| First Founding Father - Richard Henry Lee and the call to independence
(2017)
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| Front Cover |
Book Details |
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| Genre |
Non-Fiction; Biography |
| Subject |
Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794; United States. Declaration of Independence - Signers - Biography; Revolutionaries - United States - Biography; Politicians - United States - Biography; United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783 - Biography; Virginia - Biography |
| Publication Date |
11/7/2017 |
| Format |
Hardcover (9.4
x
6.3
mm)
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| Publisher |
Da Capo Press |
| Language |
eng English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
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| Description |
| Before Washington, before Jefferson, before Franklin or John Adams, there was Lee--Richard Henry Lee, the First Founding FatherRichard Henry Lee was first to call for independence, first to call for union, and first to call for a bill of rights to protect Americans against government tyranny. A towering figure in America's Revolutionary War, Lee was as much the "father of our country" as George Washington, for it was Lee who secured the political and diplomatic victories that ensured Washington's military victories. Lee was critical in holding Congress together at a time when many members sought to surrender or flee the approach of British troops. Risking death on the gallows for defying British rule, Lee charged into battle himself to prevent British landings along the Virginia coast--despite losing most of his left hand in an explosion.A stirring, action-packed biography, First Founding Father will startle most Americans with the revelation that many historians have ignored for more than two centuries: Richard Henry Lee, not Thomas Jefferson, was the author of America's original Declaration of Independence. |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
2nd & Charles |
| Purchase Price |
$2.50 |
| Acquire Date |
8/26/2020 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
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| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
E302.6.L4 .U54 2017 |
| Dewey |
973.3092 |
| ISBN |
9780306825613 |
| Cover Price |
$28.00 |
| No. of Pages |
320 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
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| Notes/Review |
This one snuck up on me a bit. It wasn't on my to-read list, but the title interested me and I've read two of Unger's other books so I picked it up.
It ticks all the boxes: easy to read, has notes, bibliography, an index, and illustrations. The subject is fascinating, the author provides enough context to properly show the motivations of the players involved. To further sweeten the pot, the subject was a key figure in important events but is relatively forgotten today. What's not to like?
Richard Henry Lee was an important figure in the Lee dynasty in Virginia. (The family features many important men but is today notorious primarily for the deeds of the Confederate general who tried to undo everything his family worked to build.) On July 2, 1776, he issued a short declaration of independence which was superseded in history by the one two days later.
Unger makes it easy to sympathize with Richard Henry by pointing out his many views that resonate today. He didn't like the electoral college, spoke out about the evils of slavery (even though he owned slaves), wanted Senators to be popularly elected, was against the national bank, thought representatives had too many constituents, and was anti-federalist to the core.
And he thought the constitution as ratified was no better than the system he worked to be free from and arose in a process that was not legal. The convention was called for a specific task, not to devise a whole new constitution. He was offended by the hypocrisy of "We the People" given that the people had little to do with its creation.
Many of the outcomes he desired were achieved only much later, like the popular election of Senators. On those items he was ahead of his times; quite progressive. At the same time, he had many fears about the future. While the worst ones did not come to pass, it was not unreasonable for him to have those fears. |
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