The Patriots

Author: Winston Groom

Publisher: National Geographic

Release Date: September 8, 2020

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A phenomenal historical account of the structure of the American government system by three of the founding fathers.

The American revolutionary war took six years of fighting and another year of British occupation before the treaty was finally signed.  But the fighting was far from over.  Now it turned inward as the colonies tried to figure out the best form of government.  No one wanted a monarchy or a tyranny, but democracy seemed like a pipe dream that couldn’t be obtained.  Each state had their preferences, and no one seemed to want to have collective oversight.  Multiple plans were presented and dismissed before the founding fathers finally came to an agreement and ratified the constitution.

Three of the founding fathers were instrumental in this process.  Alexander Hamilton, who was an immigrant from the island of St. Croix; Thomas Jefferson, who was born into wealth and a widely known southern Renaissance man; and John Adams, the outspoken lawyer from Massachusetts.  All three men played heavy parts in the war, from Hamilton as General Washington’s top aide to both Adams and Jefferson as delegates to the Continental Congress.  But their interaction did not stop there.  They also played huge roles in framing the constitution and keeping their respective colony’s interests uncompromised.  While they each had visions of a great county, the visions could not have been more different, and the three men developed a hatred for each other.

Groom’s account is comprised of nine chapters, three dedicated to each person.  The first three chapters give an overview of each man’s upbringing and involvement in the revolutionary war.  The second three chapters describe their involvement during the framing of the constitution as well as their private affairs.  And the final three chapters close out their lives.  Groom’s histories are always very well received and interesting.  It feels more as though you are reading a story than a nonfiction historical account.  I couldn’t put the book down.  I haven’t read as much about these gentlemen as I should, but this book really brought their stories to light.  This will definitely stay in my collection.  I recommend this to history buffs as well as anyone who has an interest in how our country’s politics came to be. I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.