A Precarious Nation
Ellis warns his audience against excessively relying on hindsight when studying history, often directing them instead to focus on the “crucible of the moment.” Modern readers know that the Revolutionary Generation would be successful and that America would become a world superpower. There were no guarantees for the Founding Fathers. Although we often look at the paintings and correspondence of these men and conclude that they were confident, in agreement, and above suspicion, Ellis takes the time to point out that they were only human. The creation of the United States of America was constantly at risk of failure.
Conflicting Interpretations of America's Purpose
Ellis highlights two conflicting interpretations of America’s purpose, which he refers to as the meaning of the Revolution and the spirit of ’76. On one extreme, the Revolution was about the creation of a self-governing people: independence, defiance, and individuality are highlights of this view. Jefferson and Madison of the Republicans are most strongly associated with this interpretation of the Revolution. The Federalists argued for the need for a central authority to represent the nation. They called for the sublimation of individual states to support the nation. They also tended to believe that the president should be vested with considerable authority and executive power. Hamilton, Adams, and Washington are most strongly associated with this view.
Diversity of Personalities and Ideals
Ellis demonstrates that no single individual created the Union. Instead, the diversity of personalities and ideals allowed the government to steer a course that resisted extreme views. To illustrate this point, Ellis often points out the impracticality of Jefferson’s views. Where Jefferson chastised the central power of the Federalist government over the individual states, Adams and Hamilton were quick to respond that surely the Founding Fathers created a state to govern. However, there were times when both Hamilton (with his designs for a standing army) and Adams (who signed the Sedition Act) went too far and were ultimately kept in check by their ideological counterparts.
Still, there were times when these conflicting ideals could have derailed the American Union. Ellis credits the personal knowledge and trust that the band of brothers had for one another for the successful creation of the nation. Compromises on finance could be reached because America’s leaders knew and trusted each other well enough to talk to each other. Resolution and compromise were essential for this divided generation.
The Issue of Slavery
Ellis next suggests that responding to slavery was a topic that could have destroyed the Union. Although Washington and Jefferson owned slaves, there was a belief that the spirit of ’76 implied an emancipation of the slaves. By 1790, there were hundreds of thousands of slaves in America, the vast majority of them in the southern states of Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Ellis points out that the ideals implied by the Declaration of Independence were unable to stand up to overwhelming, practical complications. Foremost among them may have been the belief that the economy of the southern states was dependent on slavery. Slavery advocates often questioned what would be done with the slaves if slavery were abolished and asked who would compensate the slave owners for their loss of “property." Ultimately, if the federal Congress chose to emancipate the slaves, the southern states would leave the Union.
Ellis suggests that for all of the accomplishments of the Revolutionary Generation, they were unable to solve the problem of slavery. Instead, they actually made it a taboo topic for its potential to threaten the Union’s stability. Even historians have been unable to find an alternative course of action that would have ended slavery and allowed the Union to survive.
Awareness of Historical Role
Ellis finally argues that the...
(This entire section contains 188 words.)
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Union survived because the Founding Fathers were aware of their role in history and acted accordingly. Although Aaron Burr burned a great deal of his correspondence and often obfuscated his motives, the other members of the Revolutionary Generation largely embraced their roles in history. Before he died, John Adams recognized that he was being forgotten and resented it. Ellis’s best example of how the Founding Fathers acted so as to be looked back upon by historians is George Washington’s farewell address. In it, Washington attempted to take a long view of America, what it meant, and what it needed.
Ultimately, Ellis establishes that the success of the Union was by no means a foregone conclusion. Ellis attributes that success to several factors. He argues that the Union was able to overcome its challenges because of the collective work of the Founding Fathers and, in particular, their diverse views and their foundation of trust; because slavery was removed from discussion; and because the Founding Fathers were aware that people would look back on them and were therefore motivated to do their best.
