Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the American Revolution

by John Ferling

Setting the World Ablaze is the story of the American Revolution and of the three Founders who played crucial roles in winning the War of Independence and creating a new George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Braiding three strands into one rich narrative, John Ferling brings these American icons down from their pedestals to show them as men of flesh and blood, and in doing so gives us a new understanding of the passion and uncertainty of the struggle to form a new nation. A leading historian of the Revolutionary era, Ferling draws upon an unsurpassed command of the primary sources and a talent for swiftly moving narrative to give us intimate views of each of these men. He shows us both the overarching historical picture of the era and a gripping sense of how these men encountered the challenges that faced them. We see Washington, containing a profound anger at British injustice within an austere demeanor; Adams, far from home, struggling with severe illness and French duplicity in his crucial negotiations in Paris; and Jefferson, distracted and indecisive, confronting uncertainties about his future in politics. John Adams, in particular, emerges from the narrative as the most under-appreciated hero of the Revolution, while Jefferson is revealed as the most overrated, yet most eloquent, of the Founders. Setting the World Ablaze shows in dramatic detail how these conservative men--successful members of the colonial elite--were transformed into radical revolutionaries.

Genres: History, American Revolution, Nonfiction, American History, American Revolutionary War, Biography, Us Presidents

428 pages, Paperback

First published July 6, 2000

About the author

John E. Ferling is a professor emeritus of history at the University of West Georgia. A leading authority on American Revolutionary history, he is the author of several books, including "A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic", "Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence", and his most recent work, "The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon". He has appeared in television documentaries on PBS, the History Channel, C-SPAN Book TV, and the Learning Channel.

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Distinguished historian John Ferling has retained his place among the greatest of the chroniclers of the Revolutionary War and the Early U.S. Republic, and with Setting the World Ablaze, he expertly focuses on an exceptional triumvirate of founding fathers. As expected, Ferling delivers on a solid and understandable character study of three of the American Revolution’s most prominent statesmen: Jefferson, Adams, and Washington. He takes the time to dive into the lives of each of these men, all the while showing no favoritism or speculation. Ferling leads with his unique style that allows the reader to think for themselves on the facts presented, as well as contemplate whom was the most useful and helpful to the given matter being discussed.

The audience is given brief yet concise accounts of each of the gentlemen’s youth and early careers, in which their personalities and future leanings are depicted through their experiences with love, inheritances, and ambitions. Ferling is exemplary in bringing out the best and worst of those he researches for the reader—showing Jefferson’s youthful-like naivety, Adams’ blunt politicking, and Washington’s hesitancy on and off the battlefield. In comparing the three men, it comes across that Jefferson clearly did not have the greatest track record when considering the scope of his efforts during the Revolutionary War, as compared to those of Adams’ triumphs in Congress and his sabbatical from both family and home:

Paradoxically, Adams exerted a greater influence than Jefferson, although he had never stepped on Virginia soil. Beginning in the spring of 1775, when colonies first solicited Congress’s advice on establishing new governments, Adams began to play a leading role in the congressional discussions. He had long been profoundly interested in political theory, and had read more deeply on the subject than most congressmen.

This fact is brought up in the final stages of the book as the Revolutionary War comes to a close, and we are left with the impression that Adams’ role and stature was almost shadowed and unjustified—a prediction he held when reflecting who would take the laurels from the Independence cause. The ending also delves into the world of slavery and its aftermath following the War, which seamlessly finds a way of fitting into the narrative. Indeed, Ferling has the reader come to understand both Washington and Jefferson’s reflections and hesitations on the tragic institution during their Presidencies—all the while Adams and his family legacy coming from a position and opinion abhorrent to human bondage. From beginning to end, this is a fascinating and scholarly study on three Founders whom held a powerful hand in the creation of the American Republic. Maps and illustrations are provided, as well as relevant notes and source material.

[Karen Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a much better picture of Washington and Jefferson and their activities during the Revolution than I'd had before. Washington's abilities were much wider and greater than I had realized. Jefferson did not come off well at all. He co-authored the Declaration then went home to Monticello for 5 or 6 years and devoted himself to building his house and ignoring the war. Most importantly, I am glad to see John Adams finally getting the recognition he deserves. No man worked harder for our fledgling country.

[Mark Hartzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this book, 21 years ago, my recollection was that it was just, ‘meh’. Perhaps I was unduly influenced by Ferling’s own Preface where he writes: “If Adams and Jefferson could read much that has been written in recent years about early American history, they would be more bewildered than exasperated. Committed to social history, and shaped by political correctness and multiculturalism, professional historians during the past quarter century by and large have neglected the role played by leaders in important events. Indeed, they often have ignored seminal events.”

Not only is the above statement simply nonsense as there were (and are) plenty of excellent recent books dealing with historical figures and leaders, using words like ‘political correctness’ and ‘multiculturalism’ as epithets reflects exceptionally poorly today. For hundreds of years, history has typically focused on ‘leaders’ to the exclusion of everyone else. Giving others a seat at the table when writing history means that it is no longer the exclusive province of ‘dead white men’. That’s OK. Excellent writers like Page Smith and Howard Zinn provide a much needed counterpoint to the prevailing theories of history. That does not mean that historical leaders need be overlooked. And that is why Ferling’s book warrants wider reach. It is excellent.

The subtitle of the book is “Washington, Adams & Jefferson and the American Revolution”, and Ferling demonstrates (convincingly I think) that those 3 men “...perhaps more than any others, helped bring the United States into being...” This book focuses on the Revolutionary War era and somewhat immediately before and after, so it is not as detailed as say, David McCullough’s “John Adams” for example. What Ferling does exceptionally well, however, is to use original source materials to illuminate each man’s impact on the founding. These are 3 of the most important Founders after all.

“Jefferson’s one abiding desire after July 4 was to republicanize Virginia.” “Adams’s and Jefferson’s thoughts on government were remarkably similar. That was not surprising. They drew on similar sources, especially Baron de Montesquieu...” “That Adams had more influence within the Virginia Convention resulted in part because George Mason, who was to play the greatest role in drafting Virginia’s constitution, read Thoughts on Government (written by Adams) before he began work.” (p. 152)

Interestingly, while Washington’s role and personal character has remained pivotal over the centuries, Adams has grown while Jefferson’s has continued to diminish. Ferling is able to clearly show that of the 3, Jefferson is the lesser. Unlike Jefferson’s fair weather patriotism, “The greatest contributions made by Washington and Adams resulted not from a lone act, but from their unflagging and altruistic dedication to the long struggle for independence. Washington, in many lonely army camps and dark, foreboding battlegrounds, and Adams, both in Congress and far from home amid the shoals of European diplomacy, were the bedrock of the American Revolution.” (p. 304)

This won’t be new for many amateur historians, but it is extremely well documented and filled with interesting analysis. I was especially interested in Ferling’s careful discussion of Sally Hemmings and the other Hemmings on Jefferson’s estate. Thought provoking and well done. All in all, a clear and convincing study of 3 of the most important figures in American history.

[Schuyler Lystad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I knew so little about the real achievements of the three men that I picked it up. I was ready for idolatry, and in the beginning, I thought I saw it, but the author very clearly deals with why the three men did what they did, their faults, and their strengths. This is especially shown in his discussion of Jefferson, whom I initially picked up the book for, but ended up disliking (I also never knew Adams was responsible for so much). It also contains facts and dates alongside personal stories and many very good quotes lifted from letters and speeches. I wish it extended to cover their presidencies, but it ends with the Revolutionary War. If you're interested in any of the three men, worth reading.

[Jc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this triple biography/history of the Revolution years back in 2000 when it first came out. As I recently presented a copy to a good friend of mine (who does not read much history), I thought I would give it a re-read so that he and I could discuss it. I am glad I did. I still find this to be a well written, extremely well researched, and highly informative telling of the events in America in the late 18th century. And, in many ways, it is a good review to help understand much of what is happening in America in the early 21st century. Spoiler: the extreme conservatives either don’t know their history (or Constitution), or they don’t want to (and don’t want you to). Many of them would likely despise (and not believe) this book, which shows the “Founding Fathers” to be actual foible-filled and often failing people (that is, REAL people) not some sort of revolutionary band of christian superheroes. It has inspired me to try one of Ferling’s other works, which I will report on after I read it.

[Peter Mayeux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is best for readers with an extensive knowledge and background of the American Revolution. There are several useful battlefield maps. Aàn excellent and complete research effort was made. There are also chapter notes and an excellent bibliography. The typeface and font size I thought was too small. Also there was too much emphasis on the early or youthful days of the three characters spotlighted in this book--Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. Throughout the book the author uses an extensive vocabulary and it caused a bit of consternation since I had to be next to a dictionary to understand many of the words he used; these could have been simplified. There was a very detailed description of diplomatic and problematic developments after France came to the aid of America.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it is this is very good. This is not a biography of Jefferson, Washington and Adams. What the book does over 300 pages is follow the course of the revolution from 1775 to the end of the war and explain the actions and thoughts of each individual during that time. It is interesting to see while Washington is fighting battles, Adams is negotiating in Paris or Holland and Jefferson, who is inactive for a large portion of the war is up to. There is a brief prelude telling of their lives prior to the start of the war and an epilogue which tells how they felt about their contributions to the revolution.

Good read.

[J.R. Handley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a box full of my old college text books and decided to give them another read.... for the fun of it. This one, while not exciting, kept my interest and was a lot of fun to read. It wasn't too jargon heavy, so anyone could manage this read through. I give this one 5 stars for keeping my attention! If the American Revolutionary history is your jam, then grab some bread and butter this bad boy, cause you found a winner!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a Senior College class. Very enlightening information about the lives of Washington, Jefferson, and Adams and their respective parts in the Revolutionary War. It was a miracle we won! Jefferson the "pen", Adams the "tongue", and Washington the "sword".

[Avis Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Available at the Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/settingwo...

[kaylah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting the World Ablaze tells of major events in the lives of Washington, Adams, and Jefferson in order, from their childhood to the entirety of the American Revolution, and gives a brief epilogue section of their lives following it. Of greatest interest to me was Ferling’s interpretation of their outlooks and why they made the decisions they made, most of which I enjoyed. I say most because the book does read a bit like a textbook at times, especially near the middle, but that aspect allows this to serve as a great reference material.

Something I really liked about this book was Ferling’s ability to not shy away from pointing out the hypocrisies and wrongdoings of any one of these founders throughout this period, most of which concerns Jefferson. Aside from writing the Declaration and advocating for religious freedom, Ferling highlights his poor social skills, misogynistic and racist views, and hypocrisy surrounding his enlightenment ideals, most of which could be traced back to a “just for thee and not for me” mentality when thinking about slavery (especially when contrasting it with his relationship with Sally Hemings). Of the three, it appears as if Ferling believes he is least deserving of his reputation, and it’s hard not to agree with him.

Additionally, despite their misgivings, it’s clear that Ferling holds both John Adams and George Washington in high regard, especially Adams. Adams is often overlooked in favor of the more visible figures of the era, which is unfortunate considering that he’s probably one of the only Founding Fathers who didn’t come from wealth, wasn’t a raging racist or misogynist, and was remarkably prescient about the potential of affluent individuals to form a political aristocracy thanks to their inordinate wealth.

As of late, I’ve been on a bit of an American History binge. The subject has a reputation as being very serious, and most of it is, but every now and again, there are moments in these books that end up being unintentionally hilarious. John Ferling looks like a very serious man, but it’s even funnier to picture someone like him writing bits like the paragraphs pasted below (where he makes Washington look like a gold digger and Thomas Jefferson a freak).

[Earlier in this paragraph, Ferling wrote about how George’s pursuit of the eventual Martha Washington seemed a bit off by both past and modern-day standards] Portraits suggest [Martha Custis] was short, plump, and plain, although by all accounts she was gracious and kind, as well as intelligent and experienced in managing a planter’s estate. She was also the wealthiest widow in the colony, owning about 100 slaves and 6000 acres, plus additional liquid wealth equivalent to 12,000 pounds [roughly $600,000 today]. (Page 34)

At one point [in his early 20s], Jefferson wrote to [his friend] John Page of his desire to live with him and his wife Frances in the seclusion of the house he one day dreamed of building [what would eventually become Monticello]. Living under the same roof, the three could “pull down the moon” in what was certain to be a “feast of the sensualist”. Page did not respond for a very long time and [when he did, he] never mentioned his friend’s fancy. (Page 38)

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was assigned as a textbook, and is definitely informational. John Ferling presents the three lives of George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson in parallel until they intersect with the American Revolution. Ferling provides the childhood, education, and early adulthood of these three prominent men in a way that keeps things going.
My only real discontent with this book is the lack of "down time" -- "Setting the World Ablaze" is very densely written. Ferling has taken on the task of including three major players in a huge event, and does so well within the limit of one book. He avoids "fluff" -- there are no pages of speculation, nor an excess of anecdotes -- this is history. But, as is my concern with many specifically academic books, "Setting the World Ablaze" is definitely written from an academic's perspective and with an academic approach. The focus on primarily history is a good way to keep a book focused, but it often affects the overall readability.

[Wendy Rabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

John brought me this book from Philadelphia, and it renewed my interest in this era. The book is a very thorough account of the War for Independence and gave me some great insight into the Founding Fathers. Of particular interest to me at the time I read it were the struggles that Washington and Jefferson had later in life, after the war was won, over the issue of slavery. Jefferson as governor of Virginia did make the importing slaves illegal, a good solution to slowly kill out the trade. Washington wrestled over plans to give his slaves wages and rent out his plantation, but never followed through. Also it seems that Washington originally did seem to see his slaves as inferior. But when he was forced to rely on them to fight in the Revolutionary War, and saw what they were capable of, and he began to understand that this was not so.

[Urey Patrick]

Superb history! If you are interested in the American Revolution and the lives, influences and affects of Washington, Adams and Jefferson, this book is a must read. The author is objective - Jefferson's inexplicable "disappearance" from affairs during the course of the war is laid out. The predominant influence of Washington, and Adams, is documented. The early lives and developments that led to the break with England - and the evolution of thinking that led to the actions and decisions of these men are explained. This is just a great read and a perceptive and comprehensively fair history of the events and men of this critical period.

[AMF · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well researched and written book. I was looking for something to read to learn more about the Revolutionary War Era. While this book focused mainly on Washington, Jefferson, and Adams, it also followed the timeline of the war and its events sufficiently. While the author eloquently paints verbal portraits of the three men and intricately weaves them together more than history has, the book is very detailed and at times feels like a text book. I would recommend it to someone who is very interested in these three men and their contributions to American independence but I would not recommend it for light reading.

[Jack Laschenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good historian's look at the parallel lives of the 2 men.

Where were they each at each stage of their young lives, and at each stage of the revolution.

Jefferson comes off quite poorly - after drafting the Declaration, he retired to home and played little role in helping the revolution - true even after he became governor of Virginia.

Adams is the hero - hard working and self-sacrificing.

Adams suggested Washington as General, and for several months he was essentially the secretary of war for the continental congress.

A good insight.

[JJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice treatment of these three great men, who together had a tremendous impact on this new nation. With Adams and Jefferson in Europe during the drafting of the Constitution, the necessary compromise between their two views was probably made more obtainable.

Three strong characters with three distinct roles in the birth of our nation. I've read books on each of these fathers, but appreciated having their combined influence pulled together in one good read.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was impressed with this one. A very good book on the analysis of Washington, Adams and Jefferson and their dealings with each other and so many of the others from this era. He was fairly unbiased towards any of the 3 leaders, so it was refreshing to see the warts and blemishes revealed, explained and given proper treatment. The victories, as well, were discussed and shared, but not in an overly manner of hero worship. Worth the read.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating portrait of Washington, John Adams, and Jefferson and their parts in the American Revolution. Includes an in depth look at their childhoods and youth. The psychological portraits are intriguing and generally believable, at least to me. I came away more attracted to Adams with all his faults, more puzzled by Jefferson, and with GW still on a pedestal.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good retelling of the march to independence and beyond, focusing on the men who became our first three presidents. Ferling's account of Washington's leadership of the continental army told me many things I did not know. The author depicts the Adams-Jefferson feud somewhat differently from McCullough's "John Adams," and TJ comes off poorly.

[Mom]

I enjoyed the Book. It follows Washington, Adams and Jefferson through the process of declaring independence, winning the revolution and setting up a new government. I didn't agree with it all but I do agree that Washington and Adams were greater men than Jefferson.

[Charro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out good then I kind had to fight my way through the middle but I liked it over all.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was both very readable and very informative.

[Craig Bolton]

"Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the American Revolution by John Ferling (2002)"

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite history book. Ferling is a master of prose with an eye for how men shape events.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about the intertwining of the lives of the 3 most well respected men of the American Revolution. Well worth the time to read!

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely changed my views on all 3. I was never a fan of Adams until after I read this book. Way better than what they taught is in school.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very balanced view of the strengths and weaknesses of these three men, though perhaps a bit harsh on Jefferson. Looked only at their participation in the American Revolution, not their presidencies.

[Darin Bishop]

This is a wonderful book and I recommend it for anyone who is interested in the different ideas of not only the people of the nation during the American Revolution but also the specific leaders of the country as well.