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A review by komet2020
A Republic of Scoundrels: The Schemers, Intriguers, and Adventurers Who Created a New American Nation by Timothy Hemmis, David Head
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
A REPUBLIC OF SCOUNDRELS: The Schemers, Intriguers, and Adventurers Who Created a New American Nation refutes the triumphalist version we're often taught in school of the young United States as it emerged as a republic in 1789 following the ratification of the Constitution and the election of George Washington as the first U.S. President [under the Constitution]. And that is as a nation blessed with an amazing array of selfless, exceptionally brilliant and insightful men who governed the country and led it wisely through its growing pains. Certainly, in Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, we had wise leaders who played key, vital roles in the development of the country from the revolutionary period through the 1820s. And yet, there were also corrupt, mendacious, duplicitous, crafty, and wholly self-serving men in the young United States who were determined to get as much for themselves in terms of status, wealth, land, power, and influence as they could accrue for themselves, their friends, and families.
One prime example of such a man was James Wilkinson, who, while commander of the U.S. Army in the 1790s, was also in the employ of Spain as a spy for close to 20 years! What is amazing to me is that this fact about Wilkinson was quietly whispered about by some people in the federal government. But as far as I could determine, there was never any substantial proof furnished that could establish Wilkinson's guilt. He was recognized and promoted within the government for being the clever organizer and ingratiator that he was.
The other scoundrels cited in the book are:
William Blount (first territorial governor of Tennessee Territory and later governor of the State of Tennessee; he was also a notorious land swindler);
Matthew Lyon (a British immigrant who became a fervent Jeffersonian Republican in Congress who was unafraid to speak truth to power as he saw it - for violating the Alien & Sedition Act of 1798, he was put in jail; notwithstanding that, Lyon was re-elected to Congress);
Jason Fairbanks;
Philip Nolan;
Thomas Green;
the Kemper Brothers;
William Augustus Bowles (a Tory from MD who fought on the British side during the American Revolution and later became a self-styled Native American leader set on leading a confederation of Native American tribes in what is now parts of Louisiana, Georgia, and Northern Florida during the 1780s and 1790s);
Aaron Burr (Revolutionary War hero, Tammany Hall lawyer, rival of Alexander Hamilton, and Vice President under Thomas Jefferson);
Benedict Arnold (who, I confess, from the essay written about him in this book, led me to think that he was driven to betray the revolutionary cause and go over to the British side because he was often maligned by his fellow officers who envied him because he had considerable battlefield skills - indeed Arnold's role in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 was key to the revolutionaries' crushing defeat of the British in that battle which convinced France to side with the United States -- militarily and economically -- to help it achieve its independence);
General Charles Lee (another British expatriate and former army officer who commanded troops under Washington - but had a knack for saying the inappropriate, impolitic things out loud, and having the hubris to think that he could be a better commander than Washington); and to me, one of the most fascinating figures profiled in this book ---
Diego de Gardoqui, a Spaniard who was an astute businessman as well as fluent English speaker, who materially aided the Americans during the Revolution on a massive scale that amazed me. (Later, as a representative of Spain in the U.S., he would intrigue against the U.S. government in support of his country's interests in what was the western frontier of the U.S. during the 1780s.)
On the whole, A Republic of Scoundrels is an interesting book to read, especially for anyone who wants a better understanding as to whom and what helped shape the United States during the first quarter century of its existence.
One prime example of such a man was James Wilkinson, who, while commander of the U.S. Army in the 1790s, was also in the employ of Spain as a spy for close to 20 years! What is amazing to me is that this fact about Wilkinson was quietly whispered about by some people in the federal government. But as far as I could determine, there was never any substantial proof furnished that could establish Wilkinson's guilt. He was recognized and promoted within the government for being the clever organizer and ingratiator that he was.
The other scoundrels cited in the book are:
William Blount (first territorial governor of Tennessee Territory and later governor of the State of Tennessee; he was also a notorious land swindler);
Matthew Lyon (a British immigrant who became a fervent Jeffersonian Republican in Congress who was unafraid to speak truth to power as he saw it - for violating the Alien & Sedition Act of 1798, he was put in jail; notwithstanding that, Lyon was re-elected to Congress);
Jason Fairbanks;
Philip Nolan;
Thomas Green;
the Kemper Brothers;
William Augustus Bowles (a Tory from MD who fought on the British side during the American Revolution and later became a self-styled Native American leader set on leading a confederation of Native American tribes in what is now parts of Louisiana, Georgia, and Northern Florida during the 1780s and 1790s);
Aaron Burr (Revolutionary War hero, Tammany Hall lawyer, rival of Alexander Hamilton, and Vice President under Thomas Jefferson);
Benedict Arnold (who, I confess, from the essay written about him in this book, led me to think that he was driven to betray the revolutionary cause and go over to the British side because he was often maligned by his fellow officers who envied him because he had considerable battlefield skills - indeed Arnold's role in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 was key to the revolutionaries' crushing defeat of the British in that battle which convinced France to side with the United States -- militarily and economically -- to help it achieve its independence);
General Charles Lee (another British expatriate and former army officer who commanded troops under Washington - but had a knack for saying the inappropriate, impolitic things out loud, and having the hubris to think that he could be a better commander than Washington); and to me, one of the most fascinating figures profiled in this book ---
Diego de Gardoqui, a Spaniard who was an astute businessman as well as fluent English speaker, who materially aided the Americans during the Revolution on a massive scale that amazed me. (Later, as a representative of Spain in the U.S., he would intrigue against the U.S. government in support of his country's interests in what was the western frontier of the U.S. during the 1780s.)
On the whole, A Republic of Scoundrels is an interesting book to read, especially for anyone who wants a better understanding as to whom and what helped shape the United States during the first quarter century of its existence.