Forgotten Founders: How the American Indian Helped Shape Democracy [Paperback]

Bruce E. Johansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1982

How Native Americans contributed to the early American Republic and its Constitution.

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press (November 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916782905
• ISBN-13: 978-0916782900
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book. Essential reading for all Americans, October 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Forgotten Founders: How the American Indian Helped Shape Democracy (Paperback)

I read this book with awe. It is carefully researched with rich archival and primary sources. It is well written and filled with insightful observations in every chapter. It is necessary read for all Americans, in fact all who care about government. If you feel that something special happened on this continent, but are not sure about the details of what took place, this book will reinforce the ideal that democracy as an institution came from America. Europeans had no idea how a government by the people could possibly succeed. The native Americans long experimented with a form of representative government that was grassroots, not top down as practiced in Europe. The framers of the constitution fully appreciated the form of government practiced by the native Americans incorporated those ideals into the founding documents of our nation. This book will fill a gap in education and make you proud of practicing a form of government that originated with the native people of America. It is a spirit of government that at its best is the ideal of all the common people of the earth. To remain free of tyranny, each generation of citizens needs to relearn the founding principles of our form of government. This is an extraordinary starting point.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all Americans, June 10, 2003

By 

Professor_Void - See all my reviews

This review is from: Forgotten Founders: How the American Indian Helped Shape Democracy (Paperback)

This is an amazing book! I stumbled across it while looking into the "silly rumor" that the US Constitution was based on Native-American beliefs.

This book tells a factual, fast-paced story about how the Founding Fathers (Franklin, Jefferson, et al) were influenced by the Native-Americans. I am still in awe. Every American needs to hear this story. It makes me wonder what else was I wasn't taught in school.

If you have any interest in US history, government, or philosophy--read this book.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In search of "Liberty", March 21, 2000

By 

Robert Harper "spirit caller" (The woods of Maine) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Forgotten Founders: How the American Indian Helped Shape Democracy (Paperback)

While researching a tretise on the American concept of "Liberty" I came across this book. It is well written and provides and easy going but eye opening view of the native american contribution to this basic American concept. Although much of the mainstream literature in political theory and moral philosophy leads to European sources this little gem is equal to all.