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Rating: 
Summary: A remarkable achievement
Review: Adams' work here ranks with Macaulay and Carlyle in terms of telling an intricate history through the private letters and conversations of the players involved. From the first pages where he describes the America over which Jefferson presided, Adams clearly defines idealogies and principles as they were defended and practiced by the Federalists and Republicans of the day. Throughout Jefferson's two terms, the president was forced to abandon favorite principles and to defend others that were ulimately (if not immediately) untenable. Through skillful hands we watch how moods changed and policies switched, and how the main characters attempted to reconcile their inconsistencies. Jefferson hoped to expose the wrongfulness of Federalist policies, yet wound up forwarding the same tenets in his management. The President who rose to such a height of popularity and power left the office as disgraced and as generally disliked as any Chief Executive before or after. A masterful work about eight important and formative years in the early republic.
Rating: 
Summary: First Six Chapters of Vol.1
Review: Even though it was written in the 1880s, this is the best history of early American diplomacy yet written. It is important to mention that this is primarily a diplomatic history, and it certainly reflects the author's interest and family history in foreign affairs. Adams has meticulously researched all matters of State and diplomacy, but he has reserved the topics of culture, economics, and education for far more subjective analysis. It becomes obvious early in the text that Adams is highly deferential to Great Britain, and the young American republic is constantly compared and trivialized, in contrapuntal regularity, against the great European powers. Adams has a lot to say about America's poverty, provincialism, and anti-intellectualism when compared to England, France, and Russia. American culture cringe pervades the text. While frequently accurate, he drives the point to excess: America becomes somewhat of a play-thing for the imperial ambitions of Europe. We're treated to page after page of material on the British ambassadors. In short, this is probably the kind of American history we would have expected Henry James and T. S. Eliot to have read, the kind that gets all the facts and dates right but can't conceal the author's sincere desire to be English.
Rating:
Summary: Best diplomatic history of early America
Review: Even though it was written in the 1880s, this is the best history of early American diplomacy yet written. It is important to mention that this is primarily a diplomatic history, and it certainly reflects the author's interest and family history in foreign affairs. Adams has meticulously researched all matters of State and diplomacy, but he has reserved the topics of culture, economics, and education for far more subjective analysis. It becomes obvious early in the text that Adams is highly deferential to Great Britain, and the young American republic is constantly compared and trivialized, in contrapuntal regularity, against the great European powers. Adams has a lot to say about America's poverty, provincialism, and anti-intellectualism when compared to England, France, and Russia. American culture cringe pervades the text. While frequently accurate, he drives the point to excess: America becomes somewhat of a play-thing for the imperial ambitions of Europe. We're treated to page after page of material on the British ambassadors. In short, this is probably the kind of American history we would have expected Henry James and T. S. Eliot to have read, the kind that gets all the facts and dates right but can't conceal the author's sincere desire to be English.
Rating:
Summary: Woah was that an long read
Review: I have very mixed feelings about this book. Let me start witht the good points: It is meticulously researched. It told me everything I wanted to know about this 8 year period and then some. Adams succeeded in showing the reader how time flowed during this period--that is, he did not say "this happened, then this then that, the end" but rather drew upon the past and showed that these events evolved from prior events. He also gives new insights on the Louisiana purchase, Chase impeachment and Chesepeake and Leopard incident. Lots of great information. Drawbacks: 1252 pages. I thought I'd never finish the book and at times found myself looking at my bookshelf thinking "I could have read three books in the time it took me to read this one." but I think that's more of a fault of the reader then of the book. Adams focuses more on foriegn policy than I would have liked (another fault of the reader) and has a habit of introducing a person by his full name and title (e.g. George Canning) and then calling him Canning every time thereafter in the book. With the HUGE amount of Congressmen, Senators, ambassadors and members of the gov't of France, Spain and Englan, etc, etc, etc, keeping the names straight can be a very confusing task. While the quotes he uses are good, I feel he uses quotes too often, to the point where they detract from the usually excellent prose. I'm glad I read it, but I think I would be happier if I would have used my time to read other books. Finally, this is not a book for the casual reader of history. Only serious students of early America would find this book worth while (in my humble opinion).
Rating:
Summary: Brings History to Life
Review: In my mind, this is the best, most comprehensive, erudite and witty history of the administration of Jefferson. Although the length may scare some off, it is well worth the time and effort.Adams spends a great deal of time examining foreign affairs. There are a few simple reasons for this. The wars between England, France and Spain had a direct and major impact on the growth of the US, and their conflicts were the conflicts of the US. Secondly, the federal government of the US, at the time, was devoted mostly to foreign affairs. This is a political history. Do not look for descriptions on how the common people lived. Do not look for an inquiry into how women were treated, nor a disquisition on slavery. Do not expect much discussion on Sally Hemmings. If however, you are looking for an in-depth analysis of a critical time in US history, a well-written, often funny book, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: First Six Chapters of Vol.1
Review: May be a good starting point....The United States in 1800 by Henry Adams. First Six Chapters of Vol.1
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