Name: The Great Divide
ISBN: 9780306821271

Thomas Fleming

A fresh look at the nation’s formative years through the lens of the clash between Washington and Jefferson.

The Conflict between Washington and Jefferson that Defined a Nation

The Great Divide

Rachel Benton

I actually got this book at the library, but it was so good that I ordered it off Amazon. My book came today, so I finished the book off with the copy that I just bought. This is my fist time reading Thomas Fleming. I know some stuff on the American Revolution, but it was only till recently that I wanted to do a in-depth study on the war and the people around it. Fleming definitely didn't disappoint me at all, and I am looking forward to reading more of his books. Even though it was good, I did have some criticism on the book. I sometimes thought that book was flooded with to much information, and at times I thought were not focusing on either George Washington and Thomas Jefferson enough. The book also started off slow for me, it was not until I reached page 100 that I started to get more into it. I also want to add, if your a big Thomas Jefferson fan then this book is not for you. He is not portrayed very well in this book. I found myself liking Washington better then I did Jefferson. Fleming makes it not secret the disdain that he has for Jefferson. The greatest divide between these two powerful men is that they had different ideologies on what makes a great nation, how the country should be run, and how much power should the federal government should have. This not only ruined Jefferson and Washington once close friendship, but also the friendship between Washington/ Madison. I have to admit that I found myself appalled by some of Jefferson actions throughout the story. There was several things, but him visiting Martha Washington. He didn't bother to visit her at the time of her husbands death, but when he needed the Federalist vote to elect him as President then he makes the visit, had me twitching my eye in regards him. Overall I think this is a good book. I think it was well researched, and Fleming really knows what he is talking about.

The Great Divide The Conflict between Washington and Jefferson that Defined a Nation

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