An interview with historian and author H. W. Brands
about his new book Founding Partisans
In our latest episode, we welcomed historian and author H. W. Brands to the show to talk about his newest book “Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics.”
Listen here:
We’re also giving away a copy of Founding Partisans – enter to win here by March 8th!
If you’re interested in these topics and this era, you might enjoy these other episodes of Plodding Through The Presidents:
A Perfect Monster: Burr, Hamilton, and the Manhattan Company
Washington and Madison’s Founding Fracture
Alexander Hamilton & John Adams: A Superabundance of Hate
Brands discussed James Madison’s political metamorphosis from author of the Federalist Papers to founding a party to fight the Federalists, why everyone hated Alexander Hamilton, the founders’ fears of a demagogue influencing the people to gain power for themselves, and how Donald Trump is different from every other president.
I don’t agree with all of Brands’ characterizations in Founding Partisans—I think he is way too soft on Jefferson and too harsh on Adams in his section on the Election of 1800, for example. But it’s a compelling primer on the formation of parties from his viewpoint, and I really enjoyed our conversation and I think you will too.
Listen here:
