Founding Brothers-Preface and Chapter 1
Fully discuss the following in your groups:
Preface:
1. “The republican experiment launched so boldly by the revolutionary generation in America encountered
entrenched opposition in the 2 centuries that followed…” (4). Society in general has been taught (through
a variety of means) that the founding of our nation was a unified, glorious, and heroic time—you may even
have been taught this in grade school. How does this statement from Ellis contradict this ideal? What is
Ellis trying to teach you? Why is it so difficult to grasp this notion of the new nation’s utter fragility?
2. Read the last paragraph on page 10, regarding the population of America in 1789. How did the
demographics of the young population impact the founding of the nation? Today’s population is largely
dominated by 40-70 year olds (baby boomers). How might history have been different in 1789 if today’s
population was dominant then?
3. What were the four “liabilities” Ellis discusses to creating a new nation?
4. The author lists the generation of 1780-1800, 1855-1865, and the 1940s (11) as examples of crucial
periods in American history. Why are these crucial? (consider events and decisions made) Do you agree
with Ellis? Why/why not?
5. Why does Ellis take time to state, “Mostly male, all white, this collection of public figures was hardly
typical of the population as a whole...” (13)
6. What does Ellis mean when he says that the public figures on which he focuses in this book were
“America’s first and, in many respects, its only natural aristocracy” (13)? In what sense is this true?
7. Many references are made to correspondence between delegates and of personal meetings that were
critical to the formation of the country. Today we have cell phones, email, blogs, magazines, and social
media to use as forms of communication. Explain the significance of the personalized 18th century
communication in founding the new nation.
Chapter 1:
1. The author entitled his book, Founding Brothers, and clearly considers Aaron Burr to be one of the
villains in the story of the American Republic. What character traits make Burr the villain? Other
historians say the reason Hamilton and Burr hated each other so much is because they were so alike-do
you agree? Evidence?
2. How are we to judge the duel between Hamilton, the “little lion of federalism” and Aaron Burr in 1804?
What was really at stake?
3. Was this disagreement between the two men merely a war over words? How does the concept of early
19th century honor play into this?
4. How do Alexander Hamilton’s humble beginnings impact our consideration of his significant contributions
to the economic beginnings of the new nation?
5. The author in the preface states that chapter 1 is out of chronological order for the book, designed to
catch the reader’s attention, but makes a dramatic statement about the young republic. He states
further that Hamilton and Burr had outlived their usefulness and had no political future. Then why is the
story important?
6. On page 46, at the end of the 1st paragraph, the author states, “So much seemed to be at stake because
in truth, it was.” What does Ellis mean by this statement? Do you agree?