America's Second Revolution: How George Washington Defeated Patrick Henry and Saved the Nation

I have read many versions of the events that led up to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the emotional debate that followed the Constitution's framing and its subsequent adoption, but I have never seen this period of America's history portrayed move vividly or in greater detail than in this work by Harlow Giles Unger. As stated in the opening of this work, contrary to popular political myth, independence from England did not send Americans gliding peacefully into self government under constitutional rule. Within a short time the nation was deep in the grip of anarchy and civil strife, with farmers in rebellion in the countryside across three states, separatists close to seizing power in five states and six states warring with one another over territorial claims. Shots had been fired; battles were fought! Virginia troops clashed with Pennsylvania troops in the West and Connecticut and Pennsylvania troops in the East. New York and New Hampshire troops fought to a standstill over southern Vermont while Ethan Allen subsequently threw them all out and declared Vermont a free and independent nation seeking reconciliation with British Canada. The road to independence had led straight to hell, as state militias, baptized in the blood of an eight year war with England, fought to determine what kind of nation each individual state would become. Passionate, fervently held beliefs and state self interest were leading the Confederation straight into civil war. Against this setting the Constitutional Convention was called. Amazingly, it ignored its instructions to modify the current form of government and worked assiduously to develop a totally new system of governance that, as we all know, centralized certain powers in a much stronger, overarching, regulatory body. The reaction of almost a majority of the nation was anything but positive with stalwart patriots as Virginia's Patrick Henry and New York's George Clinton threatening to secede and form a new middle confederacy with North Carolina. It was pandemonium. As the Constitution was debated, mobs ran riot in big cities - Philadelphia, New York and Providence - and in smaller ones such as Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Albany, New York. Harlow Unger is an excellent historian and an even better writer who has an uncanny knack for conveying the intensity of emotion and impassioned stress that surround the angst of those times. And while we all know the final result of that turbulence, Unger writes with an up tempo rush, leaving the reader with a different view of those events and a very visceral understanding of what a very close thing the concept of America was."The Declaration of Independence liberated one continent from dominance by another, but the Constitution revolutionized the world by entrusting its citizenry with rights never before in history granted to ordinary men - and eventually women." Well said Mr. Unger, and very, very well done!

Tremendous book on how Washington, in alliance with key members of the revolution, Hamilton, Madison and Jay, step forward to improve the weak Articles of Confederation with a central Federal Constitution that establishes a central government that can establish foreign affairs, commerce, develop an army/navy for defense and work for the common good for the nation over all. The opposition is from predominately large states, New York and Virginia whose opposition can lead to a fracturing of the States needed to approve the constitution. With opposition led by Henry, the great orator, along with George Mason; Virginia is on the verge of voting against the constitution. Governor Clinton of NY, secure in power and the financial gains of NY in charging interstate fees for commerce is another leader of the anti-Federalists. The author details the key conflicts, primarily the distrust of the western residents made up of frontiersman and farmers who feel neglected by the eastern aristocracy, along with those who value States rights in fear of a central demagogue. The most entertaining part of the book is the battle of Virginia where the Virginia legislature debates the passing of the Constitution with the gifted speaker Henry on center stage, flamboyant, charismatic; Henry electrifies his argument and appeal to the westerners. Federalists, led by Madison, use logical and legal arguments that are Henry's less then proficient abilities. Also, Unger discusses the roles of Hamilton, Madison and Jay in writing the famous Federalist papers that battle Clinton publicly in NY where both parties write under symbolic names. Also, fascinating is the final tactic that Hamilton and Washington to move the Congress out of its lethargy to initially pass the constitution, moving it forward to the States for ratification. Hamilton's 9 hour speech shocks the congress; which was his purpose, into rebuffing what could be a more fearful state of government, monarchy. Although a method to cajole the congress, Hamilton's political enemies in the future would use that speech against him, knowing full well what its original purpose was. Even after the Constitution is passed by the majority of the States, the conflict is not over as Henry leads a campaign to have anti-Federalists dominated the new government's legislature. Madison is a key player in preventing Henry's political disruption and makes a political move that initially infuriates the Federalists as he supports a bill of rights to amend the Constitution that turns into a brilliant compromise deflating much of the anti-Federalist's argument. The history also provides a fascinating look at the States back then, Rhode Island who was benefiting from its geographic location on the sea between two large trade States was the most reluctant to join due to their financial boondoggle of having ports and sea lanes that were primary areas of commerce. Excellent book, well written, replete with reasonable and fascinating biographies

A highly readable and smooth flowing account of writing, amending, and ratifying the Constitution, this book gives George Washington the full credit he deserves for this colossal accomplishment. Because he worked behind the scenes and through others, his role has often been considred secondary to those of Adams and Madison. Harlow Giles Unger shows us that this was just not so. A fitting follow up to his The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life, and his magnificent Lafayette biography