Product Description

"Every American Interested in understanding the American character and the American past should read this book. There are vivid history lessons on almost every page. The constitution becomes not merely a brilliant blueprint for governance. It is-and was-also the only alternative to chaos. - Thomas Fleming, author of The Perils of Peace

Acclaim for The Unexpected George Washington.

"It's hard to imagine George Washington as playful, tender, or funny. But Harlow Unger searches to find these seldom-seen aspects of the private man, and the result is a fare more complete and believable founding father." - James C. Rees, Executive Director, Historic Mount Vernon

"An intimate view of the American hero who managed to follow his ambitions to great power without being disdained for them." - Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #297621 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780470107515
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From the Inside Flap
The Declaration of Independence liberated one continent from domination by another, but the Constitution revolutionized the world-by entrusting citizens with rights never before in history granted to ordinary people. Far from the genteel unity implied by the Constitution's opening words "We the People, " the struggle to create and ratify this powerful document was a s difficult as the fight for independence from Britain had been.

The road to independence had led straight to hell. America was ablaze in anarchy and civil strife. As civil war threatened, George Washington called for a new constitution creating a powerful new federal government to restore order. For the majority of American's the new Constitution drafted in Philadelphia seemed a disaster, crating a new American government with the same powers of taxation as the former British government and led by a president with powers to succeed himself indefinitely and become a monarch. Former Virginia governor Patrick Henry cried out against such a central authority that could stifle state sovereignty:"Liberty will be lost and tyranny will result." George Washington countered, calling Henry an enemy of liberty.

The ratification process began and, over the next nine months, America warred with itself, as each state joined in what became American's "second revolution." Just as the first revolution had brought Americans together, the second threatened to rip the nation apart, as Washington's Federalists battled Henry's Antifederalists. Mobs ran riot in the streets of Philadelphia, New York, and Providence. the wealthy elite supported the new Constitution and a strong central government, while a majority of ordinary people opposed both, and populist leaders such as Henry and New York governor George Clinton geared for violent conflict between the states to preserve state sovereignty.

By mid-March 1788, eight of the nine states required for ratification of he Constitution had r4atified. but Virginia, the largest and the wealthiest state, stood firm with New York against union, and without them the new nation would be as fragile as the parchment on which the Constitution had been written.

With the fate of the country in the balance, Washington could only hope for a miracle to save the nation from all-out civil war and disunion. In America's Second Revolution, award-winning author Harlow Giles Unger tells the gripping story of that miracle, the harrowing events that led up to it, and the men who made it possible,. Rich and powerful, they displayed humor, sarcasm, fire, brilliance, ignorance, hypocrisy, warmth, anger, bigotry, and hatred. Their struggle pitted friend against friend, brother against brother, father against son. but, in the end, they helped create a new government, a new nation, and, ultimately, a new civilization.

About the Author
Harlow Giles Unger is author of the award-winning Lafayette (Wiley 2002), John Hancock (2000), Noah Webster (Wiley, 1998), The French War Against America (Wiley, 2005) and The Unexpected George Washington (Wiley, 2006).  A veteran journalist, he was foreign news editor at The New York Herald Tribune and foreign correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times (London).  He is also author of several books on education.  He lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

A Must Read: How Washington Led A Change of Govt. Against Exteme Opposition: The Revoloutionaries Post War Battle
Tremendous book on how Washington, in alliance with key members of the revolution, Hamilton, Madison and Jay, step forward to improve the weak Articles of Confederation with a central Federal Constitution that establishes a central government that can establish foreign affairs, commerce, develop an army/navy for defense and work for the common good for the nation over all. The opposition is from predominately large states, New York and Virginia whose opposition can lead to a fracturing of the States needed to approve the constitution. With opposition led by Henry, the great orator, along with George Mason; Virginia is on the verge of voting against the constitution. Governor Clinton of NY, secure in power and the financial gains of NY in charging interstate fees for commerce is another leader of the anti-Federalists. The author details the key conflicts, primarily the distrust of the western residents made up of frontiersman and farmers who feel neglected by the eastern aristocracy, along with those who value States rights in fear of a central demagogue. The most entertaining part of the book is the battle of Virginia where the Virginia legislature debates the passing of the Constitution with the gifted speaker Henry on center stage, flamboyant, charismatic; Henry electrifies his argument and appeal to the westerners. Federalists, led by Madison, use logical and legal arguments that are Henry's less then proficient abilities. Also, Unger discusses the roles of Hamilton, Madison and Jay in writing the famous Federalist papers that battle Clinton publicly in NY where both parties write under symbolic names. Also, fascinating is the final tactic that Hamilton and Washington to move the Congress out of its lethargy to initially pass the constitution, moving it forward to the States for ratification. Hamilton's 9 hour speech shocks the congress; which was his purpose, into rebuffing what could be a more fearful state of government, monarchy. Although a method to cajole the congress, Hamilton's political enemies in the future would use that speech against him, knowing full well what its original purpose was. Even after the Constitution is passed by the majority of the States, the conflict is not over as Henry leads a campaign to have anti-Federalists dominated the new government's legislature. Madison is a key player in preventing Henry's political disruption and makes a political move that initially infuriates the Federalists as he supports a bill of rights to amend the Constitution that turns into a brilliant compromise deflating much of the anti-Federalist's argument. The history also provides a fascinating look at the States back then, Rhode Island who was benefiting from its geographic location on the sea between two large trade States was the most reluctant to join due to their financial boondoggle of having ports and sea lanes that were primary areas of commerce. Excellent book, well written, replete with reasonable and fascinating biographies of the central players such as George Mason who was so despised by the county he represented, he had to be elected to the Virginia legislature from another one. Wonderfully written book in just over 210 pages with the complete U.S. Constitution as an appendix. I discovered this book while visiting Mount Vernon, how fitting!

Washington and the Consitution.
A highly readable and smooth flowing account of writing, amending, and ratifying the Constitution, this book gives George Washington the full credit he deserves for this colossal accomplishment. Because he worked behind the scenes and through others, his role has often been considred secondary to those of Adams and Madison. Harlow Giles Unger shows us that this was just not so. A fitting follow up to his The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life, and his magnificent Lafayette biography