American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic (Hardcover)

from theageofsilt

Ellis seeks to move away from the notion that the Founding Fathers were all-wise and all-knowing to focus on the issues that shaped our nationhood. The tension between state and federal government, between government and citizen shaped the framework of our government and the very lack of resoluti...

from Jarratt

This book seeks to somewhat succinctly answer the question: How did America's founding happen? Author Joseph Ellis then tries to answer the question with six chapters: The Year (April 1775 - July 1776), covering the decision of our founders to free themselves from British rule; The Winter, which ...

from santhony

Having read biographies of Washington, Jefferson, Adams and Hamilton and Vidal's quasi-fictional work on Burr, in addition to other works by McCollough on the revolutionary era, I was far from impressed by the beginnings of this work by Joseph Ellis. You can only rehash the same history from ever...

from addunn3

Ellis explores in depth six topics around the founding of US, such as the handling of Indians, the Purchase, the creation of two parties, and slavery. Interesting perspective on topics long since stereotyped in school and our culture. The true stories are much more interesting. Well written, thou...

from EvaCatHerder

This is an incredibly well-written and thought-provoking book. I spent a couple of semesters in graduate school reading and thinking about the formation of the US Constitution and both historical and contemporary interpretations of the founding fathers' intentions. This book was easily the most r...