{"product_id":"9781250164766","title":"The Founding Fortunes : How the Wealthy Paid for and Profited from America's Revolution","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eThe Founding Fortunes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Tom Shachtman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Founding Fortunes\u003c\/i\u003e, h\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eistorian Tom Shachtman reveals the ways in which a dozen notable Revolutionaries \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003edeeply affected the finances and birth of the new country while making and losing their fortunes.  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile history teaches that successful revolutions depend on participation by the common man, the establishment of a stable and independent United States first required wealthy colonials uniting to disrupt the very system that had enriched them, and then funding a very long war.  While some fortunes were made during the war at the expense of the poor, many of the wealthy embraced the goal of obtaining for their poorer countrymen an unprecedented equality of opportunity, along with independence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to nuanced views of the well-known wealthy such as Robert Morris and John Hancock, and of the less wealthy but influential Alexander Hamilton, \u003ci\u003eThe Founding Fortunes\u003c\/i\u003e offers insight into the contributions of those often overlooked by popular history: Henry Laurens, the plantation owner who replaced Hancock as President of Congress; pioneering businessmen William Bingham, Jeremiah Wadsworth, and Stephen Girard; privateer magnate Elias Hasket Derby; and Hamilton’s successors at Treasury, Oliver Wolcott, Jr. and Albert Gallatin.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Founders dealt with tariffs, taxes on the wealthy, the national debt, regional disparities, the census as it affected finances, and how much of what America needs should be manufactured at home in ways that remain startlingly relevant. Revelatory and insightful, \u003ci\u003eThe Founding Fortunes \u003c\/i\u003eprovides a riveting history of economic patriotism that still resonates today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Founding Fortunes:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Enlightening history with contemporary parallels.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Shachtman marshals his evidence efficiently and enlivens his account with bold, direct statements…Colonial history buffs will savor this sharply focused study.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An ingenious examination of how money played the central role in the founding of the United States…a provocative argument.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A commendable treatment of pecuniary matters during this country’s embryonic stages...recommended for readers interested in fiscal matters and American economic habits.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for Tom Shachtman:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The author makes a convincing case that, without France, the United States may never have gained independence.\"\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003efor \u003ci\u003eHow the French Saved America\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Shachtman illuminates the impact of French contributions to American military leadership, resources, and engineering knowledge...of interest to American-history enthusiasts and Francophiles alike.”\u003cb\u003e —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003efor \u003ci\u003eHow the French Saved America\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This book deserves a place on the bookshelf of every American history buff.\" —\u003cb\u003eJeswald W. Salacuse, author and professor at The Fletcher School \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003efor \u003ci\u003eHow the French Saved America\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An intriguing survey of science’s influence on the Founders.”—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist \u003c\/i\u003efor \u003ci\u003eGentleman Scientists and Revolutionaries\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A fascinating and unique look at the history of the founding of the United States.\u003ci\u003e\"—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e for \u003ci\u003eGentleman Scientists and Revolutionaries\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Shachtman is like a maestro, masterfully conducting an orchestra of history, anthropology, psychology, sociology, and journalism together in a harmonious and evocative symphony of all things Amish.”—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eChristian Science Monitor \u003c\/i\u003efor \u003ci\u003eRumspringa, To Be or Not to Be Amish\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9781250164766\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":40735968657614,"sku":"9781250164766","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_3caed725-9225-469f-b429-286941bc75d4.jpg?v=1641276564","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9781250164766","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}