First published 2015
Joseph J. Ellis examines how thirteen independent colonies chose to surrender their newfound autonomy to create a stronger central government. After winning independence from Britain, the former colonies faced a puzzle. They had just defeated distant rule, yet their loose confederation under the Articles was failing. Ellis focuses on six key figures who engineered America's second founding. George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison joined forces with Robert Morris and Gouverneur Morris. These men identified the weaknesses plaguing the Articles of Confederation. They maneuvered behind the scenes to convene the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. There they controlled the agenda and shaped the debates. The story continues through the state ratification battles and concludes with the Bill of Rights, which secured final approval from reluctant states. Ellis reveals how political strategy and personal relationships drove this transformation from loose alliance to federal republic.
Genres: biography, history, non-fiction, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, political-intrigue
Setting: America, Philadelphia
Period: 18th Century, American Revolution
320 pages · Hardcover · Knopf