Books like His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis

David McCullough’s *1776* chronicles the human drama surrounding the American Revolution’s pivotal year, tracing ordinary soldiers, notable leaders, and British forces as they shape the fate of the fledgling nation.

A focused study of the United States’ first decade, tracing how the original Founding Brothers—Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Adams, Burr, and Madison—translated revolutionary ideals into the practical workings of the new government.

A richly detailed biography that traces John Adams’s rise from Revolutionary patriot to the United States’ second President, highlighting his political convictions, marriage to Abigail Adams, and lasting impact on American governance.

The story of George Washington, the first president of the United States, told through illustrations of his life and times.

A detailed biography tracing George Washington’s rise from Army commander to the United States’ first President.

A meticulous, evidence‑based portrait of George Washington as a soldier, exposing both his tactical limitations and the strategic vision that led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution.

The first of these works contains both factual and mythical material about George Washington; the second is an early reader combining moral lessons with reading and spelling.

Paul B. Johnson’s concise biography takes readers through George Washington’s life as a young warrior, commander‑in‑chief, Constitution maker, farmer, and president, offering a vivid portrait of the nation’s founding leader.

An in‑depth biography of Ulysses S. Grant, tracing his rise from Ohio roots to leading the Union Army during the Civil War and later serving as President of the United States.

George Washington comes alive in this fascinating activity book that introduces the leader to whom citizens turned again and again—to lead them through eight long years of war, to guide them as they wrote a new Constitution, and to act as the new nation’s first executive leader. Children will learn how, shortly after his death in 1799, people began transforming George Washington from a man into a myth. But Washington was a complex individual who, like everyone, had hopes and fears, successes and failures. In his early 20s, for instance,Washington’s actions helped plunge Great Britain and France into war. He later fought for liberty and independence, yet owned slaves himself (eventually freeing them in his will). This book weaves a rich tapestry of Washington’s life, allowing kids to connect with his story in 21 hands-on projects based on his experiences and the times in which he lived. Children will learn how to tie a cravat, write with a quill pen, follow animal tracks, sew a lady’s cap, plant a garden, roll a beeswax candle, play a game of Quoits, and make a replica of Washington’s commander-in-chief flag. The text includes a time line, glossary, websites, travel resources, and a reading list for further study.

Two volumes of Ulysses S. Grant’s firsthand account of his life and the military campaigns that defined his career, offering insight into his rise from a modest upbringing to the presidency of the United States.