousands of paragraphs somewhere in the middle.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

An acceptable overview of the Triumvirate from Virginia. Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe who lengthened and strengthened Republican rule for a quarter of a century during America’s formative stage.
The book is a good place to begin for anyone who doesn’t have a good background in US history or needs a refresher of the early Republic. However, it offers nothing groundbreaking or startling in the way of new information. Most of it could be found in a standard US history test.
I did discover one blatant mistake. Gutzman asserts that Jefferson’s wife died after complications from Maria’s birth. That is incorrect. Martha Wayles Jefferson passed away in September 1782, after Lucy’s birth a few months earlier. He also calls Maria Mary and then back to Maria with no consistency. Minor mistake, but one that should have been caught.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutzman writes a good narrative of the presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. He draws on many sources, both primary and secondary, to give a full picture of the men and their aims.
Gutzman's thesis is that the three Presidents of the Virginia Dynasty all had similar political visions, and that we can think about their six terms as one long fulfillment of the Jeffersonian vision for the federal government. While you can find support for this thesis as you read the narrative, Gutzman never really does a "hard sell" of his central idea. You might expect to find short sections in many chapters attempting to show support for his thesis, or a longer section at the end of each man's presidency, but there just isn't anything there. This weakens the book's arguing power, but its storytelling is still enjoyable, and any student of the era will enjoy this book.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great deal happens during the 24 years this book covers including the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812 and the Missouri Compromise. I found the story line fascinating as Gutzman brings the reader through each of the presidencies of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. I found it interesting how they relied on each other for advice and help with the various Constitutional questions that arose during each of their time in office. If you think the two party system is dysfunctional now, read this book and see how the Federalists and newly formed Republican party heatedly disagreed on just about everything, but most notably the role of states rights and that of the central government. The one flaw here is Guzman assumes his reader has a solid grasp of early American history details and I found myself often having to do some research to better understand the significancy of events.

[B Pastore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

I have never read an historic book about the presidents before. Mr. Gutzman - in the beginning of the book - warned that the English used in the book was from the time of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe. While this made it a little more difficult to read I found the book to be very interesting. When the book got into the law portion with the supreme court it got a little boring because it got into strict law and I did not enjoy this portion of the book (but yes - I read it all anyway!!). It was an interesting read about the politics of the presidents and I learned some new things about American history. it's not a read for everyone - but if you are into politics and American history I am sure you would enjoy the book.

Looking forward to sharing this book with our community through our Little Free Library.

[ANDREW MULBERG, · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting collection of personal writings of the Virginia dynasty well presented and informative. At times was drudgery with such prolific writing of the three presidents but was helpful to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. I am not sure for whom I have the greatest respect but likely to Monroe for several reasons including his desire to end party bickering and stupidity
Stories of the war of 1812 revealed Madison to be a poor planner for sure for an avoidable loss of life
Overall I liked the colonial past time review but the last 50’pages weee a drone of legal
Mumbo jumbo quotations and speeches and were incomprehensible

[Linda Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I learned a great deal regarding the issues of this political time span, I feel I missed comprehending much. The stilted writing style and vocabulary of both the early nineteenth century politicians and the author proved extremely difficult to navigate, even with constant dictionary usage. Many sentences had to be reread numerous times in an attempt to glean meaning which often completely eluded me.
What did stand out to me was the same extreme partisanship, sedition, hunt for power overshadowing common good, greed, and disputes over constitutional interpretations existed then and now. Little has changed.