The Founding Fathers are often revered as American saints; here are the stories of those Founders who were schemers and scoundrels, prioritizing their own interests over the nation’s.

We now have a more balanced understanding of Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton; yet, they are still frequently viewed as American saints, celebrated for their wisdom and selfless dedication to the country. However, within the Founding Generation, many unscrupulous figures existed—men who disregarded the era’s expectation of public virtue and pursued their own agendas at the expense of others.

These individuals were turncoats and traitors, opportunists and con artists, spies, and foreign intriguers. Some names remain infamous: Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr. Others are less notorious today but were equally threatening. Charles Lee, a Continental Army general, offered to help the British defeat the Americans, and James Wilkinson, who served fifteen years as a commanding general in the US Army, was rumored to have spied for Spain and conspired with traitors.

The early years of the republic were filled with self-serving individuals who sometimes succeeded in their schemes, sometimes failed, but always influenced the young nation. "A Republic of Scoundrels" re-examines the Founding Generation, moving beyond the hagiography of the Founding Fathers to present a more realistic picture that encompasses the many facets of our nation’s origins.