USA founding fathers. What to read?

[Anymodal]

I am curious about people like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington and I'm interested in reading the original works by them.

I practically don't know anything about the history of the country.
So I wanted to ask you specifically: Who are the most important founding fathers? What are the most important works by them? Who wrote the constitution?

And in general: Any suggestions on what to read first? Also I would welcome if anyone here liked to explain me briefly the history of the formation of USA (a general outline of course, just a couple of lines).

Anything else you would like to add is more than welcome too.

[OrphanPip]

The Constitution was written by a large group of delegates, but it's a rather dry, though important, document.

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, and it has far more rhetorical flair.

In terms of actual ideas and their articulation, people like John Locke, Thomas Paine and John Stuart Mill were better at articulating the ideas of liberty. Mill also has the benefit of coming much later and producing a more refined defence of the principles of liberalism.

There's plenty to read from all of the founding fathers, but I'm not sure why anyone would really bother unless their object was to study American history in depth.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is probably the most widely read piece of literature from a founding father (aside from the declaration and constitution), especially since its required reading in a lot of US school. I haven't read it myself because I prefer not to be bored to tears.

[RetsixArp]

I read the Constitution periodically; I'm about to plunge into the Federalist Papers. I've heard that some of the most fascinating stuff is the collected letters betw. John Adams & son John Quincey, but I've not read them.

[tonywalt]

Alexander Hamilton's "The Federalist Papers" are brilliant and very relevant today. There is a revised version that is in more current language by Mary Webster. It's so relevant today.

Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is excellent (free on US kindle, not sure if there is a modern language version).

There is quite a bit of letters and papers by Jefferson - just google that.

I think the reason the Founding Fathers have such broad appeal to Litnetters is the sense of Individualism which reaches into everyday life.

[Shevek]

I am curious about people like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington and I'm interested in reading the original works by them.

I practically don't know anything about the history of the country.
So I wanted to ask you specifically: Who are the most important founding fathers? What are the most important works by them? Who wrote the constitution?

And in general: Any suggestions on what to read first? Also I would welcome if anyone here liked to explain me briefly the history of the formation of USA (a general outline of course, just a couple of lines).

Anything else you would like to add is more than welcome too.

You won't accomplish much by delving into primary documents like the Constitution and Federalist Papers without knowing at least a general overview of the country's history. You will miss a lot of context if you do. I'd make an exception for Common Sense by Thomas Paine simply because it is an excellent standalone piece of propaganda. But if your goal is to learn about the formation of the U.S., A History of the American People by Paul Johnson is a decent choice. Move on to the primary documents afterwards.

It's impossible to summarize the formation of an entire country in a few lines. Reading about the history of the Constitution in depth is very rewarding, because you have "signers" who were literally there when it was created and then "framers" who contributed the beliefs and ideas that still resonate today. The latter is exciting to learn about. If you want a condensed version of this process, and American history in general, this site can help answer some of your questions: http://www.fsmitha.com/index.html

[dfloyd]

always surprising to me, especially from people who are supposed to be well read. Franklin's autobiography is any thing but boring, and gives insight into the years before the Revolutionary War. I read it in college in the 60s, and Franklin is anything but a tedious writer. If you don't believe me, read Franklin's "On Choosing a Mistress".

Why would anyone want to read Thomas Paine in some modern rendition?
Paine was not an intelectual, but a pamphleter who emigrated to the US about the age of 40. His Common Sense was written to stir thought and patriotism into the Washington's soldiers during the winter they spent at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. They were common soldiers and understood Paine's words.

From memory, it goes something like this: "The sunshine patriot and the summer soldier will soon desert his country in its time of need. But he who stays, deserves the love of both man and woman .... These are the times that try men's souls....." I haven't read it in 50 years, but his stirring words need no other rendition.

Visit Valley Forge and see the huts Washington's men lived in, which would barely permit a normal size man to stand upright, during that bitter winter when our country was formed. You might get some idea how much we owe to the sacrifices of these first soldiers of the Republic, and how Paine's words
gave them the fortitude to continue the fight for freedom from the oppresive British.

[Summer M]

I found Common Sense to be very disappointing. Although it is quite boring overall, the correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is very interesting in some parts. It gives you an inside look into their minds as they evolved over decades, and it makes you wonder just how far we've deteriorated since then. Can anyone think, even as a joke, of reading The Collected Emails of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush?

I hear the correspondence between John Adams and his wife Abigail is also interesting, but I haven't read it.

[tonywalt]

I found Common Sense to be very disappointing. Although it is quite boring overall, the correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is very interesting in some parts. It gives you an inside look into their minds as they evolved over decades, and it makes you wonder just how far we've deteriorated since then. Can anyone think, even as a joke, of reading The Collected Emails of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush?

I hear the correspondence between John Adams and his wife Abigail is also interesting, but I haven't read it.

"The letters of John and Abigail Adams" is excellent. She was much his intellectual equal and you can see good insight into the history of the country in a candid way.

Here is a letter to the newspaper written by Alexander Hamilton at age 17(ish). He was of extreme intelligence and although St. Croix was not a backwater at that time, his writing ability at that age or any age is extraordinary. You can also detect his vanity and self promotion - a characteristic he never lost.

http://ahpatriot.blogspot.ca/2007/06/hurricane-letter-hamilton-to-his-father.html