Discussion Guide – Leaders of the American Revolution

1. Other than the most famous Founders (Washington, Adams, Jefferson, etc.), whom did you find most interesting and why?

2. Describe the philosophical differences between the Federalists and the Jeffersonians.

3. What roles did women play?

4. Why was the phrase “Taxation without representation” so important to the American colonists?

5. How does the education, at Harvard, for example, of many of the revolutionary leaders differ from the typical college education of today?

6. Which do you believe is more important today, a strong Federal government or States’ rights?  

7. Even some of the Framers are relatively unknown.  Examples include Roger Sherman, who signed the Declaration, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, James Wilson, and Edmund Randolph (also the first Attorney General of the United States).  Why are they not household names?

8. Why are the checks and balances in the Constitution described in the book as brilliant?

9. Why did many of the Founders consider the Articles of Confederation inadequate and therefore hold a constitutional convention?

10. Originally, the Judicial Branch of government was considerably weaker than the Executive and Legislative branches.  Describe what happened to make the Judicial branch more powerful.

11. Why did some of the Leaders of the American Revolution refuse to sign the Constitution?