ipl-logo

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation: Book Report

541 Words3 Pages

Daniella Caraveo
Mr. Meilke
Dual Credit World History
October 24, 2015
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation Critique
Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation was a non-fiction historical analysis written by Joseph J. Ellis, a professor and historian. This novel focuses on eight of the most influential individuals- Abigail and John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington. Ellis considers these political leaders and their contributions to the early development of America by examining how their “diversity of personalities and ideologies” was the reason for success, along with their “correspond[ance] with one another about private as well as public matters”, and their ability to “manage the most threatening and divisive issue off the public agenda..slavery” (Ellis 17).
The author, Ellis, is a dedicated professor and historian focused on those who founded the United States of America. Ellis’ purpose for writing is to explore the different founding fathers and their interactions with each other and examine how these …show more content…

Hamilton was “dashing and consistently audacious style developed as a willful personal wager against the odds of his impoverished origins,” while Burr originated from a more “distinguished bloodline, which gave his aristocratic bearing its roots and biological rationale (Ellis 22).” Both Hamilton and Burr had strict opposing political outlooks, and neither of them were afraid to say exactly what they were thinking, which inevitably caused “a duel of words (Ellis 32).” The “culmination of long-standing personal animosity and political disagreement” subsequently caused the “supercharged political culture of the early republic (Ellis

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Judith St. George's The Duel

    210 Words  | 1 Pages

    Judith St. George wrote a book called The Duel about the parallel lives of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. In the book, with 2 different lenses, she talks about them being students. Burr and hamilton had similar experiences but St. George wanted us to see how they are different as well. At only the age of 13, Burr got accepted to the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton. Hamilton's lens was different.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation By Joseph J. Ellis

    1034 Words  | 5 Pages

    Ellis’s thesis for the book Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation was that the United States of America was not the way it is today which is a strong “united” nation that does discriminate. Also, related to that thesis Ellis believed that in the only way in which the United States to work out as a strong country all the states are going to have to remain together and worked as one. I believe that Ellis was right by writing the book under the thesis that the United States of America would have never worked out to be the strong nation that it is today if it were not for all of the states working together as one a compromising. In other words, our country would have never become the great country that it is today if it was not for all the states working together and compromising in order to have the government that we have today. Also, the author more than likely wrote this book to show people that if it were not for the events and discoveries that are included in the book we would have never been what we are today which is a great powerful

    Read More

  • 'Founding Brothers,' By Joseph Ellis

    239 Words  | 1 Pages

    Despite the thirteen colonies defeating Great Britain and gaining independence, new problems erupted regarding how their new nation should be governed. Founding Brothers, written by Joseph Ellis, highlights the challenges the founding fathers faced when attempting to establish a functioning government. Although there were many differing ideas, the widely known men discovered a middle ground allowing them to combat the challenges both at home and abroad, which resulted in the United States of America. Compromises were reached when solving a conflict, but before that stage, the founding brothers had many differing ideas preventing them to move forward. For example, the Compromise of 1790 was discussed with Madison and Hamilton over dinner hosted

    Read More

  • Misconceptions In Hamilton By Lin Manuel Marinda

    432 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Hamilton” is a popular musical created by Lin-Manuel Marinda, based on the political career of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers of the United States, but is not completely and truly told leaving misconceptions about some things to be left floating around. Regardless of its praise and success, some viewers of the musical could experience misconceptions and confusion about the events that led to the famous duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Although the musical accurately presents many historical facts and personal characteristics of the characters, the portrayal of events and characters’ personalities could lead to a misrepresentation of the events that affected the outcome of the duel. The portrayal of Burr could also cause confusion and misconceptions about his true intentions,

    Read More

  • Ira Stoll's Samuel Adams: A Life

    748 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Samuel Adams: A Life, author Ira Stoll begins Adams’s biography with a prelude explaining the purpose of his book: to describe Samuel Adams, tell why history has largely forgotten him, and serve as a reminder for why we should remember him. On the whole, Stoll is true to his promise; he writes of Adams’s life, pulling accounts from Adams’s contemporaries as well as using excerpts of Adams’s personal correspondence and his numerous newspaper publications. Stoll’s research is evident in that he includes the opinions and research of other historians and Samuel Adams biographers. Stoll’s biography follows Samuel Adams from childhood to death, and thus essentially tells of the origins and formation of the United States. The biography is compelling,

    Read More

  • Aaron Burr Feud Research Paper

    1128 Words  | 5 Pages

    In order to understand why and how the feud took place between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr we must walk behind the footsteps of each man before they pulled the trigger on July

    Read More

  • Differences Between Hamilton And Thomas Jefferson

    742 Words  | 3 Pages

    Outstanding men once fought for the rights of a country, they fought for the idea to become one, the United States of America´s independence took place throughout a number of steps and lasted many years. The revolution was impulsed by brave men who knew what they wanted and fought for their dreams. Among brilliant men, clever ideas differed from each other, and was this difference who led the country to succeed in independence. The Great Fathers who fought together seeking the independence of millions, separated after the mission was achieved.

    Read More

  • Summary Of Gordan's Wood

    599 Words  | 3 Pages

    This book attempts to grasp beneath the many images and representatives of Franklin that have happened over the past two hundred years and recover Franklin who would become a symbolic American Founding Father. Franklin was not even destined to be an American, but this book is about how he became one. Gordan S Wood was a fellow at the institute for United States studies in London in 2002. This book was printed by the penguin press in 2004. He is now an author and professor.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson Biography Essay

    1112 Words  | 5 Pages

    Thomas Jefferson was one of most influential Founding Fathers during the American Revolution. As the child of an early settler, he knew firsthand the difficulties of settling in an unknown frontier, in which he showed great leadership. This essential quality helped him become one of the most highly-educated Americans of the 1760s. One of the pinnacles to his political career was his writing of the Declaration of Independence, which he wrote entirely based off of his philosophical ideals and the notions of the Founding Fathers. His position in government, most notably his success as a president, actuated his everlasting impression on society.

    Read More

  • The Founding Brothers Summary

    1081 Words  | 5 Pages

    In The Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J Ellis, the founders of America-Washington, The Adams, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and Burr-are discussed and examined from top to bottom. He goes back in time and goes over the events that took place then, explaining to the reader how the decisions the leaders made created the ripple effect that it had on the current time period. Periods in the timeline such as Washington retiring from The Presidency, The arguing between the North and South side over African slave trade, and the issue of the countries national debt are examples of what he discusses. As the book progresses, the reader is given a chance to view the timeline of events from a modern perspective, and

    Read More

  • Joanne Freeman's Affairs Of Honor

    994 Words  | 4 Pages

    After a series of “paper wars” between the political opponents, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, which Hamilton accepted. According to Freeman, Hamilton accepted Burr’s challenge for a number of reasons. “In his mind, the duel; was a praiseworthy attempt to serve the common good... yet it was also an intensely personal attempt to preserve his public career. To prove to the world, and to himself, that he was a man of his word, a man of courage and principle, a leader.”

    Read More

  • Aaron Burr Analysis

    677 Words  | 3 Pages

    Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr Sir? Burr: That depends, who’s asking? Hamilton:

    Read More

  • Biography Of James Madison: The Father Of The Constitution

    159 Words  | 1 Pages

    James Madison was the fourth president of the United States, but he's most likely best known as "the father of the Constitution" who helped bring America the Bill of Rights. In his biography of the diminutive statesman, Richard Brookhiser argues that Madison was more than that — he was also the father of American politics. Madison co-founded what was then called the Republican Party (the precursor to today's Democratic Party) and was one of the first Americans to notice — and harness — the power of public opinion. While some books about the founding fathers tend toward hagiography, Brookhiser's portrait of Madison is fair-minded but sometimes critical — he takes a somewhat dim view of Madison's two-term presidency, but still treats his subject

    Read More

  • Brief Summary Of Joseph Ellis Founding Brothers

    622 Words  | 3 Pages

    Founding Brothers In the "Founding Brothers" by Joseph Ellis he tries to tell us a story about our founding fathers and their great generation. He tells us about some of our founding fathers and what they had to do to set the frame work for our government today. He also talks about some of the issues they face and how they will later dissolve into issues to follow later. These leaders are considered to be our revolutionary leaders. They argued that succession from the British empire is enviable.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Thomas Jefferson

    854 Words  | 4 Pages

    Edward Mitchell 10/22/2016 English 10 Essay Unit 1 Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson played a large role in motivating the fight toward freedom in the weeks leading up to the Revolutionary War and immediately following it. Each believed in the fundamental right to be free from rule. Patrick Henry appealed to the people’s fear of war. Thomas Jefferson was able to convince people that together, they could form a new nation. The writings of each man reveals a very chaotic time in America’s history and the leadership, determination, and boldness of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson ensured that when change came, the people were ready for it.

    Read More

More about Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation: Book Report

Open Document