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Amazon.co.uk Review
Review for Founding Brothers:
The political wrangles of a fledgling country may sound dull compared to the drama of a war, but the early history of the United States only gets more fascinating as the Revolutionary War is left behind. Founding Brothers, a documentary from the History Channel, examines the struggle to not only establish democracy, but to give it the economic strength and governmental structure that will allow it to survive and thrive. George Washington grappled not only with politics, but with questions of style and propriety--how should a president, as opposed to a king, behave? Understanding the conflicts between Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson will illuminate ideas that have shaped the government of the U.S. ever since. Founding Brothers provides a wealth of portraits and illustrations from the time, as well as discreet dramatizations, that bring the rise of party politics to life, humanizing these historical figures with tales of the scandals and squabbles they faced as well as their political achievements. An excellent introduction to the roots of the American experiment, and a bracing illustration of what Jefferson meant when he said of the presidency, "No man will bring out of that office the reputation which carried him into it." --Bret Fetzer
The political wrangles of a fledgling country may sound dull compared to the drama of a war, but the early history of the United States only gets more fascinating as the Revolutionary War is left behind. Founding Brothers, a documentary from the History Channel, examines the struggle to not only establish democracy, but to give it the economic strength and governmental structure that will allow it to survive and thrive. George Washington grappled not only with politics, but with questions of style and propriety--how should a president, as opposed to a king, behave? Understanding the conflicts between Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson will illuminate ideas that have shaped the government of the U.S. ever since. Founding Brothers provides a wealth of portraits and illustrations from the time, as well as discreet dramatizations, that bring the rise of party politics to life, humanizing these historical figures with tales of the scandals and squabbles they faced as well as their political achievements. An excellent introduction to the roots of the American experiment, and a bracing illustration of what Jefferson meant when he said of the presidency, "No man will bring out of that office the reputation which carried him into it." --Bret Fetzer
DVD Description
Founding Brothers Volumes 1 & 2
In America's first years, Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Burr struggled to transform their disparate visions into an enduring government. Based on Joseph Ellis' Pulitzer Prize winning book, Founding Brothers examines six moments when the collisons and collusions of these towering figures left an indelible imprint on the nation: the secret dinner that determined the site of the capital and America's financial future; Benjamin Franklin's call for an end to slavery; George Washington's farewell address to the nation; John Adams's term as president; Hamilton and Burr's famous and fatal duel, and the final reconciliation between Adams and Jefferson. Drawing on the words of the founders and incisive commentary from leading scholars, Founding Brothers is an elegant and engaging portrait of America's origins in personal conflict and compromise.
The Revolution
Through cinematic recreations, intimate biographical investigations and provocative political, military and economic analysis, HISTORY™ breathes new life into one of the most pivotal periods in American history. From the roots of the Revolution to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, victory on the battlefield at Yorktown and the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, this is the history of America.
• A comprehensive look at American history
• Intimate biographical investigation; provocative political, military and economic commentary and evocative original music.
• Great value for money, with approximately 14 hours across 6 discs.
In America's first years, Washington, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Burr struggled to transform their disparate visions into an enduring government. Based on Joseph Ellis' Pulitzer Prize winning book, Founding Brothers examines six moments when the collisons and collusions of these towering figures left an indelible imprint on the nation: the secret dinner that determined the site of the capital and America's financial future; Benjamin Franklin's call for an end to slavery; George Washington's farewell address to the nation; John Adams's term as president; Hamilton and Burr's famous and fatal duel, and the final reconciliation between Adams and Jefferson. Drawing on the words of the founders and incisive commentary from leading scholars, Founding Brothers is an elegant and engaging portrait of America's origins in personal conflict and compromise.
The Revolution
Through cinematic recreations, intimate biographical investigations and provocative political, military and economic analysis, HISTORY™ breathes new life into one of the most pivotal periods in American history. From the roots of the Revolution to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, victory on the battlefield at Yorktown and the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, this is the history of America.
• A comprehensive look at American history
• Intimate biographical investigation; provocative political, military and economic commentary and evocative original music.
• Great value for money, with approximately 14 hours across 6 discs.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having spent a memorable holiday in New England last June I realised that my knowledge of the Founding of America and it's fight for independence was limited to the Boston Tea party!
This excellent 6 DVD set combines two programmes made for America TV. What you do detect is that there were more commercial breaks, now of course taken out, but there is a lot of recapping. Indeed the last two sections are a complete rehash of the previous 11.
That said, this is still a most informative and entertaining set of DVDs and at a superb price.
This excellent 6 DVD set combines two programmes made for America TV. What you do detect is that there were more commercial breaks, now of course taken out, but there is a lot of recapping. Indeed the last two sections are a complete rehash of the previous 11.
That said, this is still a most informative and entertaining set of DVDs and at a superb price.
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a truly amazing series of documentaries about the founding of America. The historians who advised, and who also speak to camera in the films, are highly regarded in their field (Gordon S Wood on the Revolution, for example - how much more authoritative do you want?) and engaging in their presentations. I could have handled quite a lot more of that.
There is a great deal of time given over to the nuts and bolts of the military side of things, however. I imagine this is great for those who are interested in military history, but actually the emphasis on how each battle was fought and who the generals were and what everyone said in their correspondence didn't really amount to an analysis of the military campaigns, and sometimes looked more like a list of Stuff We've Got On This Battle.
Even so, I found the series compelling and I shall certainly watch it several times over, perhaps fast-forwarding through some of the middle episodes. I'd really love to see a more detailed historical/ideological series on this subject, in which some of those historians we see in this series are given a free rein.
Finally, thanks for giving Paine his due!
There is a great deal of time given over to the nuts and bolts of the military side of things, however. I imagine this is great for those who are interested in military history, but actually the emphasis on how each battle was fought and who the generals were and what everyone said in their correspondence didn't really amount to an analysis of the military campaigns, and sometimes looked more like a list of Stuff We've Got On This Battle.
Even so, I found the series compelling and I shall certainly watch it several times over, perhaps fast-forwarding through some of the middle episodes. I'd really love to see a more detailed historical/ideological series on this subject, in which some of those historians we see in this series are given a free rein.
Finally, thanks for giving Paine his due!
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
For the money you get quite a bit. Unfortunately you get too many recaps and ropey reconstructions.
The battle scenes are recreated with such a small budget that you get a completely misleading impression of the numbers and hence the scale. Recreations of the actions of the major personalities are crude mimes; get bad news: sweep the documents of your table.
The TV origins mean constant recapping of what happened before someone tried to sell you Coco Pops. Without the actual adverts this is otiose and annoying.
I'd say it's aimed at the level of a 12 year old. No offence to 12 twelve year olds.
The battle scenes are recreated with such a small budget that you get a completely misleading impression of the numbers and hence the scale. Recreations of the actions of the major personalities are crude mimes; get bad news: sweep the documents of your table.
The TV origins mean constant recapping of what happened before someone tried to sell you Coco Pops. Without the actual adverts this is otiose and annoying.
I'd say it's aimed at the level of a 12 year old. No offence to 12 twelve year olds.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Damned awesome !!
This is one fantastic dvd boxed set about the American revolution , my favorite war and revolution !! Read more
Published 2 months ago by davidinator
A perfect introduction
I'd owned this series for a few months before watching it, and I was very sorry after I saw it, that it had taken me so long! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Gimli
Made-for-television series of docudramas, American television
This is a typical, made-for-television series of docudramas, American television that is, with its longer and more frequent advertisement slots and the constant need to re-cap, to... Read more
Published 5 months ago by RR Waller
AVOID
This is a shockingly bad documentary.
What this consists of is narration over filmed re-enactments. Read more
What this consists of is narration over filmed re-enactments. Read more
Published 7 months ago by PHILLY
Superb box set
I read the reviews on here and despite some of them being negative i purchased this box set and boy am i glad i did. Read more
Published 12 months ago by D. Harrop
Misleading
I only watched a few minutes of the first DVD before realising that all the usual mistakes were still being repeated. I also will be rapidly disposing of this set. Read more
Published 14 months ago by James Wells
Presentation is almost Everything
I was given this Boxed Set for a Xmas present and after seeing only 1 Disc, i immediately went back to the shop it was bought from and exchanged it for another DVD. Read more
Published 16 months ago by B. D. Compton
Great value
Fantastic value for 6 DVDs telling the story of the American revolution.
Shame the box graphics show images of battle from the civil war and not the revoluton, could... Read more
Shame the box graphics show images of battle from the civil war and not the revoluton, could... Read more
Published 16 months ago by lobsterback
American History
Quite simply the best coverage of this subject I have found. I recommend anyone interested in the founding and development of the world's major power to watch it.
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Gerald Parkinson
Less biased than most
Every history of the American revolution seems to miss out something and those on TV/film are usually the worst offenders, but I give this one high marks for including events that... Read more
Published 20 months ago by R. Fielding
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