Founding Feuds: The Rivalries, Clashes, and Conflicts That Forged a Nation

(Paperback)

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An astonishing exploration of the rivalries that helped found the United States The fascinating untold stories of America's founding fathers! The Founding Fathers have been hailed for centuries as shining examples of men who put aside their own agendas to found a nation. But behind the scenes, there were more petty fights and fraught relationships than signatures on the Declaration of Independence. From the violent brawl between Roger Griswold and Matthew Lyon in the halls of Congress, to George Washington's battle against his slave Harry Washington, these less-discussed clashes bring to light the unpredictable and volatile nature of a constantly changing nation. Additionally, this gripping narrative delves deeper into the famous feuds, such as the fatal duel of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, and the many rivalries of Thomas Jefferson (which were as often personal as political.) America's great forbearers fought with each other as bitterly as our politicians do today. Founding Feuds reveals the true natures of the Founding Fathers and how their infighting shaped our nation as much as their cooperation, in fact sometimes even for the better.

Reviews

"In lively prose and with keen understanding Paul Aron sets forth the personal animosities and grudges that drove politics in the new nation." - Robert Gross, Bancroft Prize winning historian and author of The Minutemen and Their World
"With the verve of a storyteller and the precision of a historian, Paul Aron shows us how American politicians have been battling and backstabbing since the days when talking heads wore powdered wigs. Huzzah!" - Gerard Helferich, author of New York Times bestselling Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin
"By focusing on the internal conflicts that nearly tore the fledging United States to shreds, Paul Aron provides an excellent entre into the world of the Founding Fathers. He strips these stories to their essentials without dumbing them down. And by summing up each struggle as a contest between two outsized 18th century characters, he draws us readers right into the fray. As the sparks fly, they light up the scene." - Woody Holton, author of Abigail Adams
"If you are a reader of history that enjoys being in the thick of the exact feelings and experiences people may have had in past days, this is the book for you. " - C.J. Leger
"Even George Washington had a feud, so there's something for everyone. The book is perfect for lounging at the beach or pool, or even in a classroom. One of the best parts is Paul included endnotes complete with all of his sources, so if you want to learn more about a particular subject, he lets you know where to look." - Making History
"The lively Founding Feuds should reassure readers that the political stridency of the present is an essential part of our tradition." - Richard Buel, author of America on the Brink
"Those who think nastiness is a recent addition to our politics should read this book. Founding Feuds reminds us that mud-slinging goes back to the beginnings of the American republic." - John Mack Faragher, author of Eternity Street
"Aron has compiled an ingenious list, in the literary sense, of historical combatives within a broad context of Founding Fathers...the book is well-written and researched, and the dueling combatants have been laced together in an engaging catalog." - Daily Press

Author Bio

Paul Aron is the director of publications for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The author of the popular Unsolved Mysteries series, he was previously a reporter for the Virginia Gazette, executive editor at Simon and Schuster, and editor at Doubleday.