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America's Founding Fathers

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36
Alexis de Tocqueville's America
2017-03-31
In the first part of this last episode, learn the fates of each of the Founding Fathers discussed in this course. Then, close with a look at Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, which suggests the new nation's focus on self-interest instead of virtue (as well as a lack of art and culture).

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35
James Madison's War
2020-10-15
The "age of the Founders" ends with the War of 1812 and James Madison at the helm of government. You'll learn why the United States was disastrously unprepared for war, and you'll get a closer look at the state of the nation as it was bequeathed to Madison's successor, James Monroe.

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34
John Marshall's Court
2017-03-31
Explore the court of Chief Justice John Marshall. In major court cases like Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland, Marshall would devise a national judicial sovereignty to match the constitutional and economic sovereignty envisioned by Madison and Hamilton, and to save the United States from Jacobin Republicanism.

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33
Aaron Burr's Treason
2017-03-31
Aaron Burr's duel with Alexander Hamilton, resulting in the latter's death, is one of the most infamous chapters in the history of the Founding Fathers. But, as you'll learn, what's equally important is what happened next: that the Constitution protected even the liberties of someone like him, who meant it harm.

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32
Thomas Jefferson's Frustration
2017-03-31
Focus on some of the many conflicts between Thomas Jefferson's political philosophies and the reality of American life. Chief among these was his belief that an economy based on the virtuous independent farmer had no need of imports or exports, which led to the controversial Embargo Act of 1807.

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31
James McHenry's Army
2017-03-31
Meet another often-overlooked Founder, Secretary of War James McHenry, who was responsible for putting the nation's army into play for the first time. Despite political backstabbing, and against the backdrop of the Quasi-War with France, McHenry brought about military changes still with us today.

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30
Timothy Dwight's Religion
2017-03-31
Timothy Dwight, a president at Yale University, played a pivotal role in cementing the early nation's ties with the Christian faith. Come to see how Christianity, when defined and defended as a virtue, was seen by Dwight and others as a necessary component of republican government.

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29
Hector Saint John de Crèvecoeur's Americans
2017-03-31
Crevecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer presented Americans at the end of the 18th century as a people unlike any other nation. From this starting point, explore the demographics of the early United States, witness the early stirrings of abolitionist and women's suffrage movements, and probe America's cultural fear of strangers.

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28
John Adams's Liberty
2017-03-31
According to Professor Guelzo, if George Washington was the heart of republic, John Adams was its brain. Follow the Founder as he becomes the first vice president, then the second president of the nation, where he suffers catastrophic blunders that sap him of any political advantages he once had.

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27
John Jay's Treaty
2017-03-31
With a new nation came new international crises. In this episode, go inside the 28 articles of John Jay's eponymous treaty with Great Britain, which addressed unfinished business from the Treaty of Paris, and the subsequent uproar that gave a boost to polarization between America's political parties.

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26
Benjamin Banneker's Survey
2017-03-31
How was the location of the nation's new capital decided upon? How were the streets of Washington organized?

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25
Willian Findley's Whiskey
2017-03-31
Whiskey, on the frontier of the early Republic, was a major business. So when the national government proposed an excise tax on whiskey, it led to the Whiskey Rebellion.

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24
Thomas Jefferson's Party
2017-03-31
In the past, Thomas Jefferson denounced political parties. Now, after the ratification of the Constitution, he began to form the nation's first political party.

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23
Alexander Hamilton's Reports
2020-10-15
As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton had the responsibility of handling the new nation's foreign, state, and domestic debts. In this episode, learn how Hamilton saw debt not as a problem but an asset, and discover how he argued for the establishment of a national bank.

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22
George Washington's Inaugural
2017-03-31
First, examine hurdles to electing George Washington as the first president of the United States. Then, follow the story of how the Constitution finally got its Bill of Rights, and how this task was undertaken by the one man who most vehemently opposed such a bill: James Madison.

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21
Patrick Henry's Convention
2020-10-15
The fate of the new constitution depended on the state ratifying conventions. And because Virginia's consent was necessary to make the overall ratification process work, neutralizing Patrick Henry was the Federalists' most important task.

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20
Alexander Hamilton's Papers
2017-03-31
Chief Justice John Marshall would call the Federalist Papers the "complete commentary on our constitution." Here, Professor Guelzo explains the daring act of aggression these landmark political writings were, and outlines the six themes Hamilton (under the pseudonym "Publius") believed would demonstrate the indispensability of the new constitution.

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19
John Dunlap and David Claypoole's Broadside
2017-03-31
One day after the Constitutional Convention ended, the document was printed in 500 copies by John Dunlap and David Claypoole and shared with the general public. What happened next?

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18
David Brearley's Postponed Parts
2017-03-31
The Committee on Postponed Parts, headed by David Brearley, was the Convention's most effective committee. Its business, as you'll learn, was to reconcile demands about the shape of the new national president.

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17
Rufus King's Slaves
2017-03-31
It was Rufus King who, at the debates, questioned the admission of slaves into the rule of representation. First, explore the dissonance between liberty and slavery in the new United States.

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16
John Rutledge's Committee
2017-03-31
John Rutledge's Committee of Detail answered the call to help answer unresolved questions about the role of the national executive. Here, learn how "Dictator John" helped develop a working document that included a number of features now seen as the cornerstone of American constitutionalism.

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15
James Wilson's Executive
2017-03-31
Turn now to the next great issue facing the Convention: the shape of the new national executive. After pondering some of the concerns and fears the delegates had about executive power, you'll focus on James Wilson's argument for the need of an executive chosen not by Congress but by national election.

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14
Elbridge Gerry's Committee
2017-03-31
Discover how the report by the Convention's Grand Committee, chaired by Elbridge Gerry, ended the first great battle over the US Constitution. As you'll find out, it settled for good what the American Congress would look like, but it also raised an issue that would soon dominate the debates: slavery.

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13
Roger Sherman's Compromise
2017-03-31
Turn to a moment of great exhaustion at the Constitutional Convention: a deadlock between the New Jersey and Virginia plans for a national government. Roger Sherman's compromise of two branches of government (one equal, one proportional) would play an important role in moving the debate forward.

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12
William Paterson's Dissent
2017-03-31
One speech by William Paterson, a member of the New Jersey delegation, halted the Randolph Plan from sailing smoothly to adoption. What were Paterson's arguments?

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11
Edmund Randolph's Plan
2017-03-31
Go inside the start of the Constitutional Convention, where you'll learn how and why the Founders assembled to craft a new, improved system of government. Central to this was the plan set out by Edmund Randolph, which aimed at stopping a jealous Congress or greedy state legislatures from destroying it.

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10
James Madison's Vices
2017-03-31
In a private study, James Madison detailed what he called "the vices of the political system of the United States." Here, explore these vices, including state failure to comply with constitutional requisitions and the provincial nature of state legislatures.

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9
Patrick Henry's Religion
2017-03-31
Come to see Patrick Henry in a new light: as the most self-contradictory (and most often defeated) Founder. Topics include the influence on Henry of the Reverend Samuel Davies, how the Awakeners shaped his brilliant oratorical skills, the public funding of Christianity, and his unremarkable accomplishments as governor of Virginia.

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8
James Madison's Conference
2017-03-31
How did James Madison become the prime mover of the United States Constitution? The key, it turns out, is a 1786 conference he organized between several states.

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7
Alexander Hamilton's Republic
2017-03-31
Professor Guelzo takes you inside Alexander Hamilton's views about the American Republic: the fictions of hierarchy and aristocracy; the voluntary compact between rulers and ruled; the division of power into small packets; and his suspicions of the behavior of the Confederation Congress.

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6
Daniel Shays's Misbehavior
2017-03-31
Shays's Rebellion would spark unease not just about tax increases and their impact on landowners but on the entire Confederation. As you follow this dramatic insurgency and its fascinating leader, you'll learn how Shays's Rebellion prompted many to consider a strong government as essential to liberty and property.

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5
Thomas Jefferson's Books
2017-03-31
Explore how books by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Adam Smith influenced Thomas Jefferson's political philosophy. Also, consider Jefferson's fierce critiques of religion and commerce, and the ways he nevertheless betrayed (as a large-scale slave owner) the Enlightenment principles he held so dear.

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4
Benjamin Franklin's Leather Apron
2017-03-31
No one in the 1780s defined the idea of an "American" as much as Benjamin Franklin. Here, explore the many roles Franklin played in the formative years of the republic: as independent printer, public "gentleman," nobleman of nature, and tradesman cynical of the wealthy and powerful.

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3
Robert Morris's Money
2017-03-31
Money issues abounded in the new United States. Why was the abundance of land (and the lack of hard coin) such a problem?

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2
Thomas Mifflin's Congress
2017-03-30
Before the ratification of the Constitution, there were presidents not of the United States but of the Congress created by the Articles of Confederation. As you'll discover, the failures of one president, Thomas Mifflin, offer a window into the potent problems facing the United States of America in 1783.

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1
George Washington's Doubts
2017-03-30
Could the American experiment succeed? George Washington, one of the most iconic Founders, had strong doubts.

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America's Founding Fathers is a gripping and in-depth documentary series available on Amazon Addon. This 2017 production offers viewers an unfiltered view of the birth of the United States of America through a thorough examination of its founding fathers. Anchored in history and delving into the political ideologies, personal intrigues, and audacious visions of this group of remarkable individuals, it skillfully magnifies the monumental task they were up against and the enduring legacy they left behind. Every episode highlights a significant individual who bore the immense duty of charting the nation's course. The series dives into the lives and times of illustrious characters such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and many others. Their personal narratives are woven together against the backdrop of some of the most revolutionary events in human history – creating an intricate tapestry of information, emotion, and perception. America's Founding Fathers reviews each character with great sensitivity and thorough narrative detail, exploring their personal fears, dreams, flaws, and strengths. Not only does it unravel them as the architects of the U.S. Constitution, but it also humanizes them, providing a canvas for viewers to comprehend their distinctive perceptions, considerations, and dilemmas. The show brilliantly underscores the audacious vision these men had for a new form of government and the resilience with which they worked to birth a nation fabricated on democracy, freedom, equality, and justice. Their philosophical struggles, groundbreaking political ideologies, and tireless dedication paved the way for the spirited Republic that we see today. This series doesn't according to the conventional style of documentation. Instead, it incorporates a combination of narrative commentary, dramatic reenactments, expert analysis alongside the usage of original writings from the founding fathers themselves. This unique approach engages viewers, creating a vivid and tangible historical environment that leaves a powerful impact. The series meticulously chronicles the creation of quintessential American documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, thereby offering viewers an understanding of the creative genius, collaborative effort, and remarkable foresight involved in their making. The ripple effects of the founding fathers' decisions and the global impact they created are vividly showcased, allowing viewers to comprehend the magnitude of their contribution to the world. America's Founding Fathers does commendable work when detailing the heated debates, political rivalries, and personal challenges faced by these men. It does not shy away from showcasing the contentious issues or controversies that enveloped them. It paints a realistic picture of this influential group of men contributing to an objective outlook on history. What sets this show apart is its pursuit of authenticity and balance. It aims for factual accuracy while striving to present a balanced perspective. It neither downplays the failures and flaws of the subjects examined nor does it overlook their remarkable achievements and contributions. The series features expert interviews from a myriad of scholars, historians, and experts who share profound insights and nuanced perspectives about these iconic individuals, the time period, and the revolutionary events unfolding in their midst. Their rich inputs lend further depth and credibility to the narrative, making it a treasure trove of factual content for history aficionados, educators, students, or anyone interested in American history or political science. America's Founding Fathers is in essence a masterfully crafted, visually compelling deep dive into the formation of the United States of America. It offers a curated montage of sterling historical events, deeply personal narratives, and formidable intellectual debates that shaped the country. Its lucid storytelling, accurate historical representation, and keen portrayal of its characters set it apart as an instrumental guide to understanding the dawn of the United States of America. The 2017 Amazon Addon series is riveting, enlightening, and will be an irresistible watch for those captivated by American history, politics, or the fascinating stories of men whose unprecedented vision and relentless determination forged a nation. It redefines the concept of a history documentary, presenting a comprehensive, dynamic, and immersive experience that transports viewers back to the thrilling epoch of America's genesis. It allows us to comprehend the full extent of the magnitude of the founding fathers' contribution to modern civilization and democracies worldwide. Part history lesson, part gripping biography, part political analysis, and wholly captivating, America's Founding Fathers is an epic historical journey not to be missed.

America's Founding Fathers is a series categorized as a . Spanning 1 seasons with a total of 36 episodes, the show debuted on 2017. The series has earned a no reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at undefined.

Genres
History
Channel
Amazon Addon
America's Founding Fathers is available on .