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Rank the most influential Founding Fathers in your view
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:29 am
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:29 am
I'm thinking mostly along the lines of things like: Were they in it from the beginning? Did they play a part in the War itself? Did they play a part in the early government(s)? Did they generally contribute to the survival of the young country? Not looking for whether one or the other necessarily agree with your political outlook but I'm sure some of that will seep into people's opinions.
I'll throw out a few.
1- George Washington. Pretty easy choice. He was in it from early on with the early congresses, the Declaration of Independence meeting, a huge part in the war, the movement from the Articles to the Constitution and establishing many of the workings of the executive branch.
2a - Thomas Jefferson. In it early. Not sure if he actually fought in the war but his drafting of the Declaration gives him a big boost. Acted as an ambassador and an early president.
2b - John Adams. In many ways the opposite side of the coin from Jefferson. They were friends (I think) and became very heated rivals. He was in it very early in the game and played important roles throughout. Another early president.
3 - Ben Franklin. Gave some gravitas to the early movement. Did a lot of important ambassador type work in Europe Instrumental in getting France to join in. Also probably the original political party animal and a pretty decent innovator/inventor.
4 - Alexander Hamilton. An early participant in the war effort. Served as Washington's right hand man both in the war and pretty much as president. Important in establishing economic policies and stability of the young country. Went a bit astray towards the end I think.
5- James Madison. Didn't see combat because he was something like 5'4" and 100 lbs. But pretty much wrote the constitution and also had a big part in the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights. An early expert in political maneuvering. Served as president during the War of 1812.
I'll throw out a few.
1- George Washington. Pretty easy choice. He was in it from early on with the early congresses, the Declaration of Independence meeting, a huge part in the war, the movement from the Articles to the Constitution and establishing many of the workings of the executive branch.
2a - Thomas Jefferson. In it early. Not sure if he actually fought in the war but his drafting of the Declaration gives him a big boost. Acted as an ambassador and an early president.
2b - John Adams. In many ways the opposite side of the coin from Jefferson. They were friends (I think) and became very heated rivals. He was in it very early in the game and played important roles throughout. Another early president.
3 - Ben Franklin. Gave some gravitas to the early movement. Did a lot of important ambassador type work in Europe Instrumental in getting France to join in. Also probably the original political party animal and a pretty decent innovator/inventor.
4 - Alexander Hamilton. An early participant in the war effort. Served as Washington's right hand man both in the war and pretty much as president. Important in establishing economic policies and stability of the young country. Went a bit astray towards the end I think.
5- James Madison. Didn't see combat because he was something like 5'4" and 100 lbs. But pretty much wrote the constitution and also had a big part in the Federalist Papers and the Bill of Rights. An early expert in political maneuvering. Served as president during the War of 1812.
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:31 am to TIGRLEE
Tommy Jefferson
Who basically plagiarized john locke
Who basically plagiarized john locke
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:32 am to Methuselah
Alexander Hamilton was also the founder of the Federalist Party.
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:32 am to Methuselah
Washington, Jefferson, Madison
Hamilton and Franklin were key in supportive roles.
Hamilton and Franklin were key in supportive roles.
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:35 am to Methuselah
Christopher Columbus is #1
This post was edited on 2/22/15 at 9:36 am
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:39 am to Methuselah
Always makes me under the influence
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:45 am to Methuselah
Jefferson and Adams had more to do with the formation of the government and country than Washington. That doesn't discount what Washington did by any means.
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:47 am to Methuselah
Jebediah Springfield, the Simpsons would never exist without him
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:48 am to Methuselah
quote:
James Madison
Doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves. Everyone knows Washington and Jefferson and Franklin but Madison is every bit as important. Like you mentioned he wrote the US Constitution and played the single largest role in transitioning the nation from the Articles of Confederation to a system of government that changed the world.
Posted on 2/22/15 at 9:59 am to ClientNumber9
James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
Madison designed the government and Hamilton the finances. They were the two that took the ideas and made them practical and workable
Madison designed the government and Hamilton the finances. They were the two that took the ideas and made them practical and workable
Posted on 2/22/15 at 10:02 am to Methuselah
Washington..Madison..........Franklin.........Adams......Hamilton.................Jefferson
Posted on 2/22/15 at 10:06 am to runningTiger
Never heard of john Locke
Posted on 2/22/15 at 10:21 am to pensacola
If you've read Rakove's Pulitzer work Original Meanings then your answer is James Madison over and over again.
Rakove is generally regarded as the best authority there is regarding matters of the Constitutional Players and the men who came together to shape the policy and thought process of a nation early on...and Madison was the man.
Franklin may have been the first ever true master politician in American History. Jefferson and Franklin together were true polymaths and worked from opposite ends of the diplomatic spectrum in order to push the Founding Fathers where they needed to go.
But Madison was the beast to end all beasts...
Rakove is generally regarded as the best authority there is regarding matters of the Constitutional Players and the men who came together to shape the policy and thought process of a nation early on...and Madison was the man.
Franklin may have been the first ever true master politician in American History. Jefferson and Franklin together were true polymaths and worked from opposite ends of the diplomatic spectrum in order to push the Founding Fathers where they needed to go.
But Madison was the beast to end all beasts...
Posted on 2/22/15 at 10:26 am to GFunk
John Jay
James Madison
George Washington
James Madison
George Washington
Posted on 2/22/15 at 10:28 am to Bigpoppat
quote:
Posted by Bigpoppat
John Jay
James Madison
George Washington
I used to get my hair cut at john jay's
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