If the Smithsonian Institution was more interested in promoting a patriotic version of U.S. history, would it put the Abolitionist Founding Fathers on display?

An interesting thing is happening right now and its really a fantastic opportunity to highlight just how useful our current roster of audio books is in the context of how home schoolers and others can remind our fellow Americans that yes, our Founding Fathers did get it right - and that includes on the topic of slavery, and where can you find the truth? How can you give others the truth? How can we all join together to undermine America's historical class who does not want anybody to know the real American history?

Slavery was indeed bad. Let's get that out of the way, and those four words stand on their own merit. Slavery was indeed bad. Now, we have to ask the opposite. Was early American abolitionism an universal good? I think it was. Was early American abolitionism a thing we can be proud of? Is early American abolitionism a thing we should be proud of? If not, then this discussion is not for you. But if you are proud of America and you are proud of the early American abolitionists, then I'm certain you are going to learn something here. So get ready.

The Smithsonian is something that all of us used to think was something that was on our side. We used to think the Smithsonian had America's best interests at heart. We have come to realize that this cannot be true, not as long as the Smithsonian has a one-sided vision for telling the U.S.'s story. If the narrative is really going to be one sided, then the Smithsonian have cast themselves as propagandists.

So who were America's Abolitionist Founding Fathers? Well, they were Founding Fathers to be sure. Signers of the Declaration, signers of the Continental Association, members of the Continental Congress, and signers of other documents less well known and also the Articles of Confederation and Constitution itself. This is also by no means meant to be an exhaustive and all encompassing list covering every aspect and nook and cranny, I did not prepare for that in advance.

The Founding Father who everybody will recognize, who was also an ardent abolitionist, was Benjamin Franklin. Franklin is often times most remembered for Poor Richard's Almanack, also for the key and the kite in the lightning storm. But Franklin was also a great man in another way - his ardent belief in the necessity of abolitionism.

A quick point of contention before I continue. For some odd reasons, many conservatives are decidedly not proud of this. I must say, I cannot fathom why. You aren't ceding any ground to progressives by promoting the Abolitionist Founding Fathers. In fact, the opposite is actually true. The progressives have spent generations engaging in a mass coverup of U.S. history and a sweeping under the rug of all things positive about U.S. history.

The Abolitionist Founding Fathers? Yes, of course I found it under the rug. I pulled it out from under the rug and now I want people to see how beautiful it is. Look at how it shines! Look at how it sparkles! I just find it odd that some claimaints of America First suddenly forget to be First with this specific topic. You really need to question your motives.

Now, was Benjamin Franklin the only abolitionist among the people who Founded the United States? Of course not! But surely I must be now be about to be forced into Founders that history forgot because they did one thing and nobody ever heard from them again.

Nope. I was thinking John Jay, who not only was an abolitionist but taught his son William to be an abolitionist. John Jay was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers. That's right, one of the authors of The Federalist was an opponent of the institution of slavery. Bet your history teachers didn't teach you that one did they! Mine didn't. And why would teachers teach this, they're engaged in a mass coverup about the topic. Jay was a towering figure at America's founding. Besides helping with the Federalist Papers and being a governor of the important state of New York, he negotiated the end of the Revolutionary War with the 1783 Treaty of Paris and followed it up later with the Jay Treaty in 84, bringing a decade of peace to the U.S. between Britain.

Now ask yourself this question. How come the Smithsonian Institute is incapable of figuring this out? How come the Smithsonian is incapable of discovering this? Well, they aren't incapable. Their ATTITUDE prevents them. Their STINKING ATTITUDE, the Smithsonian's ARROGANCE, that is what keeps the Smithsonian from teaching people of how integral abolitionism of slavery was at the very beginning of the U.S.'s journey. And yes, it was integral. It wasn't nearly the top priority, but anybody who says slavery abolitionism was non-existent is flat out lying when we can all see the documentation, see the dates of when those documents were written, and see that it is true. And in good enough time, it'll be audio as well. I'm just sorry I can't work faster.

Now, I have yet to work on the creation of an audio book for John Jay, but I will some day, and about Franklin there are several audio books at LibriVox to help make educating about his life easier.

Let's move on. Let's talk for a moment about Stephen Hopkins, who today is entirely forgotten but in the 1770s was very well known as a pamphlet writer until he (like many others) were eclipsed by the explosive popularity of Paine's Common Sense. We often hear about how so many of the Founders were pamphleteers, and even teachers will teach this without specifics. Ask yourself, why is it we never hear specifically about what exactly were those pamphlets? Was was in those pamplhets? Who were the other pampleteers? Was there 3 others, was there 3,000? Who? Where? Well, Hopkins was one of them and his pamphlet, "The Rights of Colonies Examined", was resoundingly popular. Hopkins went on to eventually sign the Declaration of Independence and was Governor of Rhode Island.

The real key to Hopkins importance though (in today's context) is his opposition to slavery. He authored one of the first of its kind laws in the colonies (at this point the U.S. did not exist) in the year 1774, and the law completely did away with the slave trade. And, and, the law was passed through the legislature. So all of Rhode Island was onboard with the concept. But in the colonies, Governors were crown creatures instead of being elected. They were puppets. Their real job was to thwart colonial freedom and enforce kingly desires. And this crown's puppet refused to enforce the law. So even in spite of being a law duly passed by the people's representatives to abolish the slave trade, the crown still killed it. Rhode Island kept going in slave trading into the 1800s, entirely in line with the crown's wishes. Not the patriots' wishes, the crown. The crown owns this, without any distinction at all.

Now, this episode is one instance of where I come in as you just saw and I say the most incindiary thing (and fact-based thing BTW) that the British Empire forced slavery on the U.S. And its true. The British Empire forced slavery on the U.S. Hopkins' work is one example of this. Those 13 colonies saw this again and again, laws either being ignored or outright vetoed by the King's pen, so none dared go any further. Why bother passing dead laws? That is so clearly a waste of time. But had the colonies had the freedom and independence to pass their own laws without crown creatures being jerks and without the threat of a kingly veto, it is a very real assertion to say that at least one or a few of the colonies would have become free-soil by the time Independence Day appeared. The reverse is also true. Nobody can state that the U.S. chose slavery. Even those most critical of the Founding Fathers only dare go so far as to say that slavery was a "tolerated" institution by the Founders. And in using this word "tolerate", they do in fact expose their deception. The emperor once again has no clothes.

Benjamin Rush, another signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a very busy man. On top of being a physician he having his finger on the pulse of patriotic endeavors, and was also an abolitionist. In his work as an abolitionist, Benjamin Rush wrote a pamphlet titled "An Address to the Inhabitants of British America". But this pamphlet was not just a free-standing work, it was written with a specific agenda. Benjamin Rush worked together with prominent abolitionist Anthony Benezet on this project. Historian Maurice Jackson pointed out that Benezet and Rush worked together using this pamphlet to put pressure on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass a law putting heavy tariffs on the importation of slaves in order to hopefully put a stop to it. (Let This Voice Be Heard, pp. 122-123)

This sort of pressure campaign between Benezet and Rush, specifically in the context of colonial slavery of black Africans, was unheard of anywhere in the world and was the first of its kind. This kind of pressure campaign using pamphlets and later images, paintings and where available photographs, would be copied by British abolitionists and even later American abolitionists during the era of the Civil War. Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father, and Anthony Benezet are the source of all of it. That's why Jackson calls Benezet the "Father of Atlantic Abolitionism", its because Britain did not invent this.

Abolitionism was wholly invented and created right here in the United States(colonies). British abolitionists copied us. We did that. We own it. And we deserve the credit for it. Now, let's cover briefly Rush's actual pamphlet. What was written in it? Among other things, Rush wrote:

Rush does not mince words here. Who does Rush blame for slavery in American colonies? Britain. How can slavery in the colonies be stopped? Petition Parliament. Who created slavery in American colonies? The British Empire did that. It wasn't the United States who did that, a simple calendar proves that. It wasn't some random tribal lords in Africa who did that, they never set foot outside of Africa. And Rush also links together clearly that slavery is the slave trade, and the slave trade is slavery. The two are one in the same. Stopping one (they believed at the time) is how to stop the other. If you want to say the abolitionists got the idea incorrect looking backwards hey that's great. They got it wrong. But let's be sober, let's not get drunk off of modern propaganda that somehow the slave trade and slavery are different. They are not. The abolitionists all viewed the two as exactly the same and it was this way with the British abolitionists as well.

Now, if you so choose you can listen to an audio book of Rush's auto biography here. The lives of all of the Founding Fathers is so important for all of us to continually learn, study, and reflect on. Let's continue`.

John Dickinson, again one of the signers of the Declaration and also one of the largest slave owners in his colony/state at the time. Another wildly popular pamphleteer writing "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania", perhaps the only other pamphlet from the time(besides Common Sense) that Americans remain somewhat knowledgable about its existence. Dickinson became an abolitionist in connection with his Quakerism similar to Anthony Benezet, and would manumit every last one of his slaves along with becoming a vocal advocate for laws abolishing both slavery and the slave trade. We currently have an audio book in production about the life of Dickinson and hopefully some day soon I can happily tell everybody about the completion of that work and its contents. And, most importantly, Dickinson's very important life and the lessons we can learn from him. That is the goal. Continuing education about our wonderful Founding Fathers.

Elias Boudinot, not a signer of the Declaration but he was a President of the Continental Congress, also took up the banner of opposition to slavery, He joined the Pennsylvania Anti Slavery Society (which Franklin was one-time President of) and in addition to work in abolitionist causes he was a founder of the American Bible Society. Like so many of our Founders, the life of Elias Boudinot has been completely eradicated and for that, I do have an audio book of his Life and Times in the works but it will be complete when it is complete.

So there you have it, six prominent Founding Fathers who were both well known in their day, as well as being definitively involved with abolitionist movements during the times of the birth of the United States either right before it or shortly after its establishment.

Do you want to sabotage progressivism? Talk about America's Abolitionist Founding Fathers. They are one in the same: talking about the abolitionist Founding Fathers is sabotaging progressivism. I, definitely, make it a point to at all places and all times frustrate progressivism by runing their hard work over this last century, so I will obviously have more to say about America's Abolitionist Founding Fathers. Especially as I can get more audio books introduced about their life and works to supercharge the educational capabilities about the wondrous and fantastic Founding of the United States of America.

Note: Outside of visible abolitionism there were many Founders who were ardently anti-slavery even if they did not act on it. Additionally, there were some who did own many slaves while being against slavery as a concept and institution. Among those known to oppose slavery would be George Mason, Roger Sherman, Henry Laurens, Gouverneur Morris, both of the Adams', John and Samuel, and most controversially Thomas Jefferson among others; Jefferson acted repeatedly legislatively to actually get rid of slavery making him truly unique in any of the relating categories. And even more Founders were privately against slavery but properly put union above all objects, the two most prominent names being George Washington and Patrick Henry.

As a final thought, I leave you with two very well documented works on early abolitionism and in relation to the Founding Fathers, and the life of Anthony Benezet.(both text and audio)

It varied, depending on the good being purchased, but it ranged from 20% up to 50%, or thereabouts.

In 1860, tarrifs were lower than at any time in our history up until that point. And they would have stayed there if 11 southern states had not pulled out of the Union. With southern states voting, the Morrel tariffs would never had passed. Tariffs at that time represented 95% of Federal revenue.

So you can take your tariff argument and stack it up with the rest of your myths.

Why are you incapable of saying in broad terms that the civil war is over there and the american revolution is over here, with their obvious and unmistakable distinctions?

The distinctions are imaginary, and the perception of distinctions is the product of a long running smear campaign against the Confederates.

Obviously you didn’t like the two ultra-specific answers I provided.

In the context of the conversation we were having at the time, (which was about the meaning of Article IV, Section 2) you sound like you are trying to say there were lots of Zebras instead of Horses.

No. "Indentured servants" compared to slaves were akin to Zebras compared to Horses.

The Horses are numerous and dominant as a percentage, while the Zebras represent a tiny rare minority.

You are trying to pull a fallacy of composition. You think that by bringing up "indentured servants", you can prove that Article IV, Section 2 is about "indentured servants".

It's not. It is about slaves.

In 1860, tarrifs were lower than at any time in our history up until that point.

You certainly are trying to milk that "tariff" word. As I said, the economic problems created by the North go way beyond just "tariffs."

Tariffs at that time represented 95% of Federal revenue.

Yes, I know, and the South produced 72% of them.

“It was one of the Compromises made at the time. If you think it is pro slavery, why does it have a sunset written into it.”

That is an interesting comment. It doesn’t seem rhetorical or sarcastic.

How do you define sunset?

"The distinctions are imaginary, and the perception of distinctions is the product of a long running smear campaign against the Confederates."

You know, the thought had occurred to me that by bringing up the abolitionist Founding Fathers that you also took the abolitionist Founding Fathers as a smear against the Confederates. You and jeffersondem swooped in, like what an hour after I posted. Super quick.

You guys are clearly in opposition to the idea that there could've been any abolitionism prior to the 1830s, whatsoever. Perhaps the 1820s. But definitely not at the Founding. This belief seems to be an immutable entry in the Civil War ideology.

"you sound like you are trying to say there were lots of Zebras instead of Horses."

Wonderful. "sound like" I get to be forced to defend your words while pretending I said them. Yippie.

"You are trying to pull a fallacy of composition. You think that by bringing up "indentured servants", you can prove that Article IV, Section 2 is about "indentured servants"."

All you have to do is choose to read what is already typed. I included three classes: redemptioner, indentured, and slave. Your attempt to say I negated one and replaced it with another is a fail.

The clause applies to all three classes, it is my original and continuing assertion. To say only two or only one is historical malpractice.

That’s total BS. Show us your data on that.

Would it cause you to rethink your position if I could show you it was correct?

Something tells me it won't change your mind about what happened, even if it's true.

But yes, I can show you the data. Will it do any good? If not, why should I bother?

You know, the thought had occurred to me that by bringing up the abolitionist Founding Fathers that you also took the abolitionist Founding Fathers as a smear against the Confederates.

You are trying to characterize them as "abolitionists". Do you know what "abolitionists" do? They abolition!

The Founders didn't abolition, therefore they weren't abolitionists. They may have leaned in that direction later on in their life, but they didn't act upon their leanings.

You guys are clearly in opposition to the idea that there could've been any abolitionism prior to the 1830s, whatsoever.

That is your projection. Massachusetts did it in 1880 or so, but they did it with a trick, and not with actual law.

Other states mouthed ideas and passed statutes about getting rid of it eventually, but they didn't actually get rid of till decades later.

All you have to do is choose to read what is already typed. I included three classes: redemptioner, indentured, and slave.

And you are trying to pretend each of these has equal weight and numbers when the reality is that the one catagory outweighs the others perhaps a thousand times.

You are trying to deny that the framers were specifically referring to slaves by obfuscating with these far rarer categories that came nowhere near "slaves" in terms of numbers.

The clause applies to all three classes, it is my original and continuing assertion.

So give me some numbers of "indentured servants" in the 1787 era, and give me some numbers of slaves that existed in that same era.

Let us compare the two numbers together to see if they are anywhere near the same weight.

You are wishful thinking my friend. I hate to rain on your optimistic outlook, but real history has a lot of ugly in it.

I would like to greatly thank you for posting that map. I have posted it so many times in the past that people complain at me every time I post it.

Excellent! I want you to look at it very closely so you understand exactly what it shows.

You aren't going to like it when it finally dawns on you.

You can show it to prove to everyone following this thread you are not a BSer just making s*** up.

If it won't change your mind, I just don't see how it is worthwhile.

You are *acting* like the South producing 72% of the taxes is a big deal. You seem to recognize that this would shed a different light on things, and portray them in a way you don't like.

The South's population was roughly 1/4th of the North's, yet 72% is almost 3/4ths of the tax burden for the whole nation.

So if the South represents 3/4ths of the tax burden divided by 1/4th of the population it equals 3.0 .

And if the North represents 1/4ths of the tax burden divided by 3/4th of the population, it equals 0.33333

The ratio between them is 3.0 divided by 0.333, and so the South was paying 9 times the taxes of the North per capita.

What was the American revolution about? Was it taxes?

"You are trying to characterize them as "abolitionists". Do you know what "abolitionists" do? They abolition!"

John Jay literally signed into law New York's bill abolishing slavery.

Benjamin Franklin literally was the president of the world's first trans-atlantic slavery (of africans) abolition society.

Stephen Hopkins literally authored the bill that the R.H. assembly accepted and passed into law, abolishing the slave trade. That the British subsequently squashed because the crown wanted to keep the practice of subjugating blacks going.

Benjamin Rush(and his buddy Anthony Benezet) literally pioneered the very kind of pressure campaign that made all abolitionists, everywhere, famous for. The kinds of pressure campaigns that were adopted by the British, then re-adopted by your sworn enemies in the 1830s, the Garrisonians. Benjamin Rush did that.

Yes, I know that abolitionists abolition. That's why I brought it up. The guys that I mentioned, they abolitioned.

"You are trying to characterize them as "abolitionists". Do you know what "abolitionists" do? They abolition!"

William Lloyd Garrison did not author any bills abolishing slavery anywhere,(or the slave trade) so therefore William Lloyd Garrison must not have been an abolitionist.

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