The Founding Brothers is a historical novel written by Joseph J. Ellis about 6 important events in American history. Each chapter holds one special events. The events/chapters are: The Duel, The Dinner, The Silence, The Farewell, The Collaborators, and The Friendship. Through out the first chapter Ellis managed to focus on 2 characters, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, both two essential people in History.
Character Bios:
Alexander Hamilton: He was a mean and cruel federalist who only cared about what he believed, and he believed strongly. He and Aaron Burr never really liked each other, and they weren't friends.
"Once Hamilton encountered a major obstacle to the advancement of any cause in which he believed, he instinctively hurled himself onto the the offensive, never looked back, and waited for no stragglers."
"Hamilton always seemed compelled to be proving himself; he needed to impress his superiors with his own superiority."
Aaron Burr: He was a bossy politician and the Vice President. What made Burr so rude and mean was probably the fact that even though he felt strongly about his opinions just like Hamilton.
"...(for example, while Hamilton's widow and children shed tears over [Hamilton's] dead body, Burr and his followers drank toasts to Hamilton's death in the local tavern, Burr only expressing regret that he had nit shot him in the heart)."
"The overwhelming popular consensus was that Burr had murdered Hamilton in cold blood."
Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson was a highly respected government official. He was the third president of the United states! He was also the secretary if state underneath George Washington.
"But in the present instance I see the necessity of yielding for this time...for the sake of the union, and to save us from the greatest of all Calamities"
"If this plan of compromise does not take place," Jefferson warned, "I fear one infinitely worse."
James Madison: James Madison, also known as "The Father of the Constitution", was a man who was often out shined by Thomas Jefferson, worked really well with Alexander Hamilton!
"I really think it right and proper that we should be possessed of the ways and means by which we should be most likely to encounter the debt before we undertake to assume it."
"A public debt is a public curse."
Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, and on of the first/original founding fathers. He also helped out with the constitution.
"Franklin's endorsement of the petition from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society effectively assured that the preferred Madisonian strategy-calmly receiving these requests, then banishing them to the congressional version of oblivion-was not going to work."
"...the petition arrived under the signature of Benjamin Franklin, whose patriotic credentials and international reputation were beyond dispute,"
James Jackson: James Jackson was a member of the first and second Continental Congress. He was also the governor of Georgia from year 1798-1801. He wanted to abolish slavery as well.
"I apprehend, if through the interference of the general government, the slave-trade was abolished," he observed, "it would evince people a general disposition toward a total emancipation.
..."take such measures in their wisdom, as the powers with which they are invested will authorize for promoting the abolition of slavery and discouraging every species of traffic in slaves."
George Washington: When George Washington was young he joined the Virginia Militia. After many battles he was made the colonel and leader of that militia. Later on during the Revolutionary war he was made the commander of the war, leading Americans to the win of getting final independence from Britain. George Washington was then elected to be the President of the United States, and was a very successful president. He left office September 19, 1796 and died 3 years later.
"Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light"
"The Constitution is the guide which I will never abandon."
John Jay: John Jay was born on December 12, 1745. Careful of the disturbance that independence would bring on, he was soon steadfast to the American Revolution. Jay was in the Continental Congress, and was a diplomat. He wrote a few of the Federalist Papers and was the first Chief Justice our contry ever had. He died on May 17, 1829.
Abigail Adams: Abigail Adams was born on November 22, 1744, and was the wife of the Vice President and the second President. She was also the mother of John Quincy Adams who was the sixth President. She died on October 28, 1818