Favorite Founding Father?

07.02.2005

This year marks my 20th Fourth of July in America. Thankyouvermuch. So I wanted to make a little quiz, just to be all patriotic or reflective or whatever. So. In the comment section:

Name your favorite Founding Father. And please (briefly) explain why.

Yes, they were all white men (most of them w/ property, some w/ slaves). Still, they did a heckuva job introducing the world to the idea that regular folks like you & I could do as good a job (perhaps better) of governing than some guy (or gal) w/ a crown on his (or her) head.

For some info: a site about the Founding Fathers, the comprehensive Wikipedia entry, and Colonial Hall. Sadly, I couldn't find a decent entry from the Smithsonian.

So. Seriously. Who's your favorite Founding Father? I'll tell you mine on 4 July. (But I'm sure some of you can guess.)

Posted by Miguel at 12:45 AM

Comments

Ok, if I had to pick just one founding father, I would have to say, Jefferson's philosophy is most appealing to me, aside from him being a Virginian.

Jefferson belived that Nature's God endowed humanity with a number of inalienable rights, such as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".

Short but sweet!

Posted by: Miguel (MABB) at July 3, 2005 05:19 PM

Benjamin Franklin.

The wise elder who guided those rebellious rapscallions through the hazards of drafting the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. George Washington was Franklin's pick for general of the armies and then president.

He was also the first ambassador to France who somehow convinced a monarchy to help a democracy take on another monarchy--the French navy then helped end the War of Independence that much sooner.

-first Postmaster General of the US
-invented all kinds of things, including the lightening rod for houses which is still used today
-created free libraries in Philly, which are the basis of today's public library system.

And last but certainly not least--the original Ladies Man. Even though he looked like a bald Quaker preacher with hippie hair and a potbelly, he somehow seduced many a female(both American and French) with his charms.

Yes, he's the man!

Posted by: Patrick [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 5, 2005 12:24 AM

I would have guessed James Madison. :-)

Posted by: Miguel (MABB) at July 5, 2005 03:58 AM