8 Best Books About the Founding Fathers

Published: December 27, 2021

The Founding Fathers of the United States was a group of men that created the nation. They turned the thirteen independent colonies into one nation.

They wrote the Constitution, elected officials to run the country, and created the backbone of the federal government we know today.

Our list of books about the Founding Father's will help you understand who they were and which pieces of the government they fought to include.

Books About the Founding Fathers

1. Washington: A Life

Washington: A Life

Written By: Ron Chernow

Published: October 5th, 2010

Pages: 928

Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow is a biography of George Washington. This book talks about the life and times of our first president. It also covers his childhood, education, military career, presidency, retirement from public life, and death.

The author has done an excellent job researching the material for this book. He provides a great deal of information about Washington's personality traits and how they influenced his actions during different periods of his life.

He also discusses how historians have interpreted these aspects through time to create one or many versions of George Washington's story depending on what was going on at that particular time in America's history. He was the president from 1789 – 1797.

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2. Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

Written by: Ron Chernow

Published: April 26th, 2004

Pages: 818

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow is a biography of one of America's Founding Fathers. This book covers his entire life, from his childhood to creating the Federalist Papers and the ratification of the Constitution. He was also the highest-ranking officer in the Army when France seemed imminent in 1798.

The author discusses how the country was in debt after fighting for independence and how Hamilton helped create an economic system to avoid such problems. He also discusses other members of Congress who had conflicting opinions with him about what should be done to fix this issue, like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He was killed during a duel with Aaron Burr.

>> More books about Alexander Hamilton

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3. Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

Benjamin Franklin

Written by:  Walter Isaacson

Published: July 1st, 2003

Pages: 590

Benjamin Franklin is one of America's most famous Founding Fathers. Originally a slaveholder, and seller, he later worked to abolish it, although he was unsuccessful. Walter Isaacson, who has written biographies of Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, and Benjamin Franklin (among others), takes us on a journey through the life of this genius inventor, printer, diplomat, and so much more.

In his book, he explores how Ben's curiosity led to groundbreaking inventions like bifocal glasses, the lightning rod, and the Franklin stove. He also tells how Ben helped draft the Declaration of Independence and negotiated with France for needed financial support during the Revolutionary War. Instead of only listening to the elite, he thought highly of the average man in society and paid attention to their beliefs.

4. John Adams

John Adams

Written by: David McCullough

Published: May 1st, 2001

Pages: 751

John Adams is a well-known founding father and second president of the United States. His life has been chronicled in various forms, including books, movies, TV shows, but never by McCullough. This biography gives an intimate look into John Adams' personal life as he rose from lawyer to revolutionary leader and eventually President of the United States of America.

He had many notable accomplishments, such as his diplomatic missions to France and England that helped secure American independence from Great Britain. He was also regarded as one of the most intelligent founding fathers by many people.

The book also focuses on his family, including his wife, Abigail Adams. She was instrumental in keeping their family together while apart for long periods during their revolution days. He was the president from 1797 – 1801.

5. Samuel Adams: A Life

Samuel Adams: A Life

Written by: Ira Stoll

Published: November 4th, 2008

Pages: 339

Samuel Adams is one of America's most celebrated Founding Fathers, and his life is the subject of a new book by Ira Stoll.  Born in 1722, Adams was heavily involved in the agitation leading up to the American Revolution and served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He is also credited with helping draft the Declaration of Independence. After the war, Adams served as governor of Massachusetts and played a significant role in shaping early America.

Even today, Adams remains an important symbol of American independence and patriotism. His life is an exciting story worth exploring, and Stoll does an excellent job bringing it to light. If you're interested in American history or want to learn more about one of our country's most influential figures. He also became famous, later in life, for being an accomplished brewer of beer.

6. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

Written by: Jon Meacham

Published: November 13th, 2012

Pages: 759

Thomas Jefferson is one of the most iconic figures in United States history. His name is synonymous with liberty and democracy. But what many don't know is that Jefferson was also a master of political power. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham takes a fascinating look at the different sides of Jefferson's complex personality. Meacham shows how Jefferson used both words and deeds to build an empire of influence and make his mark on the world.

Jefferson was known to be one of the most intriguing founding fathers because he was able to use his powers of persuasion and his knowledge of how the human mind works to help this young nation progress and become a powerful player in world events.

Using information gained from his times spent in France, Britain, and the United States, Meacham shows how Thomas Jefferson became the perfect man for these difficult times. He was president from 1801 – 1809.

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7. James Madison: A Life Reconsidered

James Madison: A Life Reconsidered

Written by: Lynne Cheney

Published: May 6th, 2014

Pages: 576

When it comes to the study of American history, James Madison is a name that will be well known. He helped draft and ratify the Constitution, was instrumental in shaping America's two-party political system ironically named the “Democratic-Republican Party", and he penned one of the most critical documents in US history: The Federalist Papers.

But when we talk about James Madison today, what do we know? Where did this founding father come from? Why should we care about him outside of his contributions to early American democracy? What does he have to offer us regarding our own lives here and now?

As you read Cheney’s biography about him, you’ll learn that and so much more. He was president from 1809 – 1817.

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8. John Jay: Founding Father

John Jay: Founding Father

Written by: Walter Stahr

Published: March 15th, 2005

Pages: 496

The book John Jay: Founding Father by Walter Stahr is an excellent read for anyone interested in American History. The author paints a vivid picture of the life of this founding father, who was one of the most influential people in early America.  It is easy to see how he became so critical when reading about his many accomplishments and contributions during that time. Although John Jay was a significant founding father, he is often forgotten or ignored.

He fought for independence from England, helped write the Constitution, negotiated peace treaties with France and Spain, served as President of Congress under George Washington's administration. He also signed all four key documents that would lead to American independence- the Declaration of Independence, Treaty with Great Britain, Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.

Amazingly, this is just a shortlist of what he accomplished in his lifetime.