Founding Brothers is a key piece of literature based on American history basing upon six decisive and discrete moments in the most important decade in our nation's history because these events affect the outcome of the once fragile republican nation. Most of the chapters in the book centers on behind the scenes collaborations and antagonistic interactions between the revolutionary generation, and how these great statesmen defined the new republic and directed its course through many generations.
The Seven Founding Brothers being carefully examined in the book are John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington, even though Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, is also included in a couple of chapters in the book. Founding Brothers consists of six chapters each outlining key events in the aftermath of the American Revolution, with a prelude that carefully describes the generation and how they came together during the American Revolution. Founding Brothers describes issues ranging from arguments, slavery issues, states and federal power, checks and balances, location of the capital, presidency, and friendship. These above issues truly describe the balance of the American Revolution and how these statesmen steered the new borne nation.
The Preface outlines the American Revolution as well as the seven statesmen's lives and the position for presidency filled by Washington. The first chapter, The Duel, introduces the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr and outlines detailed evidence of arguments between them as well as how they intended to resolve the differences. Subsequent chapters exemplify the secret negotiation between Thomas Jefferson and Hamilton to settle the issue of state power and the location of the capital. The Silence, one of the longest chapters, explains the Congress' views on the slave trade as well as the issue of continuing slavery, and the Congress finally decided to postpone these issues until the nation has stabilized further. Washington's Farewell and resignation of presidency sets a precedent for the two term presidency in The Farewell chapter. Jefferson and Adams, long time friends and partners, drift apart in "The Collaborators" to lead the Federalist and Republican parties, while Adams wins the presidency by working with Abigail, his wife, Jefferson slanders Adams and the rift is furthered, friends became enemies. In the Final Chapter, the Friendship, these long term enemies become friends again and seal the legacy of the founding brothers.
Joseph Ellis's Founding Brothers is a small but highly enlightening book on the revolutionary generation. This book is riveting because it shows that we have learned to successfully form a democracy through the American Revolution and resolve political issues without duels. The author's detailed chapters are great insights to these six decisive moments in American history, even though some of the chapters are tedious to read simply because of its great detail and length. Founding Brothers is accurate in describing the history after the American Revolution through its detailed backhand dealings between the political figures, Congressional views, and the political turmoil existing in the nation at the time.
The author approaches each of the six chapters in the book in a professional and editorial-like manner, addressing each of the Founding Fathers in third person point of view. Joseph is unbiased toward any political figures even though certain political issues are written in bias against the British government, but with the point of view from the one or more of the key figures in the generation. The author's motives for writing this book can be interpreted from reading the book itself, Ellis wants to demonstrate and explain the actions of each of the Founding Fathers in detail as well as outline the political issues revolving in the nation around that time, and the author has done just that.
The most significant feature of Founding Brothers is the fact that the concept of democracy was still new back during the American Revolution, and Ellis clearly demonstrated the decisions and steering of the American nation by the generation through their actions, letters, arguments, and collaborations. The author's opinion doesn't affect the tone or the style of the book, nor the accuracy. Founding Brothers is an exceptional work of art because it outlines the key moments after the American Generation as well as the political struggle within parties and political figures.
Founding Brothers requires time and some understanding of the American Revolution prior to reading the book to really learn from it, but after reading Founding Brothers, it's really rewarding to learn all the information contained in the book as well as grasp the aftermath of the American Revolution more clearly. The Founding Generation is also further examined in the book and their characters can be exposed to the reader. Joseph Ellis informs our understanding of the politics in America -past, present, and future- and gives us an idea of the forces that shape our history. Founding Brothers is truly a fresh look at the minds of the Founding Fathers.
Ellis has recounted the interactions between the seven men and showed us the private characters behind the public personas, revisiting the old idea that character matters, and it's considered to be a masterpiece on American History. The author's other works and biographies also center on American History as well as its political figures, he has dedicated himself to history as well as teaching others about it through his books. As a reviewer once said, Ellis has a Jeffersonian gift for language.
