rachel_abby_reads's review
4.0
I'm accustomed to thinking of the Constitution as a sound document and the big founding fathers, Washington, Jefferson, Adams, etc as heroes.
This book doesn't necessary strip them of that, but does remind us that there were other founders - people who were concerned that the constitution would strip states and individuals of power, placing the central government on a royal throne with royal powers.
It was an interesting listen, and some of the concerns of these overlooked founders are looking prophetic.
This book doesn't necessary strip them of that, but does remind us that there were other founders - people who were concerned that the constitution would strip states and individuals of power, placing the central government on a royal throne with royal powers.
It was an interesting listen, and some of the concerns of these overlooked founders are looking prophetic.
lancegliser's review against another edition
4.0
Despite overt political rallying cries bookending the content, this was a fascinating read. The author takes great pains to create a historical narrative that rivals any fiction in detail, allowing the context to be far more easily accepted. The lessons are easily remember with the stories. Bang up job.
While I did not want the political propaganda, I did find myself chuckling through all of it. The author is clearly anti government. At the time, he was excoriating Obama. However nearly every complaint issued can apply equally as well to Trump. It goes to show the point he tries to make in the book so well: the government continues to consolidate and abuse power, despite what was originally intended to be independent experimental states. Hate one party or the other as you like, but you waste all effort unless your aim is to weaken the entire system.
There are some amazing tid bits in here, women, Native Americans, outsiders, "traitors." It fills out the society and ideas of our founding as more than "old white guys," and adds much needed depth.
While I did not want the political propaganda, I did find myself chuckling through all of it. The author is clearly anti government. At the time, he was excoriating Obama. However nearly every complaint issued can apply equally as well to Trump. It goes to show the point he tries to make in the book so well: the government continues to consolidate and abuse power, despite what was originally intended to be independent experimental states. Hate one party or the other as you like, but you waste all effort unless your aim is to weaken the entire system.
There are some amazing tid bits in here, women, Native Americans, outsiders, "traitors." It fills out the society and ideas of our founding as more than "old white guys," and adds much needed depth.
vhp's review against another edition
4.0
The author writes about people in history you may have read about in a little blip in a history book or perhaps not at all.
Aaron Burr experienced some falsified slander (Wilkinson) and abuse of executive power via Thomas Jefferson.
Luther Martin was a brilliant mind, though rarely sober. I can only imagine how intelligent this man must have been while sober.
Mercy otis Warren was friends with John and Abigail Adams and wasn't afraid to cross John when he was crossing the line, so to speak. She believed in protecting the rights of individuals.
Canasatego and the Iroqois Confederation. Ben Franklin borrowed some wisdom from that.
Elbridge Gerry signed the preamble to the Declaration of Independence (1776), but refused to trust the Constitution because it didn't include a bill of rights.
Mum Bett was a slave, who sued her "master", after his wife, her original "owner" tried to abuse/strike Mum's sister. She won, but her "master" had appealed, but retracted and she was free. She changed her name.
James Otis was brother to Mercy and a catalyst for the fourth amendment, being concerned with the abuse of (British) custom officials breaking into someone's premises and rifle through his papers, etc.
George Mason was a defender of individual and economic freedom. If the rest of the founding fathers had listened to his intelligence, the civil war most likely never would have happened.
One, I didn't know the colonists had requested to abolish slavery, but the British parliament had denied this request.
Two, once the colony's had become independent, they should have abolished slavery. It's not as cut and dry as south bad, north good. But George Mason was a very insightful man.
Three, the U.S. education system is failing to teach students about civics and of course, because the more naive a citizen is, the more their rights can be taken away.
Four, I recommend this book.
Aaron Burr experienced some falsified slander (Wilkinson) and abuse of executive power via Thomas Jefferson.
Luther Martin was a brilliant mind, though rarely sober. I can only imagine how intelligent this man must have been while sober.
Mercy otis Warren was friends with John and Abigail Adams and wasn't afraid to cross John when he was crossing the line, so to speak. She believed in protecting the rights of individuals.
Canasatego and the Iroqois Confederation. Ben Franklin borrowed some wisdom from that.
Elbridge Gerry signed the preamble to the Declaration of Independence (1776), but refused to trust the Constitution because it didn't include a bill of rights.
Mum Bett was a slave, who sued her "master", after his wife, her original "owner" tried to abuse/strike Mum's sister. She won, but her "master" had appealed, but retracted and she was free. She changed her name.
James Otis was brother to Mercy and a catalyst for the fourth amendment, being concerned with the abuse of (British) custom officials breaking into someone's premises and rifle through his papers, etc.
George Mason was a defender of individual and economic freedom. If the rest of the founding fathers had listened to his intelligence, the civil war most likely never would have happened.
One, I didn't know the colonists had requested to abolish slavery, but the British parliament had denied this request.
Two, once the colony's had become independent, they should have abolished slavery. It's not as cut and dry as south bad, north good. But George Mason was a very insightful man.
Three, the U.S. education system is failing to teach students about civics and of course, because the more naive a citizen is, the more their rights can be taken away.
Four, I recommend this book.
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