Forgotten Founders: How the American Indian Helped Shape Democracy

By Bruce Elliott Johansen

Book Overview

"[A] first-rate exploration of self-identity." -- School Library JournalDanny's tall and skinny. Even though he's not built, his arms are long enough to give his pitch a power so fierce any college... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0916782905
• ISBN13: 9780916782900
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Harvard Common Press
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A must read for all Americans

This is an amazing book! I stumbled across it while looking into the "silly rumor" that the US Constitution was based on Native-American beliefs.This book tells a factual, fast-paced story about how the Founding Fathers (Franklin, Jefferson, et al) were influenced by the Native-Americans. I am still in awe. Every American needs to hear this story. It makes me wonder what else was I wasn't taught in school.If you have any interest in US history, government, or philosophy--read this book.

From the foundations of truth, start to build yours

This is one of my favorite books whose foundations in principles surpass even the Egyptians principles that are falsely accredited to Greek so-called philosophers that plagiarized this sacred knowledge.

In search of "Liberty"

While researching a tretise on the American concept of "Liberty" I came across this book. It is well written and provides and easy going but eye opening view of the native american contribution to this basic American concept. Although much of the mainstream literature in political theory and moral philosophy leads to European sources this little gem is equal to all.

Outstanding book. Essential reading for all Americans

I read this book with awe. It is carefully researched with rich archival and primary sources. It is well written and filled with insightful observations in every chapter. It is necessary read for all Americans, in fact all who care about government. If you feel that something special happened on this continent, but are not sure about the details of what took place, this book will reinforce the ideal that democracy as an institution came from America. Europeans had no idea how a government by the people could possibly succeed. The native Americans long experimented with a form of representative government that was grassroots, not top down as practiced in Europe. The framers of the constitution fully appreciated the form of government practiced by the native Americans incorporated those ideals into the founding documents of our nation. This book will fill a gap in education and make you proud of practicing a form of government that originated with the native people of America. It is a spirit of government that at its best is the ideal of all the common people of the earth. To remain free of tyranny, each generation of citizens needs to relearn the founding principles of our form of government. This is an extraordinary starting point.