Posted on 07/04/2007 5:51:00 AM PDT by Pharmboy
The following is my take—in order of importance—on our Founders. For my purpose here I looked at a combination of several things, but most important, the following two: intellectual and fighting contributions, e.g., how much support did an individual Founder supply at various pre-war conventions, as a pamphleteer or at the Constitutional Convention, and, how much did he risk his life on the battlefield?
I do this to learn (from fellow Freepers) as much as to hear myself talk. I am an amateur on the RevWar and George Washington, and would welcome corrections, additions, whom you think should be deleted, how the order might change, etc. Also, involve your high school and/or college kids who are interested in American history—I would like to hear what they have to say as well.
One final note: as a Washingtonian, I do NOT like Thomas Jefferson. However, he is on the list since I tried to keep my personal prejudices at bay.
I hope you enjoy this exercise.
1) George Washington. What can one say about The General? He was the true, single, indispensable man of the Revolution. The reason he wasn’t in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence (DOI) was that he was in NYC with the army preparing for the inevitable Brit assault. A leader in the largest colony, he was a great judge of men and learned from people like George Mason. He was fearless on the battlefield. He sheathed his sword and left for the farm after the war and walked away from the presidency later and again went back to his beloved Martha and Mount Vernon. Few people could say goodbye to power as he did. This country was founded on the character of General Washington. Signer: Constitution
2) John Adams. Dedicated to the Revolution from early on. Brilliant and skilled in diplomacy—both here and abroad. Nominated The General for Command-in-Chief during the Continental Congress, and this was a stroke of genius for many reasons, not the least being that the key representative of the most important northern colony (MA) nominated a key delegate from the most important southern colony (VA). Adams also played an essential role for the DOI in that he was the second best vote getter elected to the committee (Jefferson beat him by a single vote) and argued passionately for its adoption. Signer: DOI
3)Ben Franklin. If The General was the Father of this Country, then Ben Franklin was its Grandfather. He was wise, dedicated to liberty and a great inspiration throughout the ordeal of the RevWar. His personal charm worked wonders for the fledgling republic on the European Continent. He was the equivalent of a modern rock star in France when he lived there. It was said that there was no house in Paris at the time that was without a small portrait of Franklin on the fireplace mantle. Signer: DOI and Constitution
4) Alexander Hamilton. Brilliant, Caribbean-born, orphaned as a youngster, Alex came to NYC in 1772 and immediately became passionate about liberty. Started the NY Artillery Regiment (the only military unit from the RevWar to have a present-day remnant) while a student at King’s College (Columbia), he proved himself fearless in battle. A key aide de camp for The General, he wrote many of the dispatches and general orders. He was honored by The General at Yorktown when given the most dangerous position to advance. Wrote most of the Federalist Papers and set up the early engine of the American economy as our first Secretary of the Treasury. It has been said that he would have been the only Founder with a 1600 on the SAT. Signer: Constitution
5) Thomas Jefferson. Brilliant and fiercely dedicated to liberty, Thom definitely had a way with a phrase. He was 32 y/o when appointed chair of the DOI committee. Although he borrowed from previous documents for the DOI, and a few changes were suggested by Franklin and Adams, all agreed that it was largely his document. For that alone he deserves a place here. His vision for America as an agrarian republic contrasted with his Federalist rival just above, and they compromised at a dinner in Thom’s flat on Maiden Lane in NYC on the Federal assumption of war debt and the removal of the capital from NYC. The connections he made in Europe were also important in early American diplomacy. Signer: DOI
6) Patrick Henry. Observing Henry in his twenties, no one would have predicted the key role he would play in the politics of Virginia and ultimately, the early republic. He was a layabout, hanging out in his father-in-law’s tavern with little ambition. He changed, studied law, and was elected to the House of Burgesses. He became THE eloquent spokesman and driver of the concept of liberty in our largest colony. It was his misgivings (along with George Mason) about the Constitution that gave us our precious Bill of Rights protecting state and individual rights. Non-signer.
7) George Mason. Wealthy Virginia planter whose intellect played a large part in the foundation of this great country’s ideals. Wrote the Fairfax Resolves (which supported the Bostonians against the Brit’s Boston Port Act); wrote Virginia’s Declaration of Rights and much of the commonwealth’s constitution. These documents formed the basis for the DOI and the Bill of Rights (BoR). Was an active delegate to the Constitutional Convention but refused to sign. Fought for state’s rights and was largely responsible for the BoR. Also argued for the independence (from the Feds) of the state judiciary. Non-signer.
8) Sam Adams. An early firebrand, he was a brilliant orator much loved by the citizens of Boston (one might say that he was Massachusetts’ Patrick Henry or that Henry was Virginia’s Sam Adams). He saw early on that the course the colonies were on would lead to bloodshed. A poor man (business did not interest him, and whenever he attempted trade he went bust), the Brits tried to bribe him into keeping quiet. No chance for that since he—like the rest of the Founders—was a man of enormous integrity.
9) Roger Sherman. Connecticut lawyer. Attended every congress, before, during and after the War. His wisdom played a large role in guiding these congresses. He was known for the following: common sense, integrity and piety, and these traits played a significant part in the formation and direction of this country. Signer: the only triple signer—DOI, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.
10) Daniel Morgan. Allow this man to stand for all the fighting men of the RevWar. He was uneducated, big, tough as nails and loved to fight, drink and gamble. He was a good ole boy, a redneck, an “over-mountain man” and if alive today would probably not miss a NASCAR event. Born in Hunterdon County, NJ, he walked away from home at the age of 16 after a fight with his father. He kept walking until he hit the Virginia frontier. He first met George Washington during the Massacre on the Monongahela during the French and Indian War (he was a teamster), and led the Virginia Riflemen during the RevWar. He and his men played a key role in several battles, not the least of which was the victory at Saratoga. This Bud’s for you, General Morgan.
And indeed, I had meant to include old Tom Paine, but in the end overlooked him. Madison and Paine were my main omissions (I had also considered John Hancock but ultimately left him off).
Best to you,
PB
That cost a hell of a lot of lives on both sides.
Instead of Henry, the pure word smith on your list should have been Thomas Paine. He wrote "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis." Those two books created the US out of 13 separate states which thought of themselves as separate "nations."
John Adams is widely reported to have said, "Without the pen of Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain." Paine was the first person ever to write the phrase, "United States of America." I think he should be on your list.
Congressman Billybob
1776. Was anybody else on FR besides me in the play by that name?
1787. Many of the names are the same for the first and the second but it was a different world and the Founders different by ten years of experience and near failure of the USA. Some new names were involved. They produced the second Constitution,
1865. which when the corrections were applied after the Civil War became our present, effectively third Constitution.
Founding Fathers Ver 1.0, and Founding Fathers Ver 2.0 and Founding Fathers Ver 2.1. Somewhat related, vastly different political philosophies. Other foundings could be added, in particular in the FDR Admin.
The guys who stood up against the most powerful military in the world are honored on Patriot’s Day, a holiday that is pretty much ignored these days. Guys like Jonas Parker, Ebenezer Munroe and John Munroe would be represented by Morgan. Without support of the population revolution & our founding could not have gotten off the ground. I’d leave him in.
Adams should be in too, but his impact was more local than Paine’s. If I was forced to pick one of the two, I’d have to go with Paine. Henry was active in the founding, as well as revolution, which is why I put Paine against Adams & not against Henry.
The “whatever you want to call it” war - (1861 - 1865) was transitional in terms of strategy and tactics, from the Napoleonic beginning to the Total War ending. This is why Lee (a master of Napoleonic S & T) won for the first few years, while Grant and Sherman (who would have adapted well to World War I) succeeded in the later campaigns.
Each era (republic) represents a further expansion of centralized power and a move away from the federal republic that the founders envisioned.
Since I'm not a Virginian I have no particular personal reason to put Henry in, but he was, arguably, as important to the early days of the Revolution (in terms of motivating people and moving the debate forward) as Paine was later on. He moved people with his oratory while Paine did it with his quill. And people listened to him and put in the BoR--pretty key, IMO.
I'm afraid we shall have to disagree about the fiery Virginian's place on this exclusive list, but that's ok--hope you're having a great Fourth.
I'm taking the kids to a movie now and will fire up the grill about three.
Best,
PB
Are we speaking here of the King James version or the newest, normalized editions where everybody -- at least everybody ~you~ know -- is above average?
Oh, you mean like that Tenth Amendment...that final bulwark against an omnivorous federal government? [/sarcasm and heartsickness]
How sad it is -- on this Independence Day -- to think of these great guarantees of the people's liberty, now more often used to stifle the people than to protect them.
I think we'd better redouble our grip on #2. It is the enabling amendment for a people needing to revisit the sentiments that once before stirred their hearts and set them marching.
Top o’ the Fourth to ye, mware!
‘Tis true that many have since expanded on the vision of the Founders, and yours is a good list. It is extraordinary by any measure what these men of the 18th c. did allowing all others to build on. This Republic, if we can keep it, is forever in their debt.
I have a special place in my heart for G. Mason. If you read Mason’s Virginia Declaration of Rights, it’s not hard to see where the Declaration of Independence is drawn from. Mason wrote it the year before 1776, as I recall.
When next you come to this sainted parish, if time permits, would like to take you to the Mason Memorial on the Mall and/or to his estate that is relatively close to Mount Vernon. It is said that Mason’s refusal to sign the Bill of Rights created a scism in the long time friendship with his neighbor, GW.
Now, how about 11-20? Maybe Nathaniel Greene would be somewhere in that section...
Bingo! And which is why I'd remove Adams and Hamilton from this list, move Jefferson up to number two and place Madison at number 3 (or tied with TJ at number 2). No greater document exists in our history than the Constitution, followed closely by the DoI, then the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (written by TJ and Madison, both of whom clearly indicated that States have the right to disregard unconstitutional laws and actions of the national government).
Nathaniel Greene would DEFINITELY make my next 10. Along with John Hancock, Gouverner Morris, Robert Morris, John Witherspoon, Richard Stockton, Ceasar Rodney, and others that I cannot think of right now.
Nathaniel Greene would DEFINITELY make my next 10. Along with John Hancock, Gouverner Morris, Robert Morris, John Witherspoon, Richard Stockton, Ceasar Rodney, and others that I cannot think of right now.
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