Founding Brothers (2pc)

Starring:Michael York, James Woods, Peter Coyote, Edward Herrmann, David McCullough (II), Rob Lowe, Hal Holbrook, Brian Dennehy, Roger Mudd, Joseph Ellis
Studio: A&E Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
The self-evident truths were intensely debated. In America's first years, Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Burr struggled to transform their disparate visions into an enduring government.Based on Joseph Ellis's Pulitzer Prize winning book, FOUNDING BROTHERS examines six moments when the collisions and collusions of these towering figures left an indelible imprint on the nation: the secret dinner that determined the site of the capital and America's financial future; Benjamin Franklin's call for an end to slavery; George Washington's farewell address to the nation; John Adams's term as president; Hamilton and Burr's famous and fatal duel, and the final reconciliation between Adams and Jefferson.Drawing on the words of the founders and incisive commentary from leading scholars, FOUNDING BROTHERS is an elegant and engaging portrait of America's origins in personal conflict and compromise.

Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
The political wrangles of a fledgling country may sound dull compared to the drama of a war, but the early history of the United States only gets more fascinating as the Revolutionary War is left behind. Founding Brothers, a documentary from the History Channel, examines the struggle to not only establish democracy, but to give it the economic strength and governmental structure that will allow it to survive and thrive. George Washington grappled not only with politics, but with questions of style and propriety--how should a president, as opposed to a king, behave? Understanding the conflicts between Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson will illuminate ideas that have shaped the government of the U.S. ever since. Founding Brothers provides a wealth of portraits and illustrations from the time, as well as discreet dramatizations, that bring the rise of party politics to life, humanizing these historical figures with tales of the scandals and squabbles they faced as well as their political achievements. An excellent introduction to the roots of the American experiment, and a bracing illustration of what Jefferson meant when he said of the presidency, "No man will bring out of that office the reputation which carried him into it." --Bret Fetzer

Average customer rating:

Praising the Federalists (Hamiltonians)

A good series on founding relationships

Founding Brothers

Become an Easy Expert on the Founding Fathers

Surface Material

Founding Brothers
Starring: Michael York , James Woods , Peter Coyote , Edward Herrmann , and David McCullough (II)
Manufacturer: A&E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Coyote, Peter | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dennehy, Brian | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Herrmann, Edward | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Holbrook, Hal | ( H ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Lowe, Rob | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Woods, James | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
York, Michael | ( Y ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000687BM
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Product Description

The self-evident truths were intensely debated. In America's first years, Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Burr struggled to transform their disparate visions into an enduring government.Based on Joseph Ellis's Pulitzer Prize winning book, FOUNDING BROTHERS examines six moments when the collisions and collusions of these towering figures left an indelible imprint on the nation: the secret dinner that determined the site of the capital and America's financial future; Benjamin Franklin's call for an end to slavery; George Washington's farewell address to the nation; John Adams's term as president; Hamilton and Burr's famous and fatal duel, and the final reconciliation between Adams and Jefferson.Drawing on the words of the founders and incisive commentary from leading scholars, FOUNDING BROTHERS is an elegant and engaging portrait of America's origins in personal conflict and compromise.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

The political wrangles of a fledgling country may sound dull compared to the drama of a war, but the early history of the United States only gets more fascinating as the Revolutionary War is left behind. Founding Brothers, a documentary from the History Channel, examines the struggle to not only establish democracy, but to give it the economic strength and governmental structure that will allow it to survive and thrive. George Washington grappled not only with politics, but with questions of style and propriety--how should a president, as opposed to a king, behave? Understanding the conflicts between Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson will illuminate ideas that have shaped the government of the U.S. ever since. Founding Brothers provides a wealth of portraits and illustrations from the time, as well as discreet dramatizations, that bring the rise of party politics to life, humanizing these historical figures with tales of the scandals and squabbles they faced as well as their political achievements. An excellent introduction to the roots of the American experiment, and a bracing illustration of what Jefferson meant when he said of the presidency, "No man will bring out of that office the reputation which carried him into it." --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Praising the Federalists (Hamiltonians).......2006-05-25

It pains my heart to see what is happening in the realm of the so-called American historian. And though I have a gleam of hope that the statements I am about to make do not apply to all American historians, one thing is true, and that is there is a bias among historians towards Hamiltonian principals of government to the disgust of the true American spirit of liberty and freedom. And though I support with vehemence the principals of Jeffersonian government as it existed during the early nineteenth century for about a quarter of a century, that does not blind me to the fact that Jefferson was a man who did make mistakes. But to exaggerate those mistakes to then become a staunch supporter of Hamilton is a grave mistake in this day and age. Hamilton is placed upon a pedestal constantly and applauded and showered with such laurels that these very praises make one suspicious to wonder if he deserves it. And a close examination of his philosophy will show that he is unworthy. My design is not to say we should attack his character as each man was flawed, but his principles of government are dangerous to the American people, and I am baffled to see how historians who are so astute should be blinded by his principals. It almost makes one wonder if they purposely are trying to shape the American mind to accept principles that would make us conform to our rights are being trampled upon. I want to be fair to those who may be naïve, but at the same time not to be willfully ignorant. We know currently we are living under a consolidated form of government never intended by the founding fore fathers, and I pray that our leading historians and teachers are not trying to make us accept it. I believe it is time to rise up against these abuses and to allow the common voice of the educated American to be heard again. Where is the voice of liberty?

And what I have just shared above is no different in this documentary. Hamilton is praised to such an extent where the historians evade certain issues as created by Hamilton himself and try to sweep it under a rug, while slashing Jefferson with such determination that one is left with a one sided view to the issue. More energy is placed upon Jefferson's character as a person. If we judged by that alone and put these men side by side we would have an endless list. The issue is not on character alone, but government strategy and foresight to lead a nation and a people to have a Democratic Republic. To fulfill the purpose of government and this is to protect the rights of the people. This is the crux of the matter. And I feel like they have fallen short in this documentary. The following is an enumeration of the biased view of Hamiltonian principles as shown in this documentary.

1.) The Alien & Sedition Acts - This documentary brings out the point that Adams made a bad decision by instituting these two laws, but it fails to show the Federalists view as a party of these bills. Anyone who knows their history understands full well that it was the radicals among the Federalists who wanted the Alien Bill. Furthermore it is true that Hamilton urged moderation but Hamilton didn't seek to prevent the bill. So in this documentary all that is sweep under the rug with Abigail Adams gave him poor advice. Shocking!

2.) Character Flaws between Jefferson & Hamilton - Over and over again Hamilton is made the saint and Jefferson the heathen. Hamilton's affair is covered in about five minutes, while the Sally Hemmings story covers about fifteen minutes. It speaks about how Jefferson NEVER freed any slaves except the Hemmings slaves. Now either this historian is ignorant to historical facts or just using another opportunity to slash Jefferson. Everyone knows that Jefferson freed more than just the Hemmings slave. He freed several slaves that had a trade because he felt like they could survive in a hostile environment, but of course you don't get that in this documentary. The documentary makes Hamilton a Christian and never clears Jefferson of not being Atheist. If you know your history that title was given to him because of his support to the French Revolution. And the documentary left out how Jefferson did not suppor the violence of the French Revolution and that towards the end of the French Revolution he was against it.

3.) Government Policies - While the documentary descibes the Presidential terms of Washington and how Jefferson and Hamilton were a part of the cabinet. Several decisions that Washington made were influenced by Hamilton. Many times especially on critical issues Washington would accept the advice of Hamilton above Jeffersons to the detriment of the country, but that is left out. Hamilton is praised for his financial genius (which we can't deny) but it was done without the consent of the people. This documentary leaves out how Hamiltons plan on Assumption (assuming the debts of states from the American Revolution)totally ripped off the people who fought in the American Revolution. These men were given notes with the promise that they would be paid, and because they needed money they gave these notes away to the wealthy men (Hamilton's supporters) way below costs, and later Hamilton helps push a bill to force the Federal government to accept those notes later at face value making Hamilton's supporters rich. But again that is left out! And the worse of all it doesn't mention the deragatory statements that were made by Hamilton about the American Constitution. If you think that Hamilton was a staunch support of preserving the rights or a Democratic Republic you are sadly mistaken. He supported it because it was the closest thing that he could get to wield sovereign power. Over and over he makes broad interpretations to the constitution, he assumes power that was not delegated. That is why Madison turned against him when he wanted to establish a National Bank. It was against the Constitution!! American's we forget that. Yet we praise what he did in establishing it. You are praising a violation of the very back bone of our nation. But of course this was all left out. I could say more, but these are my observations.

I will make it clear that I am a Jeffersonian when it comes to my political beliefs. And I am not because I agree with everything that Jefferson did, but I support his principles becasue these principles are the ones that guarantee that the rights of the people be protected from the encroachments of the Federal government. Anyone can see now that America is following Hamiltonian forms of government and as a result the rights of the people and the constiution has been trampled incessantly, and we have those who want to praise Hamilton, shocking! No wonder we are in a mess. I encourage you to get the facts. I recommend Claude Bowers book entitled Jefferson & Hamilton. It will open your eyes to the true facts so you can make intelligent decisions in regard to how our government is currently being run.

A good series on founding relationships.......2005-10-16

This series is based upon a book by the same title, 'Founding Brothers', by author Joseph J. Ellis, who also has written books on both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - hence it makes sense that there would be one book that brings the two of them together, along with other movers and shakers of the early American nationhood. Often referred to as 'founding fathers', in fact toward each other, they were more of a brotherhood. Hence Ellis' title.

We live in a time where the aging generation has been celebrated as 'the greatest generation', but for this title (and not meaning to take away anything of their achievement) they certain must acknowledge a rival, that being the generation of Americans who lived at the time of the Revolutionary War. Of course, this generation had a sense of greatness about it that made them conscious of what they were doing - George Washington deliberately lived and moved as if his every action would be the stuff of precedent; John Adams had his wife Abigail to begin saving his correspondence long before the outbreak of hostilities in the war.

Even with this sense about themselves, according to Ellis, 'Uncertainty, in fact, was the dominant mood at that moment' - the time when the Constitution was being drafted and ratified, there was no clear sense of what was meant by certain of the compromises, particularly the meaning of who 'the people' were in the legal and constitutional sense. If they weren't the federal government or the state governments, then just who were they?

Ellis identifies different possible ways of telling the early history of American nationhood, but most simply recapitulate the political debates of the time. Ellis sees these debates and early issues as setting the political stage for ongoing American development. He says, 'the revolutionary generation found a way to contain the explosive energies of the debate in the form of an ongoing argumetn or dialogue that was eventually institutionalised and rendered safe by the creation of political parties.' The issues of the Revolutionary period were not solved by the Constitution and early government development, according to Ellis, but rather enshrined and codified, indeed, woven into the very fabric of the nation as ongoing (and, as Ellis points out, only broke out into warfare during the Civil War).

This series develops the narrative across eight major characters, all of whom knew each other rather well. These figures are George Washington, John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr. These stories include the famous duel between Hamilton and Burr, a dinner party in which the location of the nation's capital city was decided, and George Washington's farewell address upon declining to run for a third term as president. He also recounts the on-again, off-again friendship and rivalry of Jefferson and Adams, up to the very point of Adams' death - his reported last words were about Jefferson, who died on the same day, in what seems like divinely inspired timing for both: July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of the nation.

The history is necessarily brief in the series; the book companion is not a lengthy one either - however, history is necessarily selective, and the point of this series seems to be to emphasise the personal relationships and interactions that led to the greater developments of the nation. The series does gloss over some of the better-known aspects of history to focus more intimately on the central characters and their lives - in such a short space of time, I feel the series has done a very good job at making this period in time come alive for the viewer, and will hopefully stimulate the viewer to read, both Ellis' book and beyond, to learn more about the foundation of the nation.

Founding Brothers.......2005-09-06

The rating above is not a correct one. This film was purchased for my grandson who needed it for a project he is involved with, and since he lives 350 miles away, I have not had a chance to talk with him about the quality of the film and its content. The service from Amazon was exceptional, and I have made two purchases since the one that is the subject of this rating. After I talk to my grandson, I will be glad to add to and correct this rating.

Become an Easy Expert on the Founding Fathers.......2005-08-26

If you are looking for answers as to how the Federal Bank began,how the branches of gov't or executive offices were created, this is the DVD for you. It is excellently put together. It easy to understand and engagingly presented and narrated. These men, such as Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams & Madison will come to life for you. You will also be introduced to famiiar names such as Aaron Burr, John Jay and John Hancock. The American Revolution is neatly woven through, letting you see how friendships were forged & rifts widened. And it leaves you wanting more! I read the book by J Ellis first however,and it was more interesting & exciting and gave more depth, which videos are usually lacking. Buy the book also and read it while you are watching,before or after!. True History buffs will love it, and you don't HAVE to hold a Doctorate in History to understand it. You will keep saying throughout, "oh, that's why it's that way today!" Well worth the money & the time. You'll watch it more than once. Guaranteed.

Surface Material.......2005-05-30

If you're 12 or under and you'd like to see a rudimentary telling of the early years of United States history, this is the DVD for you! Completely skipping over the ratification of the Constitution, this two-volume series jumps right into the first presidency of Washington from the Declaration of Indpendence. If that doesn't sound skant enough for you, it completely skips Madison's presidency, while devoting about 10 minutes to Hamilton's duel. Really poorly done unless you just want a rudimentary, selective overview.

Charlie Rose with Walter Isaacson, David McCullough & Joe Ellis (July 5, 2004)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Walter Isaacson, David McCullough & Joe Ellis (July 5, 2004)

Manufacturer: "Charlie Rose, Inc."
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

In honor of the 4th of July, Charlie takes a look at some of America's founding fathers by talking to their biographers: Walter Isaacson, author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life; David McCullough, author of John Adams; and Joe Ellis, author of Founding Brothers: A Revolutionary Generation, a book that examines the lives of John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.

Charlie Rose with Walter Isaacson; David McCullough; Joseph Ellis (July 4, 2003)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Walter Isaacson; David McCullough; Joseph Ellis (July 4, 2003)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

Description

A special show in honor of the Fourth of July. First, an interview with Walter Isaacson, biographer of Benjamin Franklin. Then, biographer David McCullough discusses his scholarship on John Adams which led to his bestselling book on the second United States President. Finally, Joseph Ellis talks about his book, Founding Brothers.

Charlie Rose with Nasser Al-Kidwa & Alon Pinkas; Joseph Ellis (June 4, 2001)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Nasser Al-Kidwa & Alon Pinkas; Joseph Ellis (June 4, 2001)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Special Interests | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Description

Following the first battle between the Israelis and Palestinians since Yasser Arafat's call for a Palestinian cease fire, Nasser Al-Kidwa, PLO Ambassador to the United Nations, and Alon Pinkas, Consul-General from Israel, discuss the continuing conflict between their two nations and why it has been so difficult to work for peace. Then, historian Joseph Ellis discusses his new book, Founding Brothers, which the author describes as "unsentimental, realistic, blood on the water" telling of the people responsible for creating the United States.

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