American Creation by Joe Ellis is an easy to read history about the founding of our country.  Ellis takes some pleasure in knocking down the reputations of the founders, particularly Jefferson, by pointing out the contradictions between how they lived and the ideals they expressed.  He looks carefully at the circumstances  surrounding five events: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Indian Treaties, The beginning of the two party system and the Louisiana Purchase and in all of them considers there effect on the issue of slavery.

I recommend American Creation as very readable history.  It is also an antidote to the current political reporting fashion that wants to believe that political animus is greater today than in the past.  The struggle between Adams and Jefferson that created the two party system was vicious even by todays standards.  And the executive power usurped by Jefferson to effect the Louisiana Purchase make warrentless wire taps seem like petty theft.