History of the United States

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Book Report: Founding Brothers
‘Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation` was written by Ellis, John Joseph and published by Vintage publishers in 2002. The book covers a total 304 pages and tells the story of the lives of American founders Aaron burr, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. To Ellis these figures represented, ‘America`s first and, in many respects, its only natural aristocracy` (13).
John Ellis focused on six separate moments which exemplified the most important issues that faced the young nation, which include Burr and Hamilton`s duel and what may have conspired. Secondly, Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson`s secret diner, in which the permanent seat`s capital was determined in exchange of the financial plan by Hamilton. Thirdly, the author explored Franklin`s petition concerning the ending of slavery and Madison`s efforts to overturn this petition. Fourthly, Washington`s farewell party in which he announced his retirement, and Adam`s troubled term and his scheme to have his son succeed him. Finally, the book looked at Jefferson and Adams` correspondence which they used to make comparisons of their views of the revolution.
The book is an engaging and lively narrative used by the author to recount the collaboration and archly between the founding fathers. Additionally, Ellis explored each issue based on the private character of the characters that was far from the public persona. On the other hand, Burr was presented as a smooth, crafty and a despised public figure of the time. Mean while, Hamilton presented by the novel as an audacious character with a profound economic sense that covered his humble origins. Jefferson was depicted by Ellis as the ever eloquent gentleman, who was also reclusive and taciturn which made him rarely speak publicly. Madison was presented as small and shy but the most efficient debater of the time and lastly Washington was reflected as the realist who lived on the principle larger than life.
John Ellis main theme in the book was that, the checks and balances which allowed young America to last, were not primarily constitutional, legal or institutional but rather personal. These checks and balances also depended on the deep rooted dynamic nature of the interaction of leaders who had diverse values and visions. Therefore, the author revisits the idea that character does matter, as the book informs on the forces that shaped American political history. The intention of Ellis was to bring fresh insight into topics that were already well known like those of Hamilton and Burr`s duel and the thoughts of Jefferson towards slavery. This is derived from his remarks in the forward, where Ellis sought to make, ‘a polite argument against the scholarly grain` (xi). Therefore, the central theme that runs throughout the book is that of the frailty of the early years of young America.
The counter theme in the book is the presentation of Adam`s wife Abigail, as a ‘founding brother` though she was a woman who did not hold any official position. The assumption made by the author is that the Abigail Adams was an addition to the brothers, and who was a principle factor behind the creation and sustenance of the political culture. To fit into this role, Ellis made us of Abigail`s character to reveal Adam as the combative iconoclast who enjoyed the political collaboration and opinions of his wife. Personality influences over political history of America are also accredited by Ellis to Abigail Adams, who is referred to her husband`s ‘chief domestic minister without portfolio` (189), who had decisive roles along with her husband`s presidential decisions. Ellis argues that though Abigail kept Adams from many errors, she also contributed to some serious political and national mistakes.
Ellis approaches the American Revolution in the 1970s through a series of set pieces which he used to make conclusions about the political culture of young American its young leaders assisted in creating. Ellis finds the period prior and during 1776 and the characters as important to the creation of America history since, ‘the signers of the declaration would … have been hunted down, tried, and executed for treason, and American history would have flowed forward in a wholly different direction` (5). Ellis made use of the motif of paired personas to reflect the political will towards the creation of a nation that was defining its capital, the position of African Americans in the society and foreign policy conducts. This pairing of characters is defined by Ellis as a type of independent force which fueled the young American nation, as, ‘their interactions and juxtapositions generated a dynamic form of balance and equilibrium` (17). Additionally, Ellis`s intent was also how the founders helped shape America during and following the period of American Revolution, by also focusing on the party factionalism which was strong factor in the development of American politics. Towards this Ellis wrote,
‘the dominant intellectual legacy of the revolution, enshrined in the declaration of independence, stigmatized all concentrated political power and even … depicted any energetic expression of governmental authority as an alien force that all responsible citizens ought t repudiate and, if possible, overthrow` (11).