Fleming is amongst a more and more vocal group of new historians who are taking a hard look at the Founding Fathers and finding a heck of a lot of propaganda that holds up these rich white men as saviors and ignores all of the work done by everyone else. Here, Fleming specifically traces through the record to find what evidence is there to support the radical theory that Jefferson plagiarized his Declaration of Independence from a document written and signed by a group of North Carolina colonialists a year before Jefferson's Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776, signed by a decidedly less upper crust group of people. Classism has been baked into America from the very beginning and it is past time to take a hard look at it.

While I found a good portion of this quite interesting as it’s not a topic I knew anything about previously, the way it was shared was less than interesting for the majority of this book. It’s quite slow paced but I get the feeling it wasn’t supposed to be. More of it was boring than I was prepared for. I skimmed more of it than I wanted to - but I found a good portion of each chapter to feel pretty irrelevant to the topic and I just didn’t want to read it.

I received both an eGalley through NetGalley and a physical ARC from Hachette Books and I thank them for it. Now that I’m introduced to this topic I’m intrigued and will be conducting further research into the MecDec because I am so curious about it! This book provides a good chunk of information on it, but as I said it was kind of a boring journey and I feel other sources would be more enjoyable (for me anyway).

I still recommend this as a jumping off point if you, like me, have never heard of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

We need Mr. Fleming to edit all the history books and give them this wonderfully funny, easy to read, and accurate historical facts! I loved this book.

I'd known NOTHING about the MecDec until I read this. What fascinating history and to know that it was slowly being lost, but, it seems like it's becoming relevant again. Very well written and the historical sources are spot on. I mean the author went to England to try to find evidence of the existence of this document.

Many truths about the Founding Fathers and their lives, that sometimes go against the 'common knowledge' that we were taught about them. Not altogether bad people, but products of the times. Some spots were fast paced and others were a bit slow. In my opinion, that's kind of like history!

Thanks for an informative book that gave me more history about the formation of the United States that I didn't even know I was missing!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Hachette Books for an advanced copy of this book on an event that could change what we think about the founding of the United States.

The nice thing about being American is that most Americans have no real sense of history. Either through the failure of our educational system, or because of growing up in states that Whitewash uncomfortable bits of history only a few things are really known to most people. The Declaration of Independence is one of these things. Celebrated in books, Broadway musicals poems, even Schoolhouse Rock, most Americans know about the Declaration, and why July 4th is so important. However to paraphrase the Simpsons, they lied to us in song. The true tossing off of the yoke of tyranny of America and Britain might have happened in a small town in North Carolina, a year and couple of months before the big meeting in Philadelphia. An event that John Adams felt deserved more investigation, and one he poked at his friend/enemy Thomas Jefferson at in a few letters, snidely stating that Jefferson might have borrowed some idea from these previous rebels. And investigation that David Fleming so many years later decided to take up, and find out when the torch of freedom was properly lit, and what was the truth in the case of the Dual Declarations. Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence is both a history of America and a biography of a document that might change the way that Americans are taught their own history. At least in some states.

David Fleming had heard about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, also known as the MecDec for some time but it wasn't until a crack on the head in a tomb for a former president that Fleming decided he needed to know more. The MecDec was supposedly written on May 20 1777 in North Carolina. A group of, well calling them independent thinkers is a little simple, but mix of freedom loving, religious, whiskey loving, with some Scots- Irish, and a few political thinkers had declared themselves free of Britain and its rules. And more importantly taxes, especially taxes on marriage. A year later Thomas Jefferson wrote a Declaration that seem to as comic book writers call it was an homage to the MecDec, but less open minded people would call plagiarized from it. Fleming starts his quest in New England, but soon is traveling all over interviewing a diverse group of people, and building a very solid case for the MecDec.

A very funny, very interesting and very eye opening story one a subject I have read about, but never really put together in my head. This is not like the novel Night Probe by Clive Cussler, where it turns out the United States has owned Canada for years, this is is well written well researched account of an event that many people, ex-presidents, historians and documentarians feel was a real event. Fleming travels to many states and archives, finds family histories, and even gets a pastor to commit a crime with him in his search. Actually I am just kidding about that, but he was going to ask. The people he meets are a very mixed assortment of Americans, and that is what I liked most. They all seemed interested in helping, pitching in finding springs, and places where the original original Founding Fathers met in North Carolina, sharing family stories, and keeping the dream alive. The writing is good, very personable and humorous, but with quite a bit of tension. Plus there are plenty of facts, and a real sense of mystery to the history. A very exciting read.

The more one reads this book, the more the reader becomes invested in the story. A book that would be a very good gift for Father's Day, especially if the person is into history. Or alternate history.

Quick Summary: An alternate history extension

My Review: Who's Your Founding Father?: One Man's Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence by David Fleming was equal parts diverting and intriguing.

As a self-proclaimed history buff and fan of National Treasure-esque perspectives, I was elated to happen upon this book. I was not disappointed by what I found. In chasing down history via a road less traveled vehicle, Fleming informed readers about the land of Dunkin' Donuts, the Adams-Jefferson standoff, the MecDec document and his inspired quest for clarity, and so much more.

Uncovering truths, perceived plots of conspiracy, alleged plagiarism, and fraud were deep in this historical extension.

My Final Say: This book is strongly recommended. It will appeal to history sleuths and origin story detectives alike.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: T/YA and up

Thank you to the author, to the publisher, and to NetGalley for providing access to this title in exchange for an honest review. The words I have shared are my own.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.

"Adams had always suspected Jefferson of being a lightweight, erudite poser." 😂

This book is a snarky dig into history, and I quite enjoyed the author's sense of humor.

It's history for those who rightly agree we didn't learn it all in school. And told in a conversational voice that definitely holds interest better than your history teacher/coach in high school.

And the whole thing is peppered with the author's witty anecdotes. More fun than National Treasure.

"Jefferson's actual defense was that he was an intellect, not a soldier. The thought simply never occurred to him that you could be both."

Funny, delightful book about a little-known chapter in American history. David Fleming manages to toe the line between being thorough and respectful at the same time. A must read for any history-buff.

This book was fun to read. I had never heard of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, signed in 1775, one year before our July 4th, 1776 version written by Thomas Jefferson and then extensively amended by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Regrettably, the author, Mr. Fleming, is far too glib for my taste and is also very vulgar. In short, he ruined a terrific story.

I hadn't heard about the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence before, a document supposedly older than the official US Declaration of Independence that was signed in May 20th 1775, the year before the official one signed on August 2nd 1776. Fleming does sleuthing work trying to follow the trail of this controversial document, which most scholars consider fraudulent, and does so in an entertaining way that is very readable and at times humorous.

Not being that well-versed in US history, I can't say I was convinced the MecDec isn't fake as the evidence wasn't weighty for me. But I certainly learnt a lot, and I always appreciate that about historical periods I don't know much about. And I liked Fleming's very conversational and engaging narration, his mishaps and his successes on his search, and how mindful he is of keeping his readers "in place" as he leads them through the journey, not ahead, not behind, and definitely not lost.