Biographies of the New American Nation

Biographies of the New American Nation — page 3
INTRODUCTION he American Revolutionary War brought forth an independent nation known as the United States Once the fighting was over and freedom declared the job of form ing and sustaining the more perfect union envisioned in the Preamble to the US Constitution landed squarely on the shoul ders of the fledgling country s citizens The stories of these men and women are an impor tant part of U S history This book presents the biographies of several statesmen explor ers warriors and social reformers who helped shape the new American nation A number of revolutionary leaders gained important positions within the new federal government including the presidency In the latter group were George Washington John Adams and Thomas Jefferson The nation's first president Washington had proven him self a patriot as commander in chief of the Continental Army then as the officer who oversaw the writing of the Constitution Adams and Jefferson each had served under Washington as vice president and secretary of state respectively before being elected president themselves All three brought their personal and political beliefs to bear on the evolving U S