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Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation

by: Joseph J. Ellis

: Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.40922
EAN: 9780375705243
ISBN: 0375705244
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 304
Publication Date: February 05, 2002
Publisher: Vintage
Release Date: February 05, 2002
Sales Rank: 1749
Studio: Vintage



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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
In this landmark work of history, the National Book Award—winning author of American Sphinx explores how a group of greatly gifted but deeply flawed individuals–Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison–confronted the overwhelming challenges before them to set the course for our nation.

The United States was more a fragile hope than a reality in 1790. During the decade that followed, the Founding Fathers–re-examined here as Founding Brothers–combined the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the content of the Constitution to create the practical workings of our government. Through an analysis of six fascinating episodes–Hamilton and Burr’s deadly duel, Washington’s precedent-setting Farewell Address, Adams’ administration and political partnership with his wife, the debate about where to place the capital, Franklin’s attempt to force Congress to confront the issue of slavery and Madison’s attempts to block him, and Jefferson and Adams’ famous correspondence–Founding Brothers brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in our nation’s history.


Amazon.com Review:
In retrospect, it seems as if the American Revolution was inevitable. But was it? In Founding Brothers, Joseph J. Ellis reveals that many of those truths we hold to be self-evident were actually fiercely contested in the early days of the republic.

Ellis focuses on six crucial moments in the life of the new nation, including a secret dinner at which the seat of the nation's capital was determined--in exchange for support of Hamilton's financial plan; Washington's precedent-setting Farewell Address; and the Hamilton and Burr duel. Most interesting, perhaps, is the debate (still dividing scholars today) over the meaning of the Revolution. In a fascinating chapter on the renewed friendship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson at the end of their lives, Ellis points out the fundamental differences between the Republicans, who saw the Revolution as a liberating act and hold the Declaration of Independence most sacred, and the Federalists, who saw the revolution as a step in the building of American nationhood and hold the Constitution most dear. Throughout the text, Ellis explains the personal, face-to-face nature of early American politics--and notes that the members of the revolutionary generation were conscious of the fact that they were establishing precedents on which future generations would rely.

In Founding Brothers, Ellis (whose American Sphinx won the National Book Award for nonfiction in 1997) has written an elegant and engaging narrative, sure to become a classic. Highly recommended. --Sunny Delaney



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Ellis' Founding Brothers should be on any book list
Simply constructed, well researched and delightfully written, Founding Brothers reads like a news ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - The Struggle For Equality and Freedom Continues
In this book author Joseph J. Ellis takes a look at the founding fathers which makes you see them ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - great book
This was a birthday present for my hubby who is a history nut. By the 2nd chapter he was hooked. He ... Read More


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars - Sibling Rivalry
It looked a lot prettier in those Gilbert Stuart and John Trumbull paintings. If there's an overall ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Really there was no syllabus to follow!
Joseph Ellis has written another book which is completely different than all his other historical ... Read More

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