Pulitzer Prize History Winner

Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation

by Joseph J. Ellis

Summary

Ellis examines the early American republic through six pivotal episodes involving figures like Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, and Franklin. Rather than a full biography of any one man, the book studies the relationships, rivalries, and compromises that held a fragile new nation together. It matters for showing how personal bonds and conflicts among the founders shaped the country's enduring institutions.

Historical Context & Significance

Joseph J. Ellis won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for History for this study of the founding generation.