Founding Brothers

In Joseph Ellis’s book, Founding Brothers, Ellis takes an extensive look at how the Founding Fathers established the American republic and how six instances demonstrate the most prominent issues that faced the new fragile nation. He poses the question, “How, then, did they do it?” [16] Ellis answers his question with four common themes that put all six events in relation to each other. The first one was that “the achievement of the revolutionary generation was a collective enterprise that succeeded because of the diversity of personalities and ideologies present in the mix.” [17] Second, all the politicians knew one another. Politics were face-to-face and the political leaders met with each other personally. [17] Third they took slavery, the most threatening issue off the agenda. [17] The fourth and final theme was that the politicians knew they were making history on which their reputation would rest. Knowing that people were watching them kept them on their best behavior. [18] Ellis ties his points together in a way that helps illustrate logic among the scattered principles that the Founding Brothers established for this young nation.

With a newly emerging country on their hand, the amount of deliberation and diverse opinions brought upon a number of differences. Adams and Jefferson did not meet eye to eye. Having recently liberated this young country from a tyrannical nation, both men sought only the well being and prosperity of America. Demonstrated by their dedication to one another in many forms, such as an immense amount of letter writing exchanged between them. On January 1, 1812, Adams wrote a cordial note relaying family news and saying "two pieces of Homespun" were on their way." Jefferson thought the homespun referred to domestically produced clothing, but it was a metaphor to a copy of John Quincy's book, Lectures on Rhetoric and Oratory. This was the beginning of a 158-letter correspondence, which eventually brought back the friendship. [222,