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Loading... A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic (original 2003; edition 2004)by John Ferling WarnerToddHuston | Apr 7, 2007 |    ) apende | Jul 12, 2022 | ) proflinton | Dec 13, 2013 | - Book #2 by John Ferling I have read and he is my favorite - Book provides solid revolutionary history that will provide essential stories and figures in America's founding - Title of this book was taken from a line in a Pennsylvania newspaper essay written in 1776 opposed to American independence. To separate from the mother country, he cautioned, was to make “a leap in the dark” - This book is about politics, not the war. Book does an excellent job of analyzing the political beliefs of the many founders of our country, providing context in support of significant events that would occur (  ) CritEER | Aug 23, 2007 | In "A Leap In The Dark", John Ferling turns out a well paced overview of the personalities and political philosophies of the Founding Fathers and their contemporaries. I was happy to see him start with George Washington and Ben Franklin's younger life, previous to the Revolutionary era. All too often, this formative period is ignored or imagined as unconnected with the beginning days of our Republic. Only one thing about this book annoyed me, however. Ferling's constant denigration of James Madison revealed his obvious lack of respect for that indispensable Founder. Madison was an incredible man who outlived all the other Founders and was totally integral to every era of our early Republic. From shepherding the birth of the Constitution to becoming an early creator of our two party system, Madison was everywhere. He was even there to disavow what became the Confederate ideas of secession during the 1830s Nullification crisis. But, Ferling treats Madison like a bumbling idiot. Of course, he is parroting much of the writing of other historians who shares his opinion and since it seems that this entire book is based on secondary research (other scholar's works) and not his own primary research, I guess his dislike of Madison might be expected. After all, Madison had gone through a phase of being unduly discounted by many current historians. Still, this is a good overview book and should be read by anyone who might be a bit less informed about our Founding era. It most surely will spark interest in further reading. WarnerToddHuston | Apr 7, 2007 | ) MarkBeronte | Jul 16, 2014 | |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)973.3History and Geography North America United States Revolution and confederation (1775-89)LC ClassificationRatingAverage: (4.14)
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In "A Leap In The Dark", John Ferling turns out a well paced overview of the personalities and political philosophies of the Founding Fathers and their contemporaries.
I was happy to see him start with George Washington and Ben Franklin's younger life, previous to the Revolutionary era. All too often, this formative period is ignored or imagined as unconnected with the beginning days of our Republic.
Only one thing about this book annoyed me, however. Ferling's constant denigration of James Madison revealed his obvious lack of respect for that indispensable Founder. Madison was an incredible man who outlived all the other Founders and was totally integral to every era of our early Republic. From shepherding the birth of the Constitution to becoming an early creator of our two party system, Madison was everywhere. He was even there to disavow what became the Confederate ideas of secession during the 1830s Nullification crisis.
But, Ferling treats Madison like a bumbling idiot. Of course, he is parroting much of the writing of other historians who shares his opinion and since it seems that this entire book is based on secondary research (other scholar's works) and not his own primary research, I guess his dislike of Madison might be expected. After all, Madison had gone through a phase of being unduly discounted by many current historians.
Still, this is a good overview book and should be read by anyone who might be a bit less informed about our Founding era. It most surely will spark interest in further reading.