Whiskey, War and Whigs - Great Books On The Founding of the United States?
May 14, 2011 6:32 PM Subscribe
Looking For Great Books About The Founding of the United States
Just started reading The Whiskey Rebellion, by William Hogeland and it's an amazing, well-written book about the heady years following the War for Independence.
It got me really interested in the characters, ideologies and economics of what it took to create the U.S. in the 1700's.
Would love rec's on great biographies, political histories and cultural works from this perspective and time period.
Just started reading The Whiskey Rebellion, by William Hogeland and it's an amazing, well-written book about the heady years following the War for Independence.
It got me really interested in the characters, ideologies and economics of what it took to create the U.S. in the 1700's.
Would love rec's on great biographies, political histories and cultural works from this perspective and time period.
The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution.
Also a decent listen in audio format.
posted by Kandarp Von Bontee at 7:22 PM on May 14, 2011
Also a decent listen in audio format.
posted by Kandarp Von Bontee at 7:22 PM on May 14, 2011
The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
posted by cinemafiend at 8:47 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cinemafiend at 8:47 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't know if it counts as a "great book", but I really enjoyed "Angel in the Whirlwind".
It spends more time on George Washington than anyone else, and I came out of reading it thinking just how astoundingly lucky this country was to have such an amazing man in the right time and place. It's no hyperbole to say that without Washington, the whole thing probably would have failed. If there ever has been such a thing as an indispensible man, it was him.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:24 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
It spends more time on George Washington than anyone else, and I came out of reading it thinking just how astoundingly lucky this country was to have such an amazing man in the right time and place. It's no hyperbole to say that without Washington, the whole thing probably would have failed. If there ever has been such a thing as an indispensible man, it was him.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:24 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've really enjoyed this Abigail Adams biography and also Founding Brothers.
posted by linettasky at 10:03 PM on May 14, 2011
posted by linettasky at 10:03 PM on May 14, 2011
Best answer: The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution, by Bernard Bailyn.
posted by emhutchinson at 10:26 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by emhutchinson at 10:26 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
David McCullough's "John Adams" and "1776".
posted by fings at 11:19 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by fings at 11:19 PM on May 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: "Wealth and Democracy" by Phillips. More of an economic history of the US: where the money was made, how it was preserved by the families, the pervasiveness of political influence, popular movements and rebellion, globalization, the cycle of empire, etc. I found it explained a lot of what just happened with the economy and what is currently happening with the country. Worth the effort. I really wish this book had been available when I was in university; it might have changed my career path. Once you read it, you will realize that almost nobody knows American history.
posted by PickeringPete at 4:27 AM on May 15, 2011
posted by PickeringPete at 4:27 AM on May 15, 2011
Best answer: American Colonies: The Settling of North America, by Alan Taylor
The Unknown American Revolution: The Unruly Birth of Democracy and the Struggle to Create America, by Gary B. Nash
The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America, 1500-2000, by Fred Anderson and Andrew Cayton
The last carries on to almost the present, obviously, but the first half is pre-1800, and all three are superb books that I would recommend to anyone with the least interest in American history. For someone interested in "the characters, ideologies and economics of what it took to create the U.S. in the 1700's," I'd say they're essential reading. (I love Zinn too, but he's very polarizing, and you don't want to be relying exclusively on him for your understanding.)
posted by languagehat at 11:09 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
The Unknown American Revolution: The Unruly Birth of Democracy and the Struggle to Create America, by Gary B. Nash
The Dominion of War: Empire and Liberty in North America, 1500-2000, by Fred Anderson and Andrew Cayton
The last carries on to almost the present, obviously, but the first half is pre-1800, and all three are superb books that I would recommend to anyone with the least interest in American history. For someone interested in "the characters, ideologies and economics of what it took to create the U.S. in the 1700's," I'd say they're essential reading. (I love Zinn too, but he's very polarizing, and you don't want to be relying exclusively on him for your understanding.)
posted by languagehat at 11:09 AM on May 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
David O. Stewart, The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution
Don Cook, The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785
Joseph J. Ellis, American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies in the Founding of the Republic. Also Ellis' biographies: His Excellency: George Washington, American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, and Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:16 PM on May 15, 2011
Don Cook, The Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies 1760-1785
Joseph J. Ellis, American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies in the Founding of the Republic. Also Ellis' biographies: His Excellency: George Washington, American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, and Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:16 PM on May 15, 2011
American Colonies: The Settling of North America, by Alan Taylor
Also -- Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick.
posted by ericb at 1:45 PM on May 15, 2011
Also -- Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick.
posted by ericb at 1:45 PM on May 15, 2011
Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution by Richard Beeman.
Lexington and Concord: The Beginning of the War of the American Revolution by Arthur Bernon Tourtellot.
Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer.
And ... an excellent biography: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson.
posted by ericb at 1:56 PM on May 15, 2011
Lexington and Concord: The Beginning of the War of the American Revolution by Arthur Bernon Tourtellot.
Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer.
And ... an excellent biography: Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson.
posted by ericb at 1:56 PM on May 15, 2011
While not a book ... I highly recommend J.L. Bell's excellent blog: 'Boston 1775' for daily postings, as well as great resources for our Colonial and Revolutionary historical periods.
posted by ericb at 2:04 PM on May 15, 2011
posted by ericb at 2:04 PM on May 15, 2011
If you're open to fiction, Gore Vidal's Burr is pretty righteous.
posted by COBRA! at 7:47 AM on May 16, 2011
posted by COBRA! at 7:47 AM on May 16, 2011
Response by poster: Awesome rec's, Mefis! Went to the library this afternoon and returned with these titles:
- Wealth and Democracy, Kevin Philips
- American Colonies, Alan Taylor
- The Dominion of War, Fred Anderson
- Robert Morris, Financier of the Am. Rev., Charles Rappleye
- Washington, Ron Chernow
- The Unknown American Revolution, Gary B. Nash
plus a DVD series on the Revolution itself.
I now have roughly 10 lbs. of literature on this subject. You'll hear from me in like a year or so with more questions.
If anyone wants to continue this conversation, feel free to mefi-mail me.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 9:54 AM on May 16, 2011
- Wealth and Democracy, Kevin Philips
- American Colonies, Alan Taylor
- The Dominion of War, Fred Anderson
- Robert Morris, Financier of the Am. Rev., Charles Rappleye
- Washington, Ron Chernow
- The Unknown American Revolution, Gary B. Nash
plus a DVD series on the Revolution itself.
I now have roughly 10 lbs. of literature on this subject. You'll hear from me in like a year or so with more questions.
If anyone wants to continue this conversation, feel free to mefi-mail me.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 9:54 AM on May 16, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tomswift at 6:59 PM on May 14, 2011 [7 favorites]