User Reviews

In this History Channel documentary from 2002, there were good commentators and a decent narrative account of the American founders in the two decades following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Hour One

The opening program reviewed the major players who shaped the American nation's identity following the Revolutionary War: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Franklin. But it was Alexander Hamilton who served as second in command during the presidency of George Washington. With his intellect and genius for finance, Hamilton served to get the fledgling nation on its feet. One of the last acts of elder statesman Benjamin Franklin was his endorsement of the abolition of slavery in order to remain true to the nation's ideals.

Hour Two

The second program covers the decade of the 1790s and the two terms in office of President George Washington that was based in Philadelphia. What powers did the Constitution grant to the federal government? That question was answered in a set of growing pains and the evolution of political parties. For historian Joseph Ellis, the U.S. Constitution is a set of ambiguous precepts that required experimentation. A key development was on February 25, 1791 when President Washington signs into law Hamilton's bank bill. The furor after the Jay Treaty led to bitter political party rivalry and the permanent rift between Washington and Jefferson. Washington's Farewell Address stressed the importance of "America First" in foreign affairs.

Hour Three

With Washington's retirement, a new era began with an ideological struggle represented by the contrary positions of Hamilton and Jefferson. This was an age of political intrigue with caustic and slanderous accusations made in the press. When John Adams was elected president, he was essentially alone with both his vice-president and cabinet members opposed to his policies. Adams' #1 crisis was the possibility of war with France. His diplomatic efforts led to the XYZ scandal with corrupt French officials. What followed was the Quasi War. A surge in popularity resulted for Adams and a downward spiral for the other Federalists. Adams's greatest confidante was his wife Abigail. But she gave him poor advice in enacting the Alien and Sedition Acts. In an "angry snit," Adams dismissed two of his cabinet members and had a falling out with Hamilton. But Adams' crowning achievement was peace with France, though he would leave office a lonely man.

Hour Four

On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson wrote one of the most famous of presidential inaugural addresses. He also penned a phony letter that appeared in print in newspapers with the attempt of singing his own praises. This was an age where character assassination was prevalent in newspapers. As president, Jefferson's goal was to establish "pure republicanism" in the nation that included participatory government. The greatest challenge of Jefferson's presidency was how to deal with the war in Europe. His controversial embargo plan led to outrage among merchants, but it also kept America out of the war.

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A theme that was effectively traced through the programs was the unbounded sense of Enlightenment optimism of the founders. In production values the series was not as successful. The acting was stiff and stilted, and the program would have been stronger without the amateur dramatizations, which came across as ludicrous pantomimes. The strength was in the biographical profiles and the political highlights from the period of 1788-1808.