2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Back in 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies decided to make a permanent break from Great Britain and King George III. After winning the war in 1783, the Founding Fathers got to work establishing a self-governing republic rooted in the ideas of the Enlightenment. So, in honor of the birth of the United States, let’s look at the best history books about the Early American Republic.
Books about the Early American Republic
The following books detail the birth of a nation, from the founding documents to the first President and his Cabinet.
But first, a brief history of key moments that created the United States of America. In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention drafted the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia. The Constitution—the fundamental laws of the federal government—replaced the Articles of Confederation, which the Second Continental Congress adopted in 1777. The articles had a looser central governmental structure.
The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification. A fierce debate ensued between the Federalists, who wanted a strong central government, and the Anti-Federalists, who feared a central government would impede individual liberties and states’ rights.
On June 21, 1788, the Constitution was ratified by 9 states and subsequently adopted. Fast forward to 1789, when G-Dub1 was elected the First President, and John Adams was elected VP. Then the real work began to get the country up and running.
Primary Sources from the Early American Republic
Discover the United States’ original founding documents. Read the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the Federalist Papers, and letters between Abigail and John Adams.
Founding Fathers
Read about the lives of the men who founded our nation and whipped the Early American Republic into shape. Of course, we have G-Dub, John Adams, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin.
Founding Mothers
Last but certainly not least are the founding mothers and First Ladies of the Early American Republic. As the saying goes, “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.”2 Learn about the fascinating lives of Martha Washington (Mrs. G-Dub), Abigail Adams, and Dolly Madison, among others.
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