Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation: Summary

The novel I have selected is Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation; I selected this novel because I’m intrigued about the history of how our country was founded and about the days of trying to keep it together after our new found independence was gained. In the novel, one of the first key points highlighted was how some of the leaders of the time period wanted to become their own country while others had no intentions of becoming an independent country once the succeeded from England. After the war, the colonists began to realize how quickly their government was crumbling, so they needed a miracle to happen for them. That miracle happened when the Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia. There, the Constitution was developed, and it not only led the way for our country, but it also is the goal for new independent countries forming from there on out. Although rather bright and happy, the United States government has had its fair share of dark stories. One of the most known dark secret is the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. This duel was planned to resolve problems between the two, and possibly fix any political issues between their parties. Hamilton seemed to truly want to resolve any situations, but according to history, Burr had other ideas. The two men were supposed to fire at each other from a ten step distance, and shots were fired. The truth behind what happened remains a secret to Americans until this day. Hamilton was fatally wounded, and he passed away the following day. Once news surfaced over this mishap, Burr, the vice-president at the time, was not able to regain his political status. Burr was not charged and tried for murder because the witnesses of the duel stated both men fired shots, but the speculations have continued for years since. It all lies in the past of America, and it may never officially be solved. Rewinding a few years, the novel covers an event in American history that was meant to lead the country in a new direction with our new status of being a nation. Thomas Jefferson hosted a dinner between himself, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Hamilton was trying to propose a financial plan for the new nation, but Madison’s southern states were rejecting it. Jefferson wished to be a mediator between the two, and he decided to host the dinner to calm any bad blood between the men. By the end of the dinner, Madison decided he would not influence the southerners’ votes, and Hamilton decided he would use his leverage to place the new capital in a favorable place for the south. Unfortunately, not all of the country’s situations could not be settled over a dinner. One of the greatest examples that took drastic measures to be solved was slavery. The …show more content…
He was willingly giving up his position as President of the United States, and this farewell unofficially set the two-term rule for a presidency. He was seen as one of the greatest men alive because of all he achieved before the country was founded, during the war, and even after the war. George Washington was such a respected man that the capital was named after him! In the book, it is noted that Washington’s health and physical nature were declining rapidly, and many believe that he resigned because he feared dying in office. Due to the way he left, and did not act as a monarch, it taught many that presidents were replaceable, and that the country did not need to fret because he was resigning from office. Furthermore, whenever Washington left office the country was in turmoil over who would lead them next. Due to the recent war affairs, the citizens based their votes more on the revolutionary credits rather than political standpoints. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were, without a doubt, two of the best candidates for the role of president. These two men were friends and collaborators who worked together to shape the country in the beginning stages, and not they were running against each other to lead the country. Both men campaigned for Washington to lead the war and later lead the country. During their runs for