Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation

Using Ellis’ text as a guide, discuss what you consider to be the achievements and failings of the American Revolution. 

How did the diverse personalities in the revolutionary generation complement and conflict with one another? 

Why is the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton a singular event in the early years of the new American republic? Further, what does the public reaction to the duel say about the new nation’s values?

How does Ellis portray the figure of Thomas Jefferson? Using Ellis’ text as a guide, explain why you think his rendition of the American Revolution goes down in history? 

Examine Ellis’ portrayal of George Washington. How does Washington navigate the challenges of being a republican head of state without having a precedent?

Throughout his text, Ellis lectures on the benefits and dangers of hindsight with regard to the American Revolution and its success. Why is so much of what seems inevitable to a modern reader precarious at the time of the Revolution?

What does Ellis consider to be the main reasons behind the revolutionary generation’s failure to abolish slavery?

What role does letter writing play in the history and the historiography of the Revolution?