The first volume of Burns's stunning account of American history, from the birth of the Constitution to the dawn of the Civil War The years between 1787 and 1863 witnessed the development of the American Nation-its society, politics, customs, culture, and, most important, the development of liberty. Burns explores the key events in the republic's early decades, as well as the roles of heroes from Washington to Lincoln and of lesser-known figures. Captivating and insightful, Burns's history combines the color and texture of early American life with meticulous scholarship. Focusing on the tensions leading up to the Civil War, Burns brilliantly shows how Americans became divided over the meaning of Liberty. Vineyard of Liberty is a sweeping and engrossing narrative of America's formative years.
"To some historians, Professor Burns is a fine political scientist. To some political scientists he is a fine historian. In fact, he is the best of both disciplines . . ."
The Washington Post
"Over the past half century, James MacGregor Burns has emerged as America's wise man on the interplay between politics and leadership."
David Gergen, CNN Senior Political Analyst and former presidential advisor to Richard Nixo
