Joel Richard Paul

8--- Indivisible Daniel Webster and the Birth of American Nationalism, by Joel Richard Paul (read 13 Aug 2023) This 2922 book is fun to read and made the period covered (from 1815 to Webster's death in 1852) come alive for me and reminded me why the period is such a fascinating time n our history. The author makes sure we know all the bad things that happened during those years,. In fact, reading of our dealing with Mexico in the 1840's made me less sure of Russia's evilness in its war with Ukraine today.… (plus d'informations)

A very interesting account of Marshall's life and decisions in the context of the bitter conflicts between Federalists and Republicans in the early Republic, and a book that certainly establishes his role as a seminal founding figure in American politics. Without him, the Constitution might have been interpreted in a much more states' rights direction than it was. Marshall's decisions are interpreted as savvy political moves designed to promote the powers of the judiciary in ways that avoided head-on collisions with the other branches of government. In this light, Marbury v. Madison comes off as political genius and legal insanity (the Judiciary Act which Marbury invalidated as unconstitutional did not in fact confer a new original jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to hear suits for writs of mandamus, in defiance of the Constitution, as Marshall said it did, but only gave it the power to issue a writ of mandamus as a remedy, which should have been read as applicable only where the Supreme Court already had legitimate jurisdiction). Thomas Jefferson, Marshall's nemesis, comes off very badly indeed: failing to prepare the defence of Virginia against the British, lusting for the blood of aristocrats in the French Revolution, passing his lawyers a stack of signed pardon forms in order to drum up evidence against Aaron Burr, letting his Attorney General attempt a "constructive treason" protection against Burr in violation of the Constitution, and generally being a peevish partisan. The book could have done with a more careful editor, though: errors include calling Talleyrand "a closeted Anglophile" (!) and placing Creek Indians in Indiana.… (plus d'informations)

Known to be the greatest orator of his time, Daniel Webster's legacy demands that any author telling his story must possess their own extraordinary talent with words. Joel Richard Paul is a worthy writer, setting out the history of the “Godlike” Daniel with clear, concise writing. Weaving the history of the United States with the personal story of the most influential speaker of the mid-1800s, Paul presents how American Nationalism came to be, and what it has meant to the country’s citizens throughout the years. He analyzes the ascent of a man who spent his childhood working on his family’s farm, only to become an integral part of America’s political beginning, from his impassioned speeches to his long career in various parts of the US government. Webster truly comes alive in these pages, and Paul’s description of the racial and political divide of early America feels eerily reflective of current conflicts. This book is an eloquent statement on the power of words, and a must-read for any lover of American history.… (plus d'informations)