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Founding Fathers Summary

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Joseph J. Ellis’s account of the post-revolutionary era is a recollection of the eight founding figures of this time period in addition to their achievements, beliefs, and influences. Looking back at history it’s easy to say that the creation of a nation was a clear and direct path. However, one faulty decision could have imposed catastrophic consequences on our nation to be. These “Founding Fathers” are portrayed as confident, intelligent, and balanced individuals; however we must understand that they are only human. After reading this novel, I have a full understanding of the challenges placed before the founding fathers in their attempt to build a country. Our Founding Fathers-Hamilton, Burr, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, and Madison-may …show more content…

I wholeheartedly agree with this. In the process of creating the nation, these Founding Fathers’ had to make critical decisions to create the platform for the federal government they envisioned. In this novel, he claims that the forging of personal relationships, diversity, and persistence of the Founding Fathers is the reason the federal government we have today exists. I agree with this as well. However, I don’t necessarily agree with all of Ellis’s assertions. Ellis contends that the creation of the United States was a success because the founding fathers decided to deal with the issue of Slavery in the future. I disagree. Rather, the creation of the United States was a success due to a number of factors. For one, George Washington had decided to give up his third term. Another reason would be the Founding Fathers well awareness for the state of their country to be. Now, at the time the vision of the United States was more of an idea rather than a reality. They knew how fragile and delicate the concept was at the time, so they were careful to make the best decisions for the people they represent. In addition to this, the competition between classes (banking/merchant elite), the availability of land, and the use of the Erie Canal were all contributing factors to the unification of the states. Slavery was, of course, an economic factor that they decided to set aside, to avoid conflict, however, this was not the sole reason for the success of the Union of the states. Now we all understand that the issue of Slavery gave anxiety to the Founding Fathers. Rather than dealing with the situation, the Founding Fathers set it aside. Their reason for doing so was because by forcing the question they would risk the creation of a Union by dividing the states. This question imposes the possibility of succession from the Union. Ellis has an

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The main purpose of this chapter is to determine the Founding Fathers’ motives for creating the Constitution by analyzing a secondary source by Woody Holton, and several primary sources. Frist, I will begin with the secondary source, “Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution” by Woody Holton. Mr. Holton’s main purpose was to locate the motivation behind the Constitution in developments in the states (page 90). Mr. Holton addressed several grievances for possible motives of the Founding Fathers’. First, the excessive democracy that acerbated many Americans, the runaway inflation caused by the farmers who were allowed to satisfy their debt to creditors with property and good instead of hard currency, and the Revolutionary War that

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366 Words | 2 Pages

1.Robertson states the founding fathers were politicians because they understood how to compromise, maintain political support even while conducting unpopular political activities, and balance conflicting demands. This is epitomized in James Madison because even when he did not achieve his whole goal, he still settled for “half a loaf rather than none.” His use of political strategy and willingness to compromise, shows that he and the rest of the founding fathers were not just political philosophers, scientists, or speculators, but politicians. 2.Robertson remarks some of the key reasons the founding fathers were successful in forming a new government is because during the time period they were framing the constitution there were volatile,

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During the 1970’s, Ellis emphasizes that this is the most decisive period in our nation’s history, which contains the greatest leaders of their generation. In addition, Ellis concentrates on the eight most prominent political leaders in the early republic. They are, Abigail and John Adams, Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. Consequently, these founders arose together to define the New Republic and direct its passage for the pending centuries.

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Howe, Jr. is correct, Dr. Wood does provide a deeper and accurate understanding of the principles embodied in the U.S. constitution, the nature of American politics, and the structure of American government – both state and federal – and most importantly, the relationship between the two. Furthermore, he lays down the groundwork on the real meaning of how our government came to be and who it was meant to serve, and what the American Revolution meant for our political system. The American Revolution was one of the most important events in American history. It not only created the U.S. Government and our Institutions, most importantly, it created our ideals and everything we believe as Americans. Again, the revolution WAS transformative.

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928 Words | 4 Pages

Meaning that we should look at not just what resulted from these action but also, how it may have felt for these revolutionaries to go through these trials and tribulations of a governing a new republic. The book focuses on eight prominent political leaders of that time. Who are Abigail and John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. The Book follows, as most history books do, a chronological line with the exception of the first chapter. Which Ellis states is “designed to catch your attention.”

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390 Words | 2 Pages

In his essay ‘The founding fathers: a reform caucus in action', John P. Roche describes the Founding Fathers as practical politicians that were indeed acting on behalf the citizens they represented. Roche states the founding fathers kept in mind everyone's rights while making the Constitution. He explains how James Madison drafted the Virginia Plan. Roche describes it as a ‘Political Masterstroke'.

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119 Words | 1 Pages

Founding Brothers by Joseph J. Ellis is a historically based book that explains in great detail how America came to be. In other words, the preface mentions major events, facts and people that helped make America. Some major events are The American Revolution, meetings and arguments of different groups, meetings about slavery. Many prominent people are stated. These prominent people include Abigail and John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington.

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250 Words | 1 Pages

In The Founding Fathers Reconsidered, R. B. Bernstein is seeking to remove the Founding Fathers from their elevated status without knocking them off so that we may look eye-to-eye with them rather than looking up at them. We often only recognize them for their achievements and praise them for what they have done. We do not take the time to make counter accusations against them and not only see their successes but also their failures. Bernstein is not trying to take away their achievements and label them as bad people, rather he is just trying to get a clearer picture regarding what they did. Bernstein takes the time to look at how we see them today and the words and meanings we use when talking about them.

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961 Words | 4 Pages

Quite a bit of "Establishing Brothers" depends on the Ellis' ideas into the characters of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. Ellis wrote books about these heroes, before he published the "Founding Brothers" book, in his beautiful works such as: “American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson”(1996) and “ Passionate Sage: The Character of John Adams”(1993).These two books won the National Book Award For Nonfiction. George Washington also was one of the Ellis' works. All readers, who read the biography, can believe that Ellis is expert in his field, and one who openly accept his deep respect for his works. I suggest to read this book for everyone who loves American History; even if you are not lover history.

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617 Words | 3 Pages

Most of the founding fathers believed that it was not about competition or disagreements but what will be best for our country. Samuel Adams believed that even the best laws and constitution won’t keep liberty safe, rather than the people who fight for liberty and promote its virtue will be the ones in power. The “Declaration of Independence” written by Thomas Jefferson, was a revolutionary document that declared our independence in 1776. He wrote this because they say that the King is taking away the three rights that come from God, which are, “Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of

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1106 Words | 5 Pages

The Constitution—the foundation of the American government—has been quintessential for the lives of the American people for over 200 years. Without this document America today would not have basic human rights, such as those stated in the Bill of Rights, which includes freedom of speech and religion. To some, the Constitution was an embodiment of the American Revolution, yet others believe that it was a betrayal of the Revolution. I personally believe that the Constitution did betray the Revolution because it did not live up to the ideals of the Revolution, and the views of the Anti-Federalists most closely embodied the “Spirit of ‘76.” During the midst of the American Revolution, authors and politicians of important documents, pamphlets, and slogans spread the basis for Revolutionary ideals and defined what is known as the “Spirit of ‘76”.

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985 Words | 4 Pages

The founding fathers were smart men who the world looked up to because of their smart decisions, actions, that directed the U.S. to what it is today. But sadly in today’s society most people either have forgotten the things they did for us, or they just do not care. The founding fathers were great men who led this country to victory in war and on the political front. And often early U.S. history is portrayed as moving smoothly for the colonies turning into the a country of its own , but in reality it was just the opposite. George Washington our first president had problems figuring out ways to control the new nation as it progressed under his leadership.

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434 Words | 2 Pages

It was a well thought plan in order to unite the South and the North. Furthermore, the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, was passed by Congress in 1865 (Norton,

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705 Words | 3 Pages

William Novak presents an argument on how the history of American government has been told upside-down for many years now. Novak depicts a mighty American state, capable of a great deal and responsible for some of the most important narratives in American history. However, there were many people, of whom had great interest in the founding fathers, were irritated by Novak’s argument. The main group of people being referred to here were people from the Tea Party political movement.

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1194 Words | 5 Pages

Uniting Americans under one common set of values would strengthen the country and allow for the United States to become the new land of freedom and equality that had been envisioned. Another man famous for questioning what the new ‘America’ was to be was Daniel Shays. In 1787 he, among four other men, speak out against what they saw as the threat of imminent tyranny to Hampshire declaring “… the people of the county of Hampshire immediately assemble in arms, to support and maintain, not only the rights and liberties of the people...” . Still, even with the push for an American nationalism by Federalists, the states saw the federal government as a means for tyranny and complete control over the states. Having just recently fought for their independence from a different tyrannical power, the strong sense of pride for their countrymen and state prompted each state to look inwards for government rather than to a higher power.

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