What Would the Founders Say?: A Patriot's Answers to America's Most Pressing Problems

by Larry Schweikart

The #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of A Patriot's History of the United States examines ten current challenges.

America is at a crossroads. We face two continue our descent toward big government, higher taxes, less individual liberty, and more debt or pull our country back on the path our Founding Fathers planned for us. But that path isn't always so easy to see.

Following the success of his previous books, conservative historian Larry Schweikart tackles some of the key issues confronting our nation education, government bailouts, gun control, health care, the environment, and more. For each he asks, "What would the founders say?" and sets out to explore our history and offer wisdom to help us get back on track. What would really be compatible with the vision that Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and the other founders had for America?

Written in Schweikart's informal yet informative style, What Would the Founders Say? is sure to delight his fans and anyone looking for a little clarity on tough issues.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, American History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Steven]

A fantastic read, an admirable attempt to address modern problems through the context of the writings of the founders. The author builds a strong case for the opinions the Founders might have had about such things as government-run healthcare, gun control, and the separation of church and state. Even if you disagree with his conclusions, you can't argue Schweikart has not done his homework.

I found the description of the food served at each of the founders' homes to be especially interesting, such as the $200 George Washington spent to keep ice cream on his table throughout one summer.

[Steelman]

Excellent and thought provoking book. This should be required reading.

[Glenn]

Sadly we don't realize what our founders saw in the grace and glory of God in the building of a young nation destined to the light of the whole world

[Duane Frasier]

A worthwhile book, notwithstanding moments of poor logic, shaky conjecture and dubious hermeneutics (Schweikart's use of Jesus' words to prove a point about cutting trees is one of the more obvious suspensions of responsible exegesis.) Non-critical thinkers among the Tea Party group will find no fault with the text. Frenzied liberals won't get past the introduction. There's enough in this book for the rest of us, who will appreciate the fact that Schweikart uses the Founders' own writings and actions to raise the valuable question about what they would, indeed, say. The reader will have to judge whether or not the author always arrives at a good answer to the question.

[Don]

taxed enough already tea, freedom to worship, no morality and constitution meaningless as foundation, property rights too, prohibition cut alcohol disease by half, well intentioned regulations of politics cause panics recessions depressions, war and debt as hand and glove, need humility accountability and regular elections, if we don’t control our excesses someone else will, Ben Franklin work as if live 100 years, 1847 subsidizing of Atlantic mail service degraded to ships for the elite, natives were once integrated then govt programs ruined, FDR with most bailouts for votes and politics.

[Tom]

The government can't make recommendations for food? Fuck this guy

[Shane]

Excellent overview of how America's Founders would have reacted to issues in American society today.

[Jim Carleton]

There is a very big difference between History and Historical Analysis. Not every historian-author gets that...

OK, I gave this my best shot, but I had to give up on it. Larry Schweikart does a fair job of finding quotes to back up his position, and his footnotes and citations lists are outstanding. But his cherry-picking of "good" comments got old very fast, even faster, to be honest, than his willingness to ignore quotations from the Founders that ran counter to his positions.

Now, this is not to say that this book is complete garbage. It isn't; it has lots of valid points to make, and in some areas, I am complete agreement with him. Example: Question 6, dealing with whether the government has the duty to bail out or assist a large business undergoing difficulties, or even in danger of imminent collapse. But his almost-complete misunderstanding of both Lincoln's "big government" policies as well as the development of the railroad system before, during and after the Civil War rather destroys his point before he is done making it.

So, I did not read this cover to cover. I skimmed it, wound up reading several chapters in their entirety, but just could not get through several sections. His section (Question #3) on public vs private landing ownership and the development of the National Park System, National Forest System, and the general environmental movement, is replete with errors of omission, commission and deliberate misrepresentation. This is not the only such, but it is the most egregious.

Ultimately, the fact that he calls himself a Patriot in the sub-title really does tell us what we need to know about this book. Mr. Schweikart has left History mostly on the shelf, preferring to make his analysis a Political rant (i.e. "answers") rather than a measured and balanced attempt to provide direction to the reader who is looking to the Founders for guidance in making up her or his own mind.

[Sharon Foust]

An interesting study on what the Founding Fathers would say about various practices that our government has chosen to do in recent years. Government bailing out businesses as we did in the 2008-09 Recession is just one example. Other topics are religion and separation of church & state, how much control should the US Govt have over education, is the Gov't responsible for the environment, people's health, jobs & employment, etc. Citing writings from the Founders he provides answers that might surprise some people.

[Beth Kaminske]

It was a little to much detail at times, but I learned a lot about how are government should look. And what some of what our founding fathers were trying to do, when the USA was created. And I still know our US Constitution is one of the greatest documents ever written! I just wish our representative would study it. And that The Supreme Court would also familiarize themselves with all the writings of those men who started this nation!

[Holly Williams]

Really neat way to see the issues of the day through the Founders eyes. The author tackles the big issues and takes you back to how the Founders either dealt with the same issues or shows the reader their point of view by how they lived.

[Laurie Wheeler]

I learned so much about 18th century thought in religion, education, government responsibility, the general welfare clause, government stimulation of the economy, government keeping large businesses solvent, national debt, the purpose of war, and gun ownership.

[Chris]

I listened to the audiobook and it’s great.

More American citizens should listen to this book.

I highly recommend this book.

[Brian Meadows]

It is interesting to attempt to figure out what America's founding fathers would think of today's events. There is always room with such a conjecture for many opinions, but a study of their culture, principles, statements and actions can shed light on what they would say in broad general terms. One can be certain that they would not approve of the large national debt. The only one who seemed to give any approval to national debt was Alexander Hamilton, who is perceived as the most conservative of them. He had definite limits on the purposes for any indebtedness. A prominent issue in their day was the power of the federal government vs the power of state governments. It would appear to me, that when you look at the domination of the Federal government over the State governments, that the Federalist thought won out and went far beyond even their thinking. The irony is that their party disappeared in favor of the Anti-Federalists (forerunners of the Democratic party of today).

The founders all lived in and presumed a Christian nation, with freedom to choose the doctrine or denomination as your belief, with no church becoming the state church. They firmly believed in public education, but a public education where Christian principles would be taught to all, with no qualms about prayer in Jesus' name. The Bible would be one of the basic textbooks. The current concept of church-state separation would be foreign to them. Even Thomas Jefferson, who is given credit for the "wall of separation" concept only mentioned it as a passing thought in one private letter. He was one who believed the Bible should be actively taught in public school.

The book is very informative. It is not a real easy read because of quotes of the founders that are in the more formal old king's English with words that are not in common use today. But, that is necessary in order to examine exactly what was said at the source in order to reveal what the founders believed. There is a certain amount of meandering in the book that sometimes feels like the author is getting off track, but even these excursions definitely prove to have merit.

All in all, the book is worth reading as it lends important perspective to what we see happening in our nation today.

[Bill Pritchard]

The book "What would the Founders Say" is at times - more than times than not - very readable. It addresses 10 issues facing America right now from the point of view of what America's "founding fathers" did say on the issue. The investigation of the history of the actual words of these men made for some interesting reading. However, you could almost at times see the author - Larry Schweikart - sweating and turning shades of red as his anger would rise up in righteous indignation at the efforts of his enemy - the so titled left liberals. It is this red faced spittle flying anger that is often portrayed by individuals on the conservative "right" of the political spectrum, and is balanced by the arrogance of education and superiority often demonstrated by the liberal left, that makes the American Political situation so uncomfortable to so many. In some cases actually stomach turning. Mr. Schweikart adds value when he lets the founders words speak from the past. He does a disservice when he frames their words into his political arguments. I expect those that enjoy watching Fox News to find this book a good one. I equally expect those that watch MSNBC to find this trash. Count me - as with so many things - trying to straddle that middle ground. You will benefit from this read - all on both sides of the divide - if you allow yourselves to not color your interpretation with your political view. Read with necessary caution.

[goddess]

Schweikart makes history interesting and understandable. Infused with facts and direct quotes, he points out that the Founders would be rolling in their graves, scratching their heads, and be in an uproar with how big and bloated the government has become. They wouldn't have thought twice about bailouts and debt and regulation after regulation. Too bad our current leaders either have no knowledge of our foundation or just completely disregard The Constitution and its original intent. I dare say if the Founders were placed back on this earth today that would not recognize their beloved country and feel it is akin to what they tried to get away from in the first place.

[Larry Hostetler]

I would actually give this a 3.5 if it were an option.

It seemed to drag, and some of the content was a bit strident.

But it was interesting to read the words of the founders on issues such as we deal with today. It was good from a historical standpoint, but sometimes more wordy than I thought it needed to be.

As one who generally agrees with anti-federalist dogma I was predisposed to enjoy the book, so was a little disappointed with the outcome.

Nonetheless, it is good information for anyone to know. It certainly makes the stature of our founders impressive.

[Sean McGowan]

This was a good book. I thought that the concept of this book could have been expanded a bit. It would have been nice for Schweikhart to show what the founder's would have said about the many social and moral issues facing our day. Without a doubt, they would have been in utter disgust with the moral bankruptcy of our country, as much as they would be in regards to the out of control, ultra big government that we face today.

[Jim]

This was a good reminder of what our founding fathers were thinking when they they risked their lives and sacred honor to allow freedom to flourish in a new country. They would be shocked and disappointed with many of the decisions made by subsequent politicians.

[Chad Zimmermann]

A bit too far to the right for my liking. But some interesting historical perspectives here and there.

[Shanna]

I listened to as an audio book. It was interesting though a bit tedious at times.