Founding Fathers: The Fight for Freedom and the Birth of American Liberty

by K.M. Kostyal, Jack N. Rakove (Foreword)

Kostyal tells the story of the great American heroes who created the Declaration of Independence, fought the American Revolution, shaped the US Constitution--and changed the world. The era's dramatic events, from the riotous streets in Boston to the unlikely victory at Saratoga, are punctuated with lavishly illustrated biographies of the key founders--Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and James Madison--who shaped the very idea of America. An introduction and ten expertly-rendered National Geographic maps round out this ideal gift for history buff and student alike. Filled with beautiful illustrations, maps, and inspired accounts from the men and women who made America, Founding Fathers brings the birth of the new nation to light.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Reference

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2014

Reviews

[Joe Archino · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” So wrote John Adams in a May 1780 letter from France back home to his wife Abigail in Massachusetts. At the time of that letter, Adams was in Europe for the second time during the Revolutionary War, performing another vital diplomatic mission for the United States as the fledgling country desperately tried to hold on in its fight for independence against Great Britain. In being away from his beloved wife, exposing himself to great hazards, and surrendering his ease in order to serve his country in a vital post, Adams, like the most true and devoted Founding Fathers, accepted that the fate and future happiness of unborn millions depended upon his willingness to sacrifice and persevere in the struggle. As his letter suggests, by accepting the responsibilities of politics and war, Adams hoped to lay the groundwork for an American future in which his children and their children could go on to build a mighty nation that would grow strong and secure enough to allow its citizens to engage in peaceful pursuits.

Because of the selfless, forward-looking mindset shared by John Adams, George Washington, and countless other figures who fought and struggled to win American independence and to establish a free republic, the United States was able to become what President Abraham Lincoln later called “the last best hope of earth.” To all those mighty founding figures who risked everything to give life to the United States of America, we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

Acknowledging how much we owe to America’s Founding Fathers, author K.M. Kostyal wisely writes, “To them we owe more statues, more books, more recognition.” In "Founding Fathers: The Fight for Freedom and the Birth of American Liberty," Kostyal does a nice job at chronicling the story of the American Revolution and the indispensable figures who shaped that era. With beautifully illustrated photos, excerpts from letters, maps, well-written portraits, and an appendix featuring the full texts of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, this book is a very convenient resource for anyone looking to build a base of knowledge on the Founders and their times.

[Leigh Kimmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is deigned as a coffee-table book: oversized, full of beautiful pictures, looks great sitting out on a coffee table or end table in your living room. But it's also a good overview of the American Revolution, from the decade and change of successive grievances through the grim years of struggle against the era's superpower to the initial flush of victory. But the story doesn't stop there, because the initial government of the new nation proved flawed, leading to the Constitutional Convention, which transformed the United States from a loose confederation of independent states to a strong federal nation.

If you're like me and your memory of what you learned about the American Revolution in history has turned into a pile of disconnected facts, this book is a good place to start in the process of assembling them into a coherent whole. In addition to the beautiful pictures, mostly reproductions of period paintings, there are maps and diagrams of key battles, a timeline to give an overview of how events relate to each other, and the texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution as originally written, and the Bill of Rights (the original ten amendments).

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clear and great chronology of the years leading up to our nation's war for Independence and the crucial years afterwards as our founding fathers worked to create a Constitution. I never realized how tumultuous those years AFTER the war were. So many differening viewpoints and things to consider.
Not tedious like a school textbook. Chock full of interesting tidbits during that period of time (2nd half of the 18th century).
I liked the brief biographies of specific founding fathers such as George Washington, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, and mini-profiles of the many soldiers and influencial people who impacted the outcome of the war and the building of our country, which were scattered throughout the book.
Wonderful maps and beautiful pictures to add to each narrative.
This is definitely a great book to get an intro to our nation's beginnings, or for someone like me, who had American History in elem school, high school and college, and wanted to go back and reread it at a leisurely pace.

[Shirley Conley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 * This book took a long time for me to read primarily because of its weight! It is a very heavy book and large and cannot be read in bed where I do a lot of my reading.
The book is beautifully illustrated, could be coffee table book permanently in you home.
I do not know if it is the curriculum in school but think it should be required reading by every citizens of the United States or want to be citizen.
Reading the Declaration of Independence, The US Constitution and the Bill of rights will increase your love for the Founding Fathers and demonstrates their love for us and our future. Their courage and foresight in establishing this country can not be over stated. The stories of the lives of many are illustrated in this book.
You will need some time to read this book it in the style of National Geographic but I highly recommend it.

[Donna Bijas · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was a huge fan of American History in school, this book is the absolute detailed filled personal writings of the founding fathers of America. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, along with John Hancock and Paul Revere made history come to life thanks to letters and documents and personal documents were saved. Battles with the British leads to success and ultimate writings of the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. The drawings and paintings also were wonderful to see and read about. Glad I read it.

[Joseph Pearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent coffee table book that dives deep into the persons and times of the founding of the United States. lt looks at the complexity of the times and the men and women who would give birth to a new nation.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful photographs. So enjoyable to read and look at the birthing of our great nation. Nonpartisan descriptions of some of the men who deliberated, planned, and fought to make this wonderful, free, country we call home.

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here you have the whole story of America's battle for independence beginning in 1767 when the British Parliament began imposing unfair taxes and laws on the colonists and their responses through James Madison's presidence and touching on the War of 1812. This is a National Geographic publication and, of course, includes paintings, maps, etc. You will learn facts about this period that weren't included in your high school history curriculum. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well put together, loved all the paintings and illustrations from the time period. Got a little slow at the end, put I think that was just me.