America's First Dynasty: The Adamses, 1735-1918They were America's longest lasting dynasty, the closest thing to a royal family our nation has ever known. The Adamses played a leading role in America's affairs for nearly two centuries -- from John, the self-taught lawyer who rose to the highest office in the government he helped to create; to John Quincy, the child prodigy who followed his father to the White House and fought slavery in Congress; to Charles Francis, the Civil War diplomat; to Henry, the brilliant scholar and journalist. Indeed, the history of the Adams family can be read as the history of America itself. For when the Adamses "looked at their past, they saw the nation's," writes author Richard Brookhiser. "When they looked at the nation's past, they saw themselves." America's First Dynasty charts the family's travels through American history along with an impressive cast of characters, among them George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt. Brookhiser also details the darker side of the Adams experience, from the specters of alcoholism and suicide to the crushing burden of performance passed on from father to son. Yet by putting a human face on this legendary family, Brookhiser succeeds in creating an impassioned, heroic family portrait that the American public is not likely to forget. |
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Aaron Burr Abigail Abigail Adams Adams family Adamses American antislavery asked Boston Britain British brother Buren Butterfield Calhoun called Cappon career century CHAPTER Charles Francis Adams Civil colonies Congress Continental Congress Declaration delegates Democrats diary diplomatic Duberman election empire enemies England father federal Federalists Ferling Francis’s Franklin French George Washington Grant Harvard Henry Adams Henry Clay Henry’s historian Ibid independence Indian Jackson James Jefferson John Adams John Quincy Adams John’s later letter Levenson Lincoln lived London Madison Massachusetts minister Monroe Mont Saint Michel Nagel nation never Nevins northern Paris party petitions Philadelphia Pickering political politicians president presidential Quincy’s Randolph Republican Revolution Roosevelt Samuel Adams secretary Senate Seward slave slaveowners slavery South southern Spain Thomas Thomas Jefferson thought Timothy Pickering tion told took United Virginia vote wanted Whigs White House Winthrop writing York
References to this book
In Pursuit of Liberty: Coming of Age in the American Revolution Emmy E. Werner No preview available - 2006 |
American Mythos: Why Our Best Efforts to be a Better Nation Fall Short Robert Wuthnow No preview available - 2006 |