First Principles

By Thomas E. Ricks

What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country. Harper, 2020.

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20 mins read

17 Key insights

A brief summary of First Principles

A close examination of four founding fathers – Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison – and the influence that ancient Greek and Roman politics, philosophies, and texts had over them and, consequently, the shaping of America.

Key insights in First Principles

What do you get from this book? Discover how America’s founding fathers created a new nation based on ancient ideas

America’s founding fathers were part of the “revolutionary generation” that was strongly influenced by war and classical ideas

Washington’s fierce leadership and virtue during the French and Indian War embodied everything important about Roman Classicism

John Adams was an educated man who stood out from the founding fathers, modeling himself after Cicero

Thomas Jefferson was born wealthy, went to college, and studied law as well as Greek and Scottish philosophers

James Madison came from an elite family and was strongly influenced by French and Scottish philosophers

The Revolutionary War began in 1765 as the result of increased tension between American colonists and the British

The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, who used clear language for everyday people and left out religion

Washington was losing the war but adopted a “Fabius strategy,” transforming his battles into victories

Public virtue waned and Washington’s men felt ignored by congress, but the war ended without civil revolt and Washington resigned

The Articles of Confederation were a good first step in uniting the colonies, though classical ideas were facing rejection

The Constitutional Convention began in 1787, but ratification was lengthy, and the new government did not begin until 1789

Washington became the first president and had to contend with changing views and new conspiracies

As the founding fathers aged, Classicism became outdated, though their principles continue on in the Declaration of Independence

Summary of the key insights

Selected critiques in brief

Final word

Who should read First Principles

Historians • politicians • teachers • students • anyone with an interest in U.S. history

About the author of First Principles

Thomas E. Ricks is an American journalist whose columns on military history and national security have appeared in the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, twice earning him the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. His text Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Ricks has also served on the Center for New American Security.

Thomas E. Ricks

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