Founding fathers : the essential guide to the men who made America.

Format:

Book

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Statesmen--United States--Biography--Dictionaries.

Statesmen.

Politicians--United States--Biography--Dictionaries.

Politicians.

Politics and government.

History.

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Biography--Dictionaries.

United States.

United States--History--1783-1815--Biography--Dictionaries.

United States--Politics and government--1775-1783--Dictionaries.

United States--Politics and government--1783-1809--Dictionaries.

Genre:

Dictionaries.

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xi, 259 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, [2007]

Summary:

How did upstart colonists solidify the ideas celebrated in the Declaration of Independence and defeat the powerful British army? How did thinkers from disparate backgrounds shape a government that transformed modern politics? The Founding Fathers explains how, putting valuable information on this historic period at your fingertips-straight from one of the most trusted sources of information around the globe.

This comprehensive guide takes a compelling look at prominent statesmen such as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and George Washington and lesser-known but influential leaders such as Samuel Chase, Charles Pinckney, and others. Alphabetized for easy reference, it also offers discussions of key issues, including slavery, the separation of powers, the presidency, and Deism and Christianity; events, such as the American Revolution, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Louisiana Purchase; and documents, including the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Every special essay and concise entry-from "Abigail Adams" to "George Wythe"-promotes the deeper understanding of the personalities, issues, and events that only Encyclopaedia Britannica can provide. The book's balanced, fact-based coverage of the Founding Fathers is especially relevant today, when differing interpretations of their intent are used in debates over current policies. The Founding Fathers is the ideal resource for anyone looking to hone his or her knowledge of the fascinating figures who wrote the first chapter of U.S. history.

Contents:

Adams, Abigail 13

Adams, John 16

Adams, Samuel 26

Alien and Sedition Acts 29

American Revolution 30

Articles of Confederation 43

Bill of Rights 44

Blair, John 46

Burr, Aaron 47

Carroll, Charles 49

Chase, Samuel 50

Checks and Balances 51

Clark, Abraham 52

Constitution of the United States of America 53

Continental Congress 59

Dayton, Jonathan 61

Declaration of Independence 62

A Closer Look: The Founding Fathers and Slavery / Anthony Iaccarino 66

Democratic-Republican Party 70

Dickinson, John 72

Federalist Papers 73

Federalist Party 75

Franklin, Benjamin 77

French and Indian War 92

Gerry, Elbridge 94

Gwinnett, Button 95

Hale, Nathan 96

Hamilton, Alexander 96

Hancock, John 106

Henry, Patrick 107

Hopkinson, Francis 110

Intolerable Acts 111

Jay, John 112

Jay Treaty 114

Jefferson, Thomas 115

A Closer Look: The Jefferson-Hemings Paternity Debate / Joseph J. Ellis 137

King, Rufus 141

Lee, Richard Henry 142

Livingston, Robert R. 143

Louisiana Purchase 144

Madison, Dolley 147

Madison, James 151

Marshall, John 158

Mason, George 164

Middleton, Arthur 166

Monroe, James 166

Morris, Gouverneur 173

Morris, Robert 175

Paine, Robert Treat 176

Paine, Thomas 176

A Closer Look: The Founding Fathers, Deism, and Christianity / David L. Holmes 181

Paris, Treaty of 185

Paterson, William 186

Pinckney, Charles 187

Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth 188

Rodney, Caesar 189

Rush, Benjamin 190

Rutledge, John 192

Separation of Powers 193

Shays's Rebellion 194

Sherman, Roger 194

Stamp Act 195

Townshend Acts 196

Washington, George 197

A Closer Look: The Presidency of the United States of America / Forrest McDonald 229

Whiskey Rebellion 238

Wilson, James 239

Witherspoon, John 240

Wolcott, Oliver 241

Wythe, George 241.

Notes:

"Encyclopædia Britannica."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 243-258).

ISBN:

9780470117927

0470117923

OCLC:

85443931

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description