If you’re living in America today, you owe at least some gratitude to the Founding Fathers. You might not like all that they stand for. And you have that right in America. But, can you agree with me that not everything they did was bad?
The Founding Fathers started a country with no hope of survival. They surpassed expectations fighting the world’s most powerful military and empire. We owe great tribute to these important legends due to their dedication and sacrifice to ultimate liberty.
You think I have drunk the Founding Father “Kool-Aid,” but I’m a reasonable person. I look at what I have in America and am extremely grateful. My goal is to thank some of the men responsible for it.
“To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.”
Benjamin Franklin
Started a Country Against All Odds
Like I’ve said, I’m writing this post to dispel all the negative press they receive. The above Benjamin Franklin quote summarizes one of the perfect Founding Fathers’ principles.
They took the opportunity to sign a Declaration of Independence when faced with annihilation. There was no time to point fingers and second-guess.
In other words, they acted and didn’t look back.
Raise your hand if you’re familiar with New York City.
It’s an iconic city with New York Harbor. Did you know that many Revolutionary War battles took place there? Instead of seeing ferries and small boats, you saw only British warships on the horizon.
That is a scary sight when you want to be left alone to do your own thing. You have this foreign power constantly shelling and bombarding your position. Yes, if this were today, a cannonball would hit your skyscraper. This gives you a visual of their hardships.
The Revolutionary War took over 8 years of intense fighting without modern conveniences. Patriots kept their to pursue with their goal of American Independence.
Would we have that attitude today? You decide!
LEARN MORE about whether the Founding Fathers were British or American by reading my article here.
Turbulent Times and Reinvented Themselves
On our timeless march across history, the Revolutionary War is over. Thank God! We can celebrate victory, bring out the beer kegs, and roast hogs. Hold on!
Even after the war, the Constitution that you know today didn’t exist. However, the ideas for it lived in the souls of the Founding Fathers.
We had the Articles of Confederation. The whole period between the end of the Revolutionary War and the adoption of the Constitution saw immense turmoil.
States fought amongst each other attempting to impose their will on the weak. Americans lost respect for their government.
By 1784, an economic depression hit hard. A weak government didn’t help much during those tough years. Thankfully in 1786, the depression showed signs of slowing.
About a year later, the Founding Fathers called a Constitutional Convention (1787) to instigate change. America needed a new start to survive the past several years of ups and downs.
And by 1791 with fresh ink on the Constitution, America’s future looked bright. The Founding Fathers reinvented America to allow its survival.
The clouds dissipated and the sun came out.
Defined the Culture of the Era
The Founding Fathers defined American culture as never giving up.
They made plenty of mistakes in their lifetimes. But, that didn’t stop them. They kept going like the Patriots who fought the British.
Their “can do” attitudes evolved into what we know now as- the American Dream. People around the world know the American Dream. They yearn to achieve it as well.
Sadly, some Americans are incredibly negative stating that “This so-called dream is impossible in the modern era.” They purposely leave out the descriptor “American” because they are so bitter.
I’m here to tell you that your ancestors will say you’re wrong. Then, they would help you out.
Does it take dedication? Does it take hard work? You betcha.
Also, Americans are one of the proudest cultures in the world since they love to dream. After traveling to other cultures, they don’t have as many ways to display their country’s flag as we do.
You’ve got the following ways to display the American flag:
- License plates
- Lots of different types of t-shirts
- Leather American flag pants
- Leather flag boots
- Grills
- Insert an object ______ (here) and the list goes on
Would the Founding Fathers approve of our culture today? Do their wishes and dreams still exist?
Ponder that and get back to me.
Excellent Foresight and Great Thinkers
What did it take for us to win the Revolutionary War? It took great thinkers and minds.
The same logic applies to our country’s longevity. Theorists and scholars say every great nation lasts 250 years. America is getting close to that milestone.
Will we make it?
We have managed to make it this far thanks to their help.
Our Founding Fathers were the greatest thinkers of their time.
- General George Washington outflanked the British on many instances to win the war.
- Benjamin Franklin and his crazy hair experimented with lightning.
- James Madison helped to create the Constitution
- The way they debated and spoke is mesmerizing
- Their understanding of human nature helped to prevent tyrants from completely consolidating power
Also, they further developed the natural rights movement. When you want ideas to move forward, you must popularize them
That’s exactly what they did. They took mere theories of liberty and transformed them into rights.
I’ll even say that they are much better than some think tanks existing today. There is no doubt they were and are some of the best political minds ever.
If you disagree with me, please give some examples of movements today worth noting.
And if you want to know how these great thinkers thought, LEARN MORE by reading my article about their main goal for founding this country.
Conclusion
I hope you leave here with an appreciation for the people that came before you.
Yes, I know that the Founding Fathers are just men and not Gods. But, they are men of great stature. There is no way to erase them from our history.
The Founding Fathers set the foundation for us to build upon. Without their early leadership against overwhelming odds, would we exist?
They led the charge in reinventing America and pivoted when trouble threatened. I don’t want to wear the style of clothes from the 18th century; however, I do like their tenacity and their “can do” attitude.
Their minds would make women swoon due to their forethought and intellect.
Overall, the Founding Fathers are an iconic piece of American history. We dedicated Mount Rushmore to many of them. If carving your head into the side of a mountain doesn’t make you important, then a statue doesn’t pay tribute either.
What do you think of the Founding Fathers? What qualities made them important?
