Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for James Madison and the Making of America by Kevin R. C. Gutzman - Available

James Madison and the Making of America

by Kevin R. C. Gutzman
Arthur Morey
Audiobook
3 of 3 copies available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
3 of 3 copies available
In James Madison and the Making of America, historian Kevin
Gutzman looks beyond the way James Madison is traditionally seen—as
"The Father of the Constitution"—to find a more complex and sometimes
contradictory portrait of this influential Founding Father and the ways
in which he influenced the spirit of today's United States. Instead of
an idealized portrait of Madison, Gutzman treats listeners to the
flesh-and-blood story of a man who often performed his founding deeds in
spite of himself: Madison's fame rests on his participation in the
writing of The Federalist Papers and his role in drafting the
Bill of Rights and Constitution.
Today, his contribution to those
documents is largely misunderstood. Madison thought that the Bill of Rights
was unnecessary and insisted that it not be included in the
Constitution, a document he found entirely inadequate and predicted
would soon fail. He helped to create the first American political
party, the first party to call itself "Republican", but only after he
had argued that political parties, in general, were harmful. Madison
served as Secretary of State and then as President during the early
years of the United States and the War of 1812; however, the American
foreign policy he implemented in 1801–1817 ultimately resulted in the
British burning down the Capitol and the White House.
In so many ways,
the contradictions both in Madison's thinking and in the way he governed
foreshadowed the conflicted state of our Union now. His greatest
legacy—the disestablishment of Virginia's state church and adoption of
the libertarian Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom—is often omitted
from discussion of his career. Yet, understanding the way in which
Madison saw the relationship between the church and state is key to
understanding the real man. Kevin Gutzman's James Madison and the Making of America promises to become the standard biography of our fourth President.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    February 27, 2012

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781452626345
      • File size: 457259 KB
      • Duration: 15:52:37

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      February 27, 2012
      Gutzman's account of the man many consider to be the Father of the Constitution is a meticulously researched work, relying on primary sourcesâmost notably Madison's own extensive writings, including his famous Federalist Papers. However, the book is punishingly dull for the general reader, with an account of the Philadelphia Convention that runs beyond 80 pages, including many lines similar to this one: "When the convention next met, on Monday, May 28, a rule allowing any member to call for yeas and nays to be recorded on any vote was debated." Gutzman (coauthor, Who Killed the Constitution?) is unable to edit his play-by-play, as though he was recording it live instead of hundreds of years later. Madison's wife, the controversial Dolley, appears only briefly, but Madison's friendship with Thomas Jefferson gets some attention. Gutzman provides occasional comment on the proceedingsâhe notes that Alexander Hamilton was "never one to tire of hearing his own voice"âbut by the time one reads that the relatively obscure Marbury vs. Madison was "perhaps the most famous judicial decision in American history"âan assertion that some might rebukeâit's clear that the author is too close to his subject to bring an editorial eye to either the man or his work. Scholars of the time will greatly appreciate Gutzman's attention to detail and make up the bulk of his readership. B&W photos. (Jan.) 

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading
The Beehive Library Consortium is a consortium of member libraries and the Utah State Library Division.Funds for this program were made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Parents should be aware that children have access to all materials in the online library. The Beehive Library Consortium does not monitor or restrict your child's selections. It is your responsibility as a parent to be aware of what your child is checking out and viewing.