---
product_id: 8193438
title: "The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787"
brand: "gordon s. wood"
price: "75559CFA"
currency: XOF
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 3
url: https://www.desertcart.sn/products/8193438-the-creation-of-the-american-republic-1776-1787
store_origin: SN
region: Senegal
---

# The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787

**Brand:** gordon s. wood
**Price:** 75559CFA
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 by gordon s. wood
- **How much does it cost?** 75559CFA with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.sn](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/8193438-the-creation-of-the-american-republic-1776-1787)

## Best For

- gordon s. wood enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted gordon s. wood brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787

## Images

![The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tGp8kR6sL.jpg)
![The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BOzL4fAVL.jpg)
![The Creation of the American Republic, 1776-1787 - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/318AgwZFrWL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Still the Definitive Work on how the American System of Government was developed
  

*by G***6 on Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2013*

Although this book was written 44 years ago, it is just as relevant today as it was then. How the people of 1787 managed to write a Constitution and create an entirely different type of political system has been one of history’s most amazing stories of all time. Gordon Wood wrote a magnificent book which explained how that event occurred. By studying the writings of the main participants and the hundreds of political pamphlets written in that era he managed to discern the various streams of political thought of that time. Only by understanding how the people of that time thought regarding politics was he able to see how they accomplished this improbable feat. Improbable it was because what they did was completely different than anything done to that point in time. In understanding the context of this book we also need to realize that Wood wrote it during the 1960s at the height of the divide over American political thought in that time. Creation should serve as a metaphor for American political thought. Things were in a dire crisis in the 1780s, yet the country survived by creating a government which has lasted ever since. The events of the 1960s were survivable and of course we know that America overcame them and continued on. Today we see the political strife, yet we should be comforted by understanding that history shows America will overcome this as well. If the people of the 1780s could develop an entirely new government which they felt was the capstone to the American Revolution and inaugurated a new political system, then the people of today will get past the issues that divide them. Thomas Paine wrote, “The independence of America considered merely as a separation from England, would have been a matter but of little importance had it not been accompanied by a revolution in the principles and practise of governments.” Paine was right. Independence was of little consequence because until the creation of the Constitution the thirteen states were merely carrying on a modified form of English constitutional government. That meant that government was a compact between rulers and the ruled or the people. The American system of government created in 1787 was a compact only between the people themselves, not the rulers or any other body. All government stemmed from them. Wood makes this the focal point of the book. The issue of representation was the driving force of the American Revolution. James Otis remarked early on that taxation required representation which the American colonists had none of in Parliament. This was a unique idea and one the British finally answered with the concept of virtual representation. However, the Americans felt this was not the right answer. In creating a political system they sought an answer to the question of how people should be represented. Throughout this book Wood keeps coming back to this issue. At the end of it he answers it but the reader sees in the pages leading up to the answer how the people of that era arrived at the answer which is important. Wood explains that it was the process of answering that question that helped create the American system of government which was radically different than the English system which until that point had been considered by most people to be the proper form of government. This shows just how different American political thought changed from British political thought and for modern students of politics why there is such a substantial difference between American government and European governments. To this day, the issue of representation is one where people can see just how free people are. When all power stems from the people and they are the ones who select their representatives, then they are free. When any part of that is removed from them then they are not free. As a result of the American system, an additional check was created upon government which does not get discussed that much and that is the check of the people themselves. No matter what, if any representative of the government acts in opposition of the will of the people they have the ability to replace that individual at the next election. In this manner the people possess the ability to correct their own mistakes if they make them. Gordon Wood’s career has been one in which he is easily considered one of the top historians of the second half of the 20th century. He along with Edmund Morgan and Bernard Bailyn changed the perceptions people had of the American Revolution and the Constitution. Wood and Bailyn are even described as creating their own branch of historical study into this era although they certainly didn’t set out to do so. That just sort of occurred as a natural result of their studies. Wood won several awards for Creation of the American Republic including the Bancroft Prize. He would later win the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1993 with The Radicalism of the American Revolution. He is the Alva O. Way University Professor and Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University. You can always tell when a book has made an impact upon historians. It is cited repeatedly by many of them which shows it is part of their scholarly learning. This book is required reading for all American history doctoral students who study any part of American history to 1865. It is also mandatory for all American politics doctoral students as well. It can be a bit difficult for many to read who are not acquainted with primary sources or historical inquiry. The book is definitely a deep reading experience and readers will want to read it in sections to allow for some thinking between them. It helps to remember the people of the era in question were addressing the issues confronting them and not any modern issues which were not envisioned by them. I think that is far too often ignored by many who seek answers for today’s issues. They first need to understand the issues of the past which will help them understand why the American system of government was derived. Then they can look to address today’s problems. Wood kept great records of the materials he worked with as any good historian should and that helps studentsunderstand where he got his information from. His comments on his sources are also revealing in that he could not find many of them in contemporary print. This is a strong indicator about why he was able to come to the conclusions he did which differed so much from others. He studied the writings of the revolutionary era, not secondary sources. This should be a lesson to all historians about the importance of primary sources over secondary sources. It should also be a lesson to all about the dangers of relying on other opinions when some of those opinions are from those are uninformed about the past or seeking to gain power by misleading people for their own political gain. Creation is a definite must read and most worthy addition to my library and one which I am already using in my own historical writings. Wood’s work with sources helps identify primary sources to consult for my own use as well.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    complex but vastly important history of the formation of our government
  

*by D***M on Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2017*

Undoubtedly one of the most influential historians of the past half century, Gordon Wood makes his debut with this great work of history.  “Creation” won the Bancroft prize, awarded annually for the study of American history, in 1970 and remains one of the great histories of post-colonial America.This is a complex history.  First, the American colonists had to find common ground, across thirteen very different colonies, to fight a grueling, draining war against the vast power of Great Britain.  Common ground was not easily found but it was imperative to bind these colonies together into an increasingly potent fighting force.  This is a long, winding story and Wood is able to remain focused on the methods used to calm differences, to continue the battle despite huge early losses, and eventually to erode the power of the British and Hessian forces and ultimately to force them into an inextricable corner at Yorktown in 1781.By then, the differences in outlook, culture, social structure, economy and goals between the Southern states, led by Virginia, and the northern states, led by New York and Massachusetts, became glaring.  It was with this cargo that representatives of the former colonies, all 13 of them, spent three months in Philadelphia during the boiling hot summer of 1787.  This is the centerpiece of Wood’s history.We are led through extensive discussions of the balance of power between the legislative, executive and legal branches of government.  We are introduced to competing visions of American government from Federalists, typified by John Adams, and Republicans (not to be confused with today’s Republican party), led by Thomas Jefferson and his fellow Virginian, James Madison.  The result of these complex arguments is the initial construction of how our American society works, how the executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government are balanced and how they produced a society that works and has worked for over 230 years, remarkably free from any further editing, with the exception of 27 amendments.This is tough, complicated history but it is worth it.  The early days of our country have never had such relevance to today.  We are all grappling with understanding the values that have glued this country together and with remembering how we have been the example of sound government for the many countries of the world.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Five Stars
  

*by A***R on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 18, 2017*

Good

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.sn/products/8193438-the-creation-of-the-american-republic-1776-1787](https://www.desertcart.sn/products/8193438-the-creation-of-the-american-republic-1776-1787)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Senegal*
*Store origin: SN*
*Last updated: 2026-01-23*