Monday, August 16, 2010

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers
By Brian McClanahan

This tome is another in Regnery's popular Politically Incorrect Guide series. The book begins by debunking a number of myths about the Founding Fathers, such as that Thomas Jefferson fathered a child with Sally Hemmings. It explains how the American Revolution was a conservative revolution, with the purpose of preserving the rights of Englishmen. It briefly considers their positions on some of the issues common to both then and now, such as guns, God, and government power.

Most of the book contains brief biographies of many of the Founders. It first considers the "big six": Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Hamilton, Franklin. It then profiles fourteen "forgotten founders" (Sam Adams, Carroll, Clinton, Dickinson, Gerry, Hancock, Henry, Lee, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Sherman, Taylor).

The profiles make special mention of their positions on 'politically incorrect' issues such as secession, nullification, federalism vs. antifederalism, central banking. It also examines their positions on slavery. (None thought slavery was a good thing, but they differed over what could be done about it.)

This book makes for interesting and informative reading.

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