American Forefathers

If you could be any American Forefather who would you be? Id def say Washington.

 

i'd rather change history and be a foremother.

 

Probably Alexander Hamilton...minus the whole getting shot thing.

 

I'd be the English coming to kill your wounded and burn your churches.

 

Sam Adams, he used to brew good beer.

 

madison..kinda hard not to want to be the architect

 

Yea, I have to agree. Alexander Hamilton. Supposedly he was the adulterer of new york during his early years. And he was 40 and had the respoect of the world. Pretty cool.

 

"I'll have a Samuel Jackson"

Samuel L. Jackson: "It's my beer! It'll get you drunk! You'll be fucking fat bitches in no time! You might even fight a brother or two!"
-Why are you yelling?
Samuel L. Jackson: "I'm not yelling this is the way I talk! Haven't you seen my movies!? Deep Blue Sea!? A shark ate me! A mother fucking shark! Hell yes they deserved to die and I hope they burn in hell!"

 

Alexander Hamilton? He was a dick dude. He wanted to set up a permanent presidency/monarchy, that specifically protected the interests of the elite.

Thomas Jefferson is definately the father of choice! Even though he too was landed elite, patristic, etc. he was much more democratic, revolutionary, secular, intellectual, etc.

 

That's the history textbook definition of him, but if you actually examine his life, he really created many of the important institutions that our government uses today. In my opinion, he is more responsible than any other founding father for our current system of government, and held more power than any of the other founding fathers...including those who became president. Yes, he was a bit on the monarchical side...but none of the founding fathers had perfect ideologies and it would be silly to think that they did.

I probably agree with Jefferson's politics more than Hamilton's, but Jefferson had plenty of faults of his own, and I'd hesitate to call a slaveowner "democratic." Also, Hamilton was as revolutionary as Jefferson, but in a different way. Please don't think of Hamilton as a conservative reactionary, because he wasn't. Hamilton worked his way into national prominence, whereas Jefferson was born into wealth.

 

I hear what you are saying. Alexander Hamilton was chiefly responsible for our banking system, partially responsible for our federalist government, a prominent lawyer, etc. His acheivements are certainly admirable considering his origins. I just can't understand why he turned his back on common people to such an extreme degree. He definately had issues.

While Jefferson owned slaves, he was deeply conflicted about the issue, his words about truths self evident became the mantra for abolishing slavery.

Plus when you consider his weighty influence on the new Constitution, with his demand for a Bill of Rights, his insistance on the separation of Church and State, his founding of the University of Virginia, his diplomatic pull with France securing the rock-bottom price on the Louisiana Purchase, his lifelong pursuit of knowledge in science, mathematics, and the arts; I don't think there is any person who better exemplifies the American ideal than Thomas Jefferson.

One last point in defense of Alexander Hamilton: the tax system and treasury department that he created was what allowed for Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase, his war against the barbary pirates, etc.

Still, Hamilton seemed like such a blantant monarchist; I think his values were against almost every good thing America stands for. Also, while Jefferson had rich parents, Hamilton had rich benefactors. Jeffersons ideas were less dependant on patronage and loyalty to a certain class.

 

Jefferson

 

Jefferson, or Franklin...

 

Sam Adams aside, each of the Founding Fathers had their part to play.
Hamilton, for the economic foundation and paying the debts incured to that point with Foreign nations
John Adams as second president was very much involved with the Constutional Convention, Diplomat, delegate to the Peace Treaty ending the Revolutionary War, etc
Jefferson, as already described, also founded the first American Political Party - Democratic Party (which currently bears little resemblance to its initial incarnation)

Also not forgetting Hamilton, Madison, and Jefferson (maybe John Adams) have been given credit for writting the Federalist Papers.

Also the parts played by other Founding Fathers such as G.Washington, B.Franklin, J. Madison, etc, weren't nessessaryily in supporting roles. They frequently took the lead in their respective areas.

Consider the election of 1800. Often called the second revolution, this election allowed the Constitutional transfer of power between two opposing centers of power. This test probably could have been passed had it not been for Adams and Jefferson leading their respective parties.

 

werent the federalist papers hamilton, madison and john jay? I would definitely say that madison took a "lead" role in WRITING our constitution. He isnt called the father of the constitution for nothing.

 

You're right.
I thought I heard Jefferson and Adams made some contributions, comparatively minor, but I did neglect totally John Jay's involvement. Thanks for the correction.

 

Yeah Madison might be the more important, Jefferson was cuter.

 

Taller too. Madison was 5 foot and change, and Jefferson stood over 6 feet.

 

I knew it! Certainly explains his need for a strong central government, property rights, and such.

 

Alexander Hamilton is indefiently the most revolutionary of our forefathers. His time spent as tresury secreteary were revolutionary. Not only was he the first Secretary, but his job was far more important than Jefferson as Sec State, and Madison as Vice Pres. The nation debt exceeded 40 million, and the individual states had a debt of 14 million. His assumption plan saved our economy! Not only did he finance the bank perfectly, but he adopted English banking systems in order to stabilise our economy. I can go on and on about this man, but you guys all know this.

Jefferson is another story. Not only did he hold slavs, but his "all men are created equal" line do NOT include blacks. The clause that states a black is 3/5ths of a white, seems somewhat contradictory to the slavemaster kindness he dished out. While Hamilton adopted the swiss banker Neckers policys stressing the importance of balance between agriculture and industry, Jefferson strove for a solely agriculture nation. going as far as to call farmers "true americans." Jefferson also refers to blacks as "indecent," "inferior intelectually" and "uncultured," whilst Hamilton was a proponent for abolition. If anything, Jefferson is the eltist, taking refuge in his thousand acre estates, dining with fellow Virginians of only the same social standing. The poorer Virginians despised there rich coutnerparts. Interesting for such a humanitarian.

Hamilton saved our nation. Hes the reason our nation is as powerful and succesful as it is. Im just not sure I can accept Jeffersons bad points, as they definetly outwigh Hamiltons.