Customer Reviews

Founders: The People Who Brought You a Nation (The New Press)

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American history has always been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. What I love about this book that sets it apart from the majority of books on American history and the fight for independence is how Ray Raphael brings to life some of the lesser known men who have by and large been ignored. Like John Dickinson who in 1775, with Jefferson, wrote a Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms. He was one of a few who actually didn't think separating from Britain would be a good thing.

The other men in the book are so interesting to read about since history classes tend to focus on the well known founding fathers. Thus if you want a book that will fill in many a gap per American history this is a must read.

Founders: The People Who Brought You a Nation is an immensely readable, up-close and personal portrait of seven crucial individuals among a "sampling of Revolutionary Americans", the type of people who are all but overlooked in the wake of legends such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. For example, Robert Morris was the wealthy merchant whose personal credit helped keep the emerging nation of America solvent; his critical contribution to America's stability is all but unknown today. The other personages portrayed are private Jospeh Plumb Martin, who served in Washington's army and chronicled his battle experience; Mercy Otis Warren, a political woman who wrote one of the first histories of America; Timothy Bigelow, a blacksmith who resisted British authority the year before Lexington and Concord; conservative Henry Laurens of South Carolina, a prisoner of Britain; Thomas Young, a country doctor who advocated revolution. The quintessential founding father George Washington himself is also portrayed, in this aptly researched, riveting account of a handful of the people who labored and paid with their blood for America's independence. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American History shelves.

Did you know that the American colonists didn't want (at first) independence from England, but to have the same rights as natural born Englishmen? Loyalty to the English Crown ran high, and even after the battles of Lexington and Concord had ended, the Continental Congress had yet to fully consider the idea of independence. Over the centuries complex events get distilled down to, well, essentially myths embodied by a few individuals or events. This history will exorcise some of those myths from your brain while keeping you proud of your country.

In many ways the American Revolution swelled up from the people, not led by the "founding fathers". And that is the angle of Founders. It's a history of the people, for the people!

And, if you cringe when the History channel shows Ice Road Truckers, you might enjoy this book.

I found this book to be most enjoyable. The author brings a different perspective through the eyes of participants in the American Revolution of various social rank. This book drives home the message, and supports with facts, that the Revolution was truly a bottom up event driven by thousands of common citizens fed up with the excess of the British King and Parliament. It is well written and easy to read. If you are a lover of American History and would like a different perspective on the Revolution, I recommend this book for your reading pleasure.

This is the story of the founding of the United States of America, but it is presented in more detail than usual. The major heroes of the Revolutionary and Federalist periods--Washington, Madison, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, and John Adams-- are all included, but we are also introduced to Private Joseph Plumb Martin, Mercy Otis Warren, Robert Morris, Colonel Timothy Bigelow, Continental Congress President Henry Laurens, and Dr. Thomas Young who all played important, though often neglected roles in the founding of our country. More that the usual attention is given to places like Worcester and Plymouth, Massachusetts and Charleston, South Carolina and the overall effect is the creation of a depth of understanding which is not available in most history books.

I gave this as gift to my father and he loves it. As a history buff this book has plenty of great reading for him to enjoy.

It also includes some info about George Washington, who wanted to claim 100,000 acres or so in Ohio, but the British wouldn't let him.

1/3 of all adult males in a county show up (armed) to protest Crown Appointment of local officials.

A mob burns down an official's house.

Et, etc.

But, I must confess...... I bought this primarily because it included Dr. Thomas Young, my G-G-G-Grandfather