Henry Clay, The Essential American

This exciting new biography looks to be very promising. It struck me as I was finishing the intro that Clay's political career stretched from Jefferson to the brink of the Civil War. What a significant time period! I am interested in seeing how these authors handle his repeated failed attempts to establish a dominant party and win the presidency. I will post a review here and on Amazon when I have finished. I have a dinner party to prep for today so I have limited reading time and, darn! I also have to finish a powerpoint and planning lessons for writing Civil war letters for my students. Well, I will read whenever I get the chance.

Isenberg's Burr Biography

After finishing the excellent Jefferson bio, I plunged into Nancy Isenberg's recent biography of Aaron Burr. I really do respect her effort to reclaim Burr from historical villainy but I remain unconvinced so far. While I do believe that Burr has been unfairly degenerated b many historians his character flaws cannot be cloaked in contemporary ethics and his honor reclaimed. She has produced a fine biography of Burr but has failed to show this reader a new face for Burr.

Jefferson New Biography by Bernstein

i found this single volume edition to be well researched and well written. If you want a good comprehensive short biography that is eminently readable, then this is it. Since I was reading some of Jefferson's original work that the time (Notes on the State of Virginia, Rights of British America Asserted and some exchanges of letters to Madison while he was at the Constitutional Convention)it actually felt some days that I had actually spoken to him. I know that sounds weird but this was the third Jefferson bio in a row that I had read not counting Jefferson's original work. I am working on the last volume in the biographical series by Dumas Malone.

More Summer Institutes

The Gilder Lehrman Institute has extended its deadline for applications for it summer teacher institutes. The seminars are impressive with the nation's leading historians teaching the course. I encourage qualified teachers to apply. I do not personally know anyone that has attended but the reputation of the seminars is impressive. www.gilderlehrman.org

Hamilton's Curse by Thomas DiLorenzo

Just do not buy it. Ridiculous interpretation of early American economic policy and partisan politics which supports a equally inane conclusion. His conclusions are only reached by analysis of selective facts. I may pass this around as a party favor at a department meeting so that we can all get the joke.

NEH, We the People Institute, California

While I am applying for this particular summer seminar I would like to get the information out there. This seminar takes up the majority of July and looks worthwhile. I have attached a link where an agenda, course outline and application are available.

Thomas Fleming and the Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers

The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers by Thomas Fleming is an excellent read shedding some light on the personal lives and relationships of these mammoth American icons. It is well written and research and a must read for anyone seeking to gain a more personal understanding of the lives and relationships of the American icons. The vivacious Dolley Madison, the Sally Hemmings relationship to Jefferson and the indiscretion of Alexander Hamilton are all deftly handled and shown in a clear and factual light.

Final Exams

We have been preparing for the finals and dealing with reviews. We are right in the middle of learning about the Constitution. We are covering the goals and principles of the Constitution as well as the Constitutional Convention. There is an upcoming project for the Pre-AP classes and a whole new style of lesson plan for the academic classes.

Constitutional Convention

I have found the most useful book and website. It is sponsored by Ashland University. The website has everything from artwork (notarized with text boxes on the identification of the faces), an index to Madison's notes and much more. The link is http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/. Simply fantastic. The book has a brief bio of every member of the convention. I luckily found this jewel at Half-Price during the holiday break, Founding Fathers by M.E. Bradford.

Which Founder Are You?

The Constitution Center has a fun quiz where you answer a block of questions and it matches you to the founding father that you most resemble. It is fun, but why do most of the people that I know end up being so similar to James Madison?