In the book Founding Brothers, Ellis focuses on the nature and actions of several Americans who were the budding nation's leaders during the 1770's and 1780's when the Declaration of Independence was being written, the American Revolution fought and the Constitution hammered out. Specifically, he looks at John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, with a glance at Benjamin Franklin. Here is a brief overview of each chapter: The …showed first 75 words of 1664 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1664 total…achieved. Taking all that Ellis wrote into account, one can not help but be astounded is that so many leaders, each of them literate, well read and expressive, as well as some others on the scene who were not quite so important, were in the same place at the same time, and even more astounding, that they worked together, debated and compromised, and in the end achieved success despite their different temperaments and political outlooks.