Revolutionary Characters By Gordan Wood - 1164 Words

Abdiaces Mahamed Johnathan Barth History to 1865 10/15/17 Revolutionary Characters Review In the book Revolutionary Characters by Gordan Wood, the degree in which he portrays the personality and personal philosophies that informed the politics of these early American leaders, especially Thomas Jefferson, shows that contrary to popular belief that these men were not some unflawed perfect beings, but they are just like us with their many fears and insecurities. These flaws appear in all of the founding fathers and this adds a level of realism to them. It also shows that flaws are a part of human nature. The members of the founding generation shared what Wood calls a devotion to the public good, a belief in the importance of public†¦show more content†¦These men had self-serving agendas themselves just like Aaron Burr did but they are hardly criticized for it. Wood says that Jefferson and Hamilton embody the democratic world of progress, Providence and innumerable isolated but equal individuals, there could be little place for the kind of extraordinary political and intellectual leadership the revolutionary generation had demonstrated, and that these men had â€Å"politeness, taste, sociability, learning, compassion, and benevolence-and what it meant to be good political leaders† (22). On the other hand was Burr who was demonized for his selfish actions in this book. Wood says he embodied what most American politicians would eventually become — pragmatic, get-along men. This clear bias for these historical figures made me think that this book had little nuance and expertise to offer. It was more of a simple and breezy version of history. There are far too many definite answers of almost every character on the book. For example, there’s an excerpt about Washington that really encapsulates the bias and simple lack of nuance Wood put into his book. He says â€Å"Washington was truly a great man and the greatest president we ever had† (35). This showed some blatant favoritism and also him including his opinions in his book as historical fact really derailed the story for me. This might be true but for a historian to come out with such a simple conclusion was completely unprofessional. Especially since thereShow MoreRelatedEssay about Biography of George Washington1369 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge Washington an American Hero The Revolutionary War proved to be the most important experience in the transition of Washingtons history. The war made George Washington, a man to be revered in history, and helped transform him into a symbol of a new republic and its principles. George Washington is the Founding Father of our nation. The American Revolution was a result of a series of social, political changes, within American society. Washington played an important political and military position