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 The Founding Fathers, Neither Jeckels nor Hydes September 29, 2008
This is a great addition to the history books covering the founding of our nation. Ellis covers the facts and corrects the fictions have become lore, and does so in a manner that is interesting and revealing. The Founding Fathers were neither geniuses who walked on water with the foresight of gods; nor were they evil white men hell-bent on establishing a utopia for themselves only. Yes, they were remarkable men with great talent, but they were men nonetheless, with weaknesses and inconsistencies. Ellis bears this out as he describes the various key events at the birth of the country: Valley Forge (not exactly what you thought it was); the Constitutional Convention and others. With skillful writing, Ellis brings to life all the important characters, and the character flaws, of the revolution: Washington, Jefferson, Madison, et al, and shows us how they made the best of an uncertain situation, and, in an almost ad hoc manner, put in place the foundation that has brought this country to where it is today, via an almost predictable path along a rough yet flexible route, where slavery, Indian decimation and the marginalization of women, would ride parallel besides a republican state, the establishment of separate branches of government, and the introduction of a two party system.
It is fascinating to read about the thought processes of these men, particularly James Madison, and how they struggled both privately and publically to achieve their goals, while maintaining consistency between each epochal event which with they were confronted. This book is a must read for any student of the revolution and its founding fathers.
 A great starting point July 27, 2008
Admittedly, there's not much new here, but this concise, well written, thought provoking book still serves as an excellent introduction to the many complex issues faced by the founding generation. The chapters on early U. S.-Native American relations, and the Louisiana Purchase were particularly illuminating.
brilliant as usual July 16, 2008
I have read so much about this time period that only Joseph Ellis will give me an excuse to once again read about early US history.
The problem with most popular historic studies is that it tends to be littered with the adjectives of "brave, bold, noble, patriotic, heroic, etc." and therefore eliminates the objective analysis that provokes examination of the situation. Ellis examined Valley Forge, American and Native American treaties, the Constitutional convention and of course the Purchase with a scholarly perspective that always teaches me a bit more about the time period that most books ever do. I never grow bored with Ellis because he really digs into the matter. For example, every book that talks about Articles Of Confederation gives off the idea that it was both inevitable and the ONLY reality. In this book, Ellis points out what probably would have happened if the Articles stated in place and the realization that most supported the Articles as a function of the Revolution. The Constitution was seen by many as a threat to political balance -- something I always knew but had never seen brought beyond a foot note. This is when Ellis is at his finest. We are seeing the implications of this today with the reintroduction of imperial president.
Now if Ellis will write that biography of Benjamin Franklin that he has talked about in the past, I will so be there to read it.
 Creation minus One July 8, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Joseph Ellis is a well-known writer of popular histories, winner of both the Pulitzer and the National Book Award, so I began American Creation with high expectations. Of course, the major players at the Founding have filled countless books. As the author points out, it's tough to even-handedly write about men who were early cast as heroes or villains in our now almost mythological past. Like his "Founding Brothers," "American Creation" is a series of sketches. Each chapter examines the principal actors at a pivotal moment in the history of the Founding. Ellis begins with Adams, subject of his "Passionate Sage," then moves to the equally familiar Washington, the subject of "His Excellency." Next is James Madison, who was, briefly, during the Constitutional Convention, less Virginian than Nationalist. Rarely mentioned failures are also included in Ellis' story: the treaty-by-treaty betrayal of the Native Americans, and the avoidance of the slavery issue in order to win ratification for the Constitution. The evolution of political parties, and the author's fascination with the brilliant, slippery Jefferson segues into a final chapter on the Louisiana Purchase. In that one stroke, America changed from coastline bound Republic to continental Empire. What was missing-and what I expected from any book titled "American Creation" was the usual--any discussion of the innovative economic foundation upon which the modern U.S. stands. To any reader interested in this essential topic, the dollars and cents as well as the high flown ideals, I'd suggest Forrest McDonald's "Hamilton." Professor McDonald is a fierce partisan of his currently unpopular hero, but his discussion of the financial miracle Hamilton worked, saving the new born republic and laying the groundwork for the Purchase, is succinct and illuminating.
Historical Op-Ed. June 17, 2008
What issues did the Founding Father face and how did they see and approach them? In "American Creation" author Joseph Ellis focuses on the setting, ideas, arguments, dilemmas, and solutions to some of the key issues that faced Founding Fathers during the early period from the 1775-1776 debates leading to the Declaration Independence up to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.The book is more of a lecture series or one-way conversation to the reader than an historical account of the era. Ellis works to get us in the minds of the Founding Fathers as they struggled with the steps of breaking ground and building a revolutionary republic. During the period leading up to the Declaration of Independence, we see how individual rights came to be guaranteed by the Federal government rather than only the States. Later in the Valley Forge period, Washington and his officers came to see the budding nation as one entity and developed the "War of Posts" strategy, a Fabian approach that took advantage of the huge space available and wore the British down. In fact the concept of "space," both in terms of the large geographical territory and also separation from European conflicts and entanglements is one of the reasons for the success of the new nation. Upon the successful conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the argument of Federal versus States supremacy continued through the Constitutional Convention, Indian policy, the formation of political parties, and the Louisiana Purchase with the arguments unresolved. Although Ellis despairs over the failure to reach a lasting and just Indian treaty, the most harmful failure was the continuation and advance of slavery to new territories. Ellis theorizes that the preservation of slavery provided a powerful unspoken impetus for the States Right movement and the rise of the Jeffersonian Republicans. With the Louisiana Purchase, Ellis advances makes the point that the kindling to start the Civil War got its spark when the new territories were not closed to slavery. One chapter describes how Alexander Hamilton and James Madison collaborated on the Federalist Papers and efforts to ratify the constitution. That the Virginian Madison then joined Jefferson's camp seems to leave Ellis dissappointed and dismayed. Thomas Jefferson has taken quite a beating in recent years and "American Creation" continues the trend as Ellis believes his progressive ideas seemed to be for White people only. However, I am sure there are more sides to the story and will soon read a sympathetic Jefferson biography. Perhaps this is just a swing of the historians' pendulum and we will see rehabilitation in the future. I enjoyed "American Creation," and found it stimulating, but consider it just as much a series of "Op-Ed" pieces as history. Nevertheless, Ellis is an excellent writer and makes his case well.
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