E Pluribus Unum: The Formation of the American Republic, 1776–1790

In the 1920s and 30s socialism was all the rage among the "literate" types in US universities as well as Universities world-wide. A writer named Charles Beard made a name for himself in the field of American historiography by claiming that the Founders wrote the Constitution based only on their avarice and greed, that economics was the sole reason that the country was formed. And it was an economics of exclusion, greed and elitism that they created, too. Beard was an avowed socialist and communist and his agenda was to knock down the USA's reputation as the democratic light of the world a few pegs, if not to totally destroy it. He succeeded for several decades. Then came Forrest McDonald.. In 1965, McDonald shattered that anti-American, socialist paradigm. In his two most important books, E Pluribus Unum and Novus Oedo Seclorum, he revealed the philosophical influences as well as the economic ones that guided the minds of the Founders and their contemporaries. And exclusion, elitism and avarice were not some of those principles and philosophies. McDonald's works are easily read by one not historically versed and clearly laid out. They are a must read if you want an introduction to early American thinkers and their goals and influences.

It appears that one person from the same university reviewed the book 3 times and gave it only one star. Someone is trying to smear the book and bring down its rating.. Read it for yourself and ignore the ramblings of ignorant, lazy college kids.

Clearly the people who have written negative reviews of this book are college students who don't like to read anything that is not simplistic and obvious. For those who want to delve into the the amazingly complex world of the founders this is an amazing book. McDonald understands that history is an uncomfortable jumble of noble ideas and petty self-interest that lead to actions that are often contradictory. Unfortunately today's college students not only do not want to understand the complexity of history, but they also absolutely resent it. This book is for those not satisfied with the kind of history that reduces everything to the level of a cable television documentary. McDonald is one of the greatest historians of American history. He is unique in that his work is both very literary and scholarly. He stand outside the mainstream of historians who crave popularity over achievement. His books are among the few that I read more once. His histories are not for the MTV generation.

Dr. McDonald makes the Revolutionary period come to life. He was a Pulitzer finalist for Novus Ordo Seclorum & does similarly impressive work here. He does expect the reader to have some knowledge of the period, as some reviewers have suggested, of course the text is written for students of American History.