Reality Mugs a Founder

Kevin Gutzman, the author of The Jeffersonians, has written a must-read book for anyone interested in American history. It engages academic historians across several highly salient scholarly questions while still being accessible to casual readers. Gutzman successfully articulates the key Jeffersonian values and principles that are taken seriously by their adherents and exponents.

While Gutzman does an excellent job of interpreting the political facts on the ground, he is weaker when it comes to assessing the personalities and motives of his subjects. Nonetheless, his treatment of James Monroe is exceptional, showcasing his vital contributions to this era of American history.

Ultimately, the book reveals how the Jeffersonian vision, which is still deeply appealing today, failed to prolongedly resist the Hamiltonian program it sought to overthrow. Gutzman walks us through this incongruity with finesse and intelligence. Overall, The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe is an excellent read for any history buff and could even make an appearance on undergraduate syllabuses. 

Source: https://freebeacon.com/culture/reality-mugs-a-founder/

“The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author of the article and not necessarily shared or endorsed by Conservative News Daily”