America's Founding Fathers

By: Allen C. Guelzo, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Allen C. Guelzo

Length: 17 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Today, the US Constitution is the oldest, continually-operating instrument of government in the world. But to think of the Constitution as a fully-formed, canonical document is to miss out on an honest, well-rounded grasp of American history. Now, more than ever, any well-informed citizen should understand how the Constitution lives, breathes, and endures.

In collaboration with Smithsonian, these 36 lectures are a deep dive into the creation of the US Constitution as it actually happened - and the remarkable men who played their own unique role in the creation (and survival) of American democracy. Designed to be enjoyed in chronological order, they take you from the closing days of the American Revolution to the opening decades of the United States under the newly created US Constitution. Told like a dramatic story, each lecture uses a Founder as a doorway through which to examine the process involved in crafting the Constitution.

You'll encounter fresh perspectives on familiar Founders including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, as well as people not necessarily considered Founders, including James McHenry, Secretary of War under John Adams; and Alexis de Tocqueville, author of the insightful Democracy in America. While detailed, the lectures are highly accessible for all learners, high school students and history buffs alike.

Less a biography of individuals, Professor Guelzo's lectures are instead a composite biography of one of the greatest political documents in history.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2017 The Great Courses

Excellent information and delivery!

I loved listening to this! I learned so much, I am thankful for the instructor’s dedication to deliver this material to us.

Anerica’s founding fathers come alive.

If I had a professor like this in college, I probably would have changed my major.

Surpasses My Greatest Hopes

This is the second course I've listened to from Allen Guelzo, and I am thoroughly hooked. He is a really engaging speaker, but even better, he writes fascinating and thoroughly engaging courses.
As with the other course I listened to, The American Revolution, Guelzo veers far afield, covering details you've never heard anywhere else, but which are really fascinating, and which bring the era completely to life.
This is essentially the story of the tumult in America that led to the Constitutional Convention, the debate over the Constitution and the subsequent ratification fights, and the first years of the U. S. Every single chapter is riveting. I was really disappointed when it ended.
I'm going to go look for my next course from Prof. Guelzo.

Great overview of the Founders

Insightful mini-bios of the founders and what they believed and why. Colorful personalities with varying degrees of competence and courage. The personal clashes and animosities along with the practical alliances. The reader tended to be a little bombastic but made very few errors in his presentation.

Founding Fathers

Very detailed account of how the constitution was negotiated and years of presidency thru Madison. Great info

Excellent

There is enough truth in these lectures to make it easy to listen to, while at the same time making one proud to be part of the American experiment.

Goes beyond an introduction

This lecture series provides a deeper look at the most well known, and lesser known, founding fathers.

Very informative

Loved the historical information but didn't like the reader. He sounded cynical throughout. Not pleasant to listen to.

Well done and fascinating story of our early history

I really enjoyed these lectures, especially the often neglected time of 1781-1789. Looking through the lenses of individuals Dr. Guelzo weaves a compelling story and links them together superbly. Well worth reading.

Absolute Perfection!

36 lectures that follow a mostly chronological order from the years just after the end of the American Revolution in the 1780's, through the Constitutional Convention, the first four presidents, and into the 1830's. With each lecture focusing on different founding figures as the course progresses. As always Professor Guelzo delivers a first-class performance which makes it easy to stay engaged and interested.

If you are looking for a course that specifically covers the life of each founding father in a more isolated matter instead of as they appear during the course of events listed above just be aware this is not the approach of this course.