Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

“American history is fading somewhat in the nation’s classrooms. This is dangerous because failing to understand your country can stimulate poor decision-making and personal failure.”

The goal of Confronting the Presidents is to use the presidency as a lens through which to view the history of the United States. Here, the authors argue that knowledge of history is necessary for individuals’ personal growth.

“At issue is whether the federal government should be a strong central power, as Hamilton believes, or if the states should wield the most strength, as in Jefferson’s point of view. This debate will continue for generations to come.”

The authors introduce one of the book’s core themes: The Evolution of Presidential Power. As the federal government increased in power—especially in the 20th century—the presidency became more powerful in turn.

“Back home in Monticello, [Thomas Jefferson] owns seven hundred slaves and opines that slavery is a necessary part of America’s growth.”

Slavery was one of the major issues shaping not only the policies of many US presidents but their personal lives as well. The support of Jefferson and other framers for slavery set the US on a course toward the disaster of the Civil War, and the authors present this trajectory as clear evidence of Racism as a Source of National Division.