Should America's Founding Fathers Be Venerated?

Introduction: The Founders and the Birth of a Nation

The process of independence and the creation of a young nation that led to the emergence of the United States of America at the end of the 18th century was realized through violent action — most notably the American War of Independence — and through the personal contributions of men such as George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. All three are representative of the struggle against British rule and the emergence of the American state. Washington fought at Trenton, one of the most important engagements of the war. Jefferson was connected to Washington as his Secretary of State and to Adams as vice president. Adams himself served as vice president during the Washington presidency and as an illustrious diplomat in the Treaty of Peace negotiations. Their practical achievements guaranteed their place in history.

At the same time, their personal involvement in the creation of a national identity and conscience secured the people's commitment to the foundational elements of American democracy. In order to establish a new national harmony in the colonies, both political and moral change were necessary. The political change was achieved through revolution, while the moral change came through the endorsement of new concepts of freedom, civil and human rights, and above all, equality.

Political and Moral Change Through Revolution

The American Revolution was caused in large part by shifts in the political and economic orientation of British rule. The war with France had led England to demand both the support of the thirteen colonies and their unconditional assistance. The Americans, in turn, were unwilling to contribute fully to the British war effort and then pay for a large share of its costs. They therefore regarded the subsequent taxes imposed by Britain on preferential colonial trade as unacceptable.

Washington soon made his contribution to the conflict with the French. As Robert Middlekauff points out, "the war had begun with a skirmish in the wilderness between French troops and American colonials led by young George Washington, whose description of the affair revealed that his interest in war lay in the opportunities it offered for honorable and gallant action" (Middlekauff, 7). Washington thus became a symbol of the American desire for independence from all foreign domination. Adams was equally identified with the independence movement; he was present at both the First and Second Continental Congresses (Morgan, 3–28). Thomas Jefferson, too, participated in the Second Congress and is best remembered for drafting the Declaration of Independence.

The Founders as Champions of Liberty

The Americans had developed their philosophical outlook on the basis of the liberal ideas promoted by the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which had secured the individual's inalienable freedoms and liberties. When taxation without representation became standard practice in the British Parliament, Americans viewed it as a direct breach of those freedoms and their power of self-determination. This erosion of liberal rights fueled the desire for independence and separation from the British Empire.

From this perspective, all three politicians are seen as promoters of essential freedoms. Washington, as the first president of the United States, ensured that the Constitution and its provisions were respected, thereby establishing a democratic tradition (Morgan, 3–31). Adams championed diplomatic means of resolving conflicts, most notably during the crisis surrounding the French War. The pursuit of inextricable human freedoms and liberties has been regarded by historians and revolutionaries alike as a "glorious" goal that drove the independence movement — though that goal was not without its complications.

Conclusion: A Legacy Worth Examining

Despite the contradictory paths their actions sometimes took, it is fair to conclude that the independence movement had both a revolutionary and a moral dimension. In military terms, all three played meaningful roles. In drafting what would become the guiding framework of the nation — the Constitution — their personal convictions and belief in the liberal, inalienable rights of the individual stand as their most valuable contributions. As Morgan concludes, "the separation from Britain in 1776 engendered creative political thought and action that have not been equaled since. These three men took part in it" (Morgan, preface).