Lesson plans, primary sources, quotes and games from our nation's leaders...
http://ushistorysite.com/presidents.php
Here's a fun presidents name game for the holiday... http://ushistorysite.com/games/president_hangman.php
Showing posts with label Presidents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presidents. Show all posts
Monday, February 20, 2012
Ladies and Gentlemen... The Presidents of The United States
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Why Every President Sucked...
I recently received an email from Eric Olsen, a marketing writer and consultant. He seems like a brilliant chap. One of those guys that's good at everything... he appears to be very successful in life and in career. The reason he contacted me... is because he's also a musician and historian at heart. He's taken his musical talents, mixed them with some wit and cynicism... and he's put together a compilation of songs with the theme that every President has not met expectations.
His website: WhyEveryPresidentSucked.com has the intent of ridding our society of the search for the perfect president. It won't happen.
There is a lot of truth to what he's saying... but there are also some things I might argue...
For example, in his song about Lincoln Eric states through his lyric...
"the sad thing is
for the cost of the war
you could have bought and freed
every slave you’re fighting for..."
But Lincoln didn't want to free the slaves. He wanted to preserve the union. Buying all the slaves from the Southern plantations would not have done anything to mend the divide between North and South. The south was fighting for preservation of their culture. Preservation of their economy, their way of life. The slave owners would not have allowed anyone to buy their freedom in mass numbers like that.
Overall the idea is brilliant... This can undoubtedly be used in the classroom. Choose an era or a president and show the song and the lyric in class. Discuss. Find the faults, find the truths, find the reasons why the President "sucked". I know the kids will love this. Have them make their own songs... Send them to Eric, I'm sure he'd love to hear them.
Each president has a short summary of the imperfect event or happenings that work as the theme for the song, as well as the lyrics for better understanding.
Below is his 'Why JFK Sucked' song... with lyrics.
"The CIA sent 1,500 Cubans to Cochinos Bay
Exiles armed and ready to revenge of Fidel
And to mimic a natural uprising
Defeating Castro’s communizing ways
And the deal was that the U.S. had their backs
If things would go awry
Awry they went, but no one came
Where was JFK
Who promised he would save the day
the bay of pigs
it was a big
disaster for America
rather than an uprising
everything came down
Where was JFK
Who promised he would save the day
And to save the little pretty face he had left
he had to pay Castro $53 million to get the prisoner’s back
Where was JFK
Who promised he would save the day"
10 Greenest Presidents
It was only a matter of time before a list like this surfaced. Many administrations did excellent work in promoting environmental and sustainable causes. These are the 10 best.
- Teddy Roosevelt - Comes as no surprise... He's the original Environmentalist
- Jimmy Carter - he was always more of a humanitarian than an executive anyway...
- Thomas Jefferson - Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clarke did a lot for his ranking.
- Bill Clinton - With Gore over his shoulder, you'd expect some change...
- Richard Nixon - he made the list of Presidents with the worst environmental record too...
- Franklin Roosevelt - Civilian Conservation Corps... part of the New Deal
- Abraham Lincoln - established the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Lyndon Johnson - protected 9 million acres of land with the Wilderness Act
- Woodrow Wilson - oversaw the creation of the National Park Service... (Teddy's idea...)
- John Kennedy - had his guys look into the effect of pesticides and chemicals... laying groundwork for the EPA.
To read more about each President and their contributions go to the Daily Green
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/greenest-presidents-460808 - You can also see a list of the Presidents with the worst environmental policy...
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Great Virginia Triumvirate; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson & James Madison
I love the University of Virginia Press. And I think they love me. They send me the best books. And what's great about the University of Virginia Press is the fact that their books are Virginia-centric. This means, you'll find a lot of books on Washington, Jefferson, Madison, et. al.
The most recent of these books is entitled, The Great Virginia Triumvirate: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson & James Madison, In the Eyes of Their Contemporaries.
With the help of these three men, Virginia played an important role in the fight for independence. And as one of the largest and wealthiest of the colonies, they played an equally important role in helping to set up the new republic. This is demonstrated with the number of Virginians who played key roles in guiding the fledgling nation.
Washington as Commander in Chief and Army General, Thomas Jefferson as a statesman and scholar and James Madison as the "Father of Our Constitution".
Author John Kaminski, who's Founders on the Founders is an excellent glimpse into the lives of our forefathers through personal quotes from journals and writings. His knack for using candid dialogue and letters to bring personality to the founders is once again brought back in The Great Virginia Triumvirate.
This is a series of biographical portraits that bring these three men to life through the words of these three Virginians themselves.
Take for example the idea that Jefferson once told John Adams that he had not written about his life or a history of his time because he found his correspondence to be more direct and honest. This in turn would provide a more accurate history of the time.
Taken from letters, speeches, diaries and memoirs, the quotations and vignettes bring to life the personalities behind the public personae of these great men.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
US Presidents Race
Those that have been reading this blog know that I'm a baseball fan. Much more than a baseball fan, I've been a die-hard Phillies' fan my entire life. As a kid I had some very lean years in the mid-80s. Lately, as you may well know, the Phillies have made up for many of those last place finishes. The city has really embraced this team.
Tonight the Phillies are playing the Washington Nationals.
I think it's worth mentioning that the Nationals have a pretty cool tradition at their home games that has great historical significance.
Much like a minor league baseball stunt, to keep the fans entertained between innings, there is a Presidential race. Only this race involves four mascots representing the four presidents on Mount Rushmore.
Every game, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt compete. The race originated as a scoreboard graphic, but has morphed into the "live-action" race pictured above.
There is a running joke that Teddy Roosevelt never wins. He'll often become distracted, or become disqualified for numerous reasons.
For more information about the race, you can read more at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidents_Race
By the way, the Phillies are currently winning 6-3 in the 7th.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
100 Online Documentaries for Presidential History
Once again, in an effort to create more back links to their site to increase page rankings in the search engines, the wonderful team at online universities dot com has put together a cool list for us history buffs.
This one, is a list of the documentaries that have focused on presidents and their administration. Our commanders-in-chief are often the subject of documentaries and films, and now you've got many of them all in one place.
Here's the link: 100 Excellent Online Documentaries for Presidential History Buffs
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Presidents 3-DVD Set Give Away...
In honor of President's Day, A&E Home Entertainment is having a special on "The Presidents" documentary on iTunes! You can download all eight episodes of the documentary for only 99 cents each.
The Presidents 3-DVD set is an eight-part survey of the personal lives and legacies of the remarkable men who have presided over the Oval Office.
From George Washington to George W. Bush, The Presidents gathers together vivid snapshots of all 43 Commanders in Chief who have guided America throughout its history--their powerful personalities, weaknesses, and major achievements or historical insignificance.
Based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning book by James McPherson, The Presidents features rare and unseen photographs and footage, unexpected insight and trivia from journalists, scholars, and politicians such as Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, Wesley Clark, Bob Dole, and former President Jimmy Carter. Viewed within the changing contexts of each administration, the Presidency has never seemed more compelling and human. Narrated by Edward Herrmann (The Aviator), this three-DVD set is a proud addition to the award-winning documentary tradition of THE HISTORY CHANNEL.
Link to The Presidents on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/
If you've got iTunes or an iPod or any other iProduct that could download the information, the entire set is yours for about $8 bucks until February 23. Each episode is about 45 minutes long, so that's a pretty good buy. If you don't want to shell out the money, I'm giving one away. A&E has agreed to send one to me, and one to one of my readers.
So here's the deal.
To enter into the Free DVD sweepstakes tell me which President you'd most like to spend a day with, and tell me what you'd do. I'm looking for historical accuracy and creativity.
Good luck.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
What would Teddy Roosevelt think about Michael Vick?
Many of you may know I live and breathe Philadelphia. I was born and raised in the outskirts of this town and I'm proud to now live within it's boundaries. With that, comes a love for the Philadelphia Eagles.
For the record, I support the franchise and it's signing of Michael Vick. Many outsiders probably don't understand head coach Andy Reid and the problems his two oldest sons have had with drugs and run-ins with the law. To make a long story short, they've made some terrible decisions, and they've been given a second chance. Michael Vick deserves that chance too.
And as it turns out, the day after the Eagles' shocked the world by signing Michael Vick, was a day I was able to look into the past and find out what Teddy Roosevelt might think about what Michael Vick did. Douglas Brinkley's book The Wilderness Warrior, gives us a glimpse of Roosevelt's views on animal cruelty.
Roosevelt, an avid hunter, had no problem defending his seemingly hypocritical beliefs. It would be a difficult task to find someone who loves hunting - and eating game - more than Roosevelt. His defense? Darwinism. Stay with me here... In the wild, the death of the hunted was very violent, where prey were often torn to pieces by their predators. Hunting, if done correctly, was a more human way of killing the animal. Roosevelt insisted that hunters follow an ethical code to make it a true gentleman sport. He didn't like traps or abusive treatment of wild or domestic animals. Even cattle and lambs brought to slaughter should be handled with dignity. The Roosevelt family, firmly believed that animal shelters and sterilization methods needed to be established in major cities. So I think we can conclude that Roosevelt would not have approved of dog fighting.
As a child a horse being flogged or a dog being kicked made Roosevelt sick. President Roosevelt believed that all animals could feel pain, and therefore deliberate infliction of pain had to be stopped. Roosevelt also believed that some animals had emotions and thought similar to humans. To quote him...
"I believe that the higher mammals and birds have reasoning powers, which differ in degree rather than kind from the lower reasoning powers of, for instance, the lower savages."
Roosevelt's grandfather, Cornelius V.S. Roosevelt and his grand-uncle John J. Roosevelt both played integral parts in the establishment and incorporation of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Theodore Roosevelt: The Wilderness Warrior - A Man Before His Time
What's amazing about the quote below, is not the eloquence of the statement, but the idea behind it. A man before his time, often criticized for his desire to preserve land, Theodore Roosevelt's quotes are even more special today. Our new found desire for greenness, and the reality of environmental awareness as a true virtue and the destruction of it as a true problem, make Teddy's words that much more important.
Used as in introduction to the The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America
"Defenders of the short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination of all useful and beautiful wild things sometimes seek to champion them by saying the 'the game belongs to the people.' So it does; and not merely to the people now alive, but to the unborn people. The 'greatest good for the greatest number' applies to the number within the womb of time, compared to which those now alive form but an insignificant fraction. Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us restrain an unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations. The movement for the conservation of wild life and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method."- Theodore Roosevelt, A Book-Lover's Holidays in the Open (1916)
The picture here shows Roosevelt hiking Yosemite with Sierra Club founder John Muir. Roosevelt should be commended for setting aside so much land. The land TR saved for the National Forests was greater than France, Belgium and Holland combined.Roosevelt is a gem, and we are very lucky that he took the initiative to make conservation a national endeavor.
A book I'm reviewing now focuses on exactly this...
Roosevelt's role as the "naturalist president". The book, entitled The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America,
I'm enjoying this book so much - you'll probably see several blog entries from me concerning this book... great research, great read.
Click here to check out the book and read some reviews.
More Roosevelt Quotes:
http://ushistoryquotes.com/teddy
http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/quotes.htm
John Muir Quotes:
http://ushistoryquotes.com/john_muir_quotes.php
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Mister James K. Polk, our 11th President
There are many of us who find the presidency of James K. Polk to be interesting. After all, he did accomplish a lot in his one and only term. He also adds to the allure of his legacy by opting not to run for a second term.
Most notably famous for his successful foreign policy. First he acquired lots of land in the Pacific Northwest by threatening to go to war with Britain, essentially taking what we know of as the Oregon Territory. Next, he was president during the Mexican–American War which resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, where the United States took land from Mexico. James K. Polk is manifest destiny at it's finest, in all Polk was able to secure over 900,000 square miles for the expansion of the United States.
For a history teacher, this is pretty cool stuff. But for a student....? Aahh, maybe not so interesting. So how about teaching about James K. Polk through song. The band They Might be Giants (TMBG) makes it easy for you.
Click the play button below, and read the lyric and I'm sure you'll agree that they've got the facts straight. Then go to TMBG's page below for an annotated version of their lyrics.
James K. Polk Lyrics
Artist: They Might Be Giants
Album: Factory Showroom
In 1844, the Democrats were split
The three nominees for the presidential candidate
Were Martin Van Buren, a former president and an abolitionist
James Buchanan, a moderate
Louis Cass, a general and expansionist
From Nashville came a dark horse riding up
He was James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He's just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
And annex the land the Mexicans command
And when the votes were cast the winner was
Mister James K. Polk, Napoleon of the Stump
In four short years he met his every goal
He seized the whole southwest from Mexico
Made sure the tarriffs fell
And made the English sell the Oregon territory
He built an independent treasury
Having done all this he sought no second term
But precious few have mourned the passing of
Mister James K. Polk, our eleventh president
Young Hickory, Napoleon of the Stump
Here's a link to TMBG's site and some explanations of the lyrics.
http://www.tmbg.org/learning/jameskpolk/
Kudos to TMBG for making it easy for teachers to use their song in class.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
US History Caption Contest
I thought it might be a good idea to take a look at some interesting photographs from our great American history and have some fun with them. And lately I've been at a loss for entries, while other things occupy my time - so I thought I could leave the writing to you.
Think of a clever caption to go along with this picture of FDR and Churchill. The best caption will have an opportunity to shamelessly plug their favorite blog or website. Good luck!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Presidential Love Letters
For Valentine's Day, I thought it would be clever to write my wife a love letter/poem using the words from some of our greatest couples. So I did some research to see what I could come up with. I was pleased to find a variety of resources online that had primary sources and transcripts of letters written from soldiers, presidents and first ladies.
John and Abigail Adams
The first letters I attempted to find were those from John and Abigail Adams. As was the custom in those times, both John and Abigail chose pen names. John was Lysander, a Spartan war hero. Abigail at first was Diana, the Goddess of the moon, but later used the name Portia, the wife of Brutus a great Roman politician. Below is a letter from Abigail to her "Dearest Friend" John, from December 23, 1782.
See more letters and more information about John and Abigail below: http://www.libraryonline.com/default.asp?pID=57…should I draw you the picture of my Heart, it would be what I hope you
still would Love; tho it contained nothing new; the early possession you
obtained there; and the absolute power you have ever maintained over it; leaves
not the smallest space unoccupied.
My Dearest Friend, Letters of Abigail and John Adams
Abraham Lincoln
Nothing would make me more miserable than to believe you miserable – nothing
more happy, than to know you were so... ...If it suits you best to not
answer this farewell – a long life and a merry one attend you.
Harry Truman
And though these are not transcribed and tough to read, here are some letters from Harry Truman courting his love.
Other Presidents
And finally... a Who Said it? Presidential quiz featuring love letters from some our nation's great leaders. http://ww.neh.gov/news/humanities/2009-01/LoveLetters.html
And on a final note concerning The Kennedy's. It is reported that Jackie had burned her letters from celebrity suitors so that her secret affairs would remain a secret.
I'm sure there are plenty more out there, so if this has peaked your interest. Off you go... find more. And please share them here... Happy Valentine's!
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Thinkin' You Know Lincoln? - Lincoln Lesson Plan Contest
In honor of Lincoln's 200th Birthday on February 12th, the History Channel is sponsoring a Lincoln Lesson Plan Contest.
Teachers have until April 8, 2009 to submit a lesson plan to be judged on relevance to curriculum, clarity of expression, use of primary sources and innovative and/or multi-media strategies, and an explanation of the assessment method.
For more information about the Abraham Lincoln contest, click on the link below:http://www.history.com/content/give-a-lincoln/lincoln-contest-for-students-and-teachers
After clicking on the link, be sure to check out the teacher resources on the right side of the ensuing page. It's a collection of discussion questions and extension activities that go along with a video you can purchase from the History Channel, but in my experience, you can often find something similar for free in other places.
For more Abe Lincoln resources, check out some of the sources below:
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Obama Follows in Lincoln's Footsteps
Most of us are familiar with President Obama wanting to take a train from Philadelphia, to his inauguration in Washington, D.C. Obama wanted to trace the route Lincoln took to his inauguration.
Obama's trip included a stop in Delaware to pick up Vice President-elect Joe Biden and a stop in Baltimore for a speech. But Lincoln was not originally scheduled to go to Delaware.
Lincoln was scheduled to make the trip from Springfield, east to Philadelphia to Harrisburg and finally from Harrisburg to Baltimore. But his trip did not go as planned.
So why did Lincoln make a stop in Philadelphia? And what happened that forced him to change his plans?
On February 11, 1861, Lincoln bid adieu to his supporters in Springfield, Illinois, and boarded a train east with an eventual destination of Washington. With several stops along the way, Lincoln finally arrived in Philadelphia on February 21.
Here is a link to one of his stops in Peekskill, NY, on February 19.
http://www.johngtesta.com/lincoln.html
The website belongs to the Mayor of Peekskill, John Testa and has some pretty cool information about Lincoln's stop there, and a statue dedication. Seems like a cool resource for Lincoln aficianados.
February 21st was George Washington's Birthday, and Lincoln was in Philadelphia to celebrate the event at Independence Hall. The night before arriving in Philadelphia, Lincoln's party was alerted to a plot to assassinate the President-elect by derailing the train from Harrisburg to Baltimore and killing Lincoln and everyone on board, or by attacking his carriage once he reached Baltimore.
Because of this, Lincoln decided to change his plans. He continued to Harrisburg as scheduled, but then decided to secretly return to Philadelphia to avoid the assassination attempt. All telegraph lines from Harrisburg were cut and guards were posted at various points along the train's route to ensure Lincoln's safety.
Once in Philadelphia, Lincoln transferred to a train in Wilmington, Delaware and then was once again secretly carried to Baltimore. He arrived in Washington on February 23, safely and in plenty of time before his March 4th inauguration.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Barrack Obama Innauguration Lesson Plans
My school district, was nice enough to provide it's teachers with curriculum guides for Tuesday's historic innauguration.
So I'll simply share them with you: http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/curriculum/supports/08-09/Inaug.htm
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Failures of the Presidents: Book Review
Failures of the Presidents: From the Whiskey Rebellion and War of 1812 to the Bay of Pigs and War in Iraq
The book's interesting cover is enough to grab your attention. But the interest doesn't stop there. Failures of the Presidents is a quick witted, sarcastic, informative and entertaining look at some of the greatest Presidents' not so great moments.
Though many of the vignettes within the book are familiar only to those that study the subject, the authors do a great job of bringing the reader up to speed quickly so that the context of the chapter is not lost. The book is meant to be read by everyone.
The writing style is well suited for a quick, fun read. Filled with clever comparisons and sarcastic wit, Failures of the Presidents brings a sense of humor to what is usually a more serious subject. But don't let the cover or the clever writing fool you... there are some serious issues addressed.
In all, 20 presidents are highlighted... each a story of its own, making this a great book of short reads. But it is much, much more than one of those quick facts, "Did you know?" type of books many of us get suckered into browsing at the book store. This has some meat.
The images in the book make it great for the coffee table, not to mention the conversation piece the cover can become. It's not often that history books give you pictures to ponder while reading... but the coffee table style of this book is a very welcome deviation to the common history book.
If you've read this book, or anything like it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.... I'm currently reading Secret Lives of the US Presidents
Both books are in my recommended section in the USHistorySite Online Store... click here to see all my recommended items.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Election Day: November 4, 2008: Quotes & Votes
With today's election in the balance, I thought these quotes, from past presidents, to be appropriate. I don't care who you vote for... as long as you vote.
Happy Election Day!
"The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter." - Dwight Eisenhower
"The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all."- JFK"I hope that no American will waste his franchise and throw away his vote by voting either for me or against me solely on account of my religious affiliation. It is not relevant." - JFK
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." - John Quincy Adams
"The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men." - Lyndon Johnson
"Voters quickly forget what a man says." - Richard Nixon
"When a fellow tells me he's bipartisan, I know he's going to vote against me." - Harry Truman
-----------------
For more quotes from these presidents and others, please visit http://ushistorysite.com/president_quotes.php
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
The Great Debates: Kennedy v. Nixon
October 21, 1960 marked the date for the fourth and final debate between presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.
The world's first televised presidential debate took place just over a month prior on September 26.
I think we're all familiar with the circumstances surrounding these oft discussed events. Besides being the first televised presidential debate, many credit these debates as the events that would change the way we looked at the president for years to come and helped put Kennedy over the top in his defeat of Nixon. The debate gave national exposure to Kennedy, who was a relatively unknown senator, and helped him to go on to win the election by a narrow margin.
Nixon who had been on the campaign trail that day appeared tired and un-shaven to the television audience. While Kennedy appeared to be polished and well rested. It's been said that those that listened to the debates on the radio declared Nixon the winner, while those that watched on television gave the victory to Kennedy.
It's a testament to the power of perception and image, and truly helped to shape the personae an American presidential candidate needs to address.
I've always said that because of this, a great candidate like Lincoln would not have made it as president in the television age. His awkward appearance and cracking voice would not translate well. And despite his great oratory abilities, it would be too difficult for the American people to overlook his appearance.
Here are two great resources to discuss these historical debates in class:
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Washington Burning: The Creation of Our Nation's Capital
In 1791, in a quaint Philadelphia town house near Sixth and Market Streets, just a short walk from Chestnut Street where his congress would meet, President George Washington approved a plan to move the nation's capital to an undeveloped plain of undulating hills along the Potomac River. Coincidentally, this new plan would place the president's house and Congress over a mile apart. But with the hiring of Peter Charles L'Enfant, that mile and the rest of the 10-square mile plot would become one of the grandest cities this nation will ever see.
I had never thought much about Washington, D.C. I understand its importance. I've stood on Pennsylvania Avenue, in awe of the White House. I've seen the reflection pool and pictured Martin Luther King proudly shouting "I have a dream!". I've seen the Washington monument and thought of "the republic for which it stands". But I had never given thought to the blank canvas that existed on the banks of the Potomac River a little more than 200 years ago and the planning and work that had gone into creating it. Until now.
Washington Burning by Les Standiford
What starts out as a story of the building of our capital city becomes an excellent account of history and the roller-coaster life of the cities original designer, P. Charles L'Enfant.
L'Enfant is a very curious character, one who in my opinion deserves way more recognition in American history than he's received. His visions of grandeur, as expensive as they may be, eventually do come to fruition under the tutelage of other designers. L'Enfant's life seems to parallel the ebb and flow of the making of the city, it's demise during the War of 1812 and it's eventual resurgence.
Standiford has a knack for helping the reader to visualize the correspondence between the rotating architects commissioned to finish the job L'Enfant started, and each of the founding fathers who had a say in the city's planning. His ability to describe war movements and the "what if's" in history compare to Michael Shaara's account of Gettysburg in The Killer Angels
Each chapter is a small vignette of the history of the making of Washington D.C.. Standiford often goes into great detail, demonstrating his ability to research and describe only what is most important. Washington Burning brings out great stories of George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and James & Dolly Madison. The intimacy of these stories and those of some lesser known characters make Washington Burning a great read.
For more information about the author Les Standiford, you can visit his website at
http://www.les-standiford.com/, or read his blog.
Here is a link to the book on Amazon.com if you're interested in purchasing it.
Notes:
In doing some of my own research on the topic I came across this website, which is a well written account Washington's history by Bob Arnebeck: http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/introduction.html
And if you're super curious, like me, and you're wondering how Washington D.C. got it's name. Then you can check out this link by Arnebeck who describes the christening well: http://www.geocities.com/bobarnebeck/name.html
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