founding republic non fiction book written american historian published examining successes failures founding fathers structured book examines turning points early history united_states writing declaration independence george washington winter valley forge debate constitutional ratification washington treaty creek leader founding democratic republican party previously won national book award pulitzer prize history wanted write book portraying founders villains flawed men response immediate crises book reached new_york_times best seller list received largely positive reviews critics background american professor history held endowed massachusetts previous works founding fathers received awards including national book award american character thomas jefferson pulitzer prize history founding brothers american creation sixth book states foreword book prompted repeated questions received book tour negatively comparing presidential candidates founders difficulty properly assessing founders want write book acknowledged achievements myth stated interview wanted folks didn completely understand edge research book personally working research assistants wrote manuscript hand pen content consists prologue chapters prologue discusses calls stunning achievement founders creating nation accepted global formula national success criticizes wildly extravagant claims equally founders particularly academic historians treat founders contrast states intention present balanced portrayal founders acknowledging successes creation nation sized secular republic governed political parties failures deal slavery reach settlement native americans book chapter year examines declaration independence american revolutionary war discusses declaration held long term revolutionary implications founders realized second chapter winter discusses general george_washington achievement holding continental_army hard winter valley forge army poor condition causes critical shift strategy prove decisive americans forcing washington attempt control countryside stage decisive battle british chapter argument details efforts secure strong federal government constitutional convention madison fails win approval national government veto state laws initially considers convention failure instead constitution creates political system sovereignty shared blurred providing framework ongoing debate madison emphasizes advantage weakness prior government revolutionary war defeat debate virginia ratification constitution chapter treaty considers washington failure president reach settlement native americans particular consideration treaty creek leader washington declares issue highest priorities successfully treaty proves worthless face relentless expansion white settlers creek territory georgian legislature attempts ally spain calls inability fair peace native americans greatest failure revolutionary generation second failure end slavery fifth chapter conspiracy presents achievement creating american party politics forming democratic republican party works undermine washington administration jefferson party politics denies capable acting partisan fashion failing understand accomplishment purchase book final chapter explores story louisiana purchase discussing president jefferson achievement making purchase failure prohibit slavery new territory argues jefferson set nation course lead civil war result tragedy triumph story purchase states creative act founding era expanding liberal mandate left room ahead abraham_lincoln join list founders reception sold release rising list november gave book starred review stating subtle brilliant examination period war independence louisiana purchase puts pulitzer winner founding brothers finest america narrative historians reviewing book new_york_times called book writing goes familiar critique founding explore point remains america constructed foster arguments settle new_york_times praised book writing achievement leaves keen appreciation good fortune america having right men right places right times stated american creation enjoyable thought provoking books read years writing said book filled powerful drawn word pictures eye opening insights american creation read prior going voting polls american creation lets know learn good bad founding nation called reigning master episodic approach history complimented book style disagreed conclusion blurred sovereignty constitution greatest strengths washington_post wrote felt portrait founders largely accurate reading slavery issue guilty seeing past present reviewing christian science monitor wrote book close examination dry tedious political debates makes rough times criticized dismissal academic historians concluded sharp writing style appreciation irony saving
American Creation