The Last of the Founders - Essay Example

 Dolley Madison deserves to be called "the Last of the Founders”, because as the wife of President James Madison, and one of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, she too, had a role in framing various political ideologies of the people of her time. She may not be part of the men who designed and signed the constitution, but as a first lady, she probably exerted some influence on decisions made in the Constitution. Even without being a framer, which was impossibility, she created unity and imparted on the people the spirit on Americanism which ideally, was the meat of the Constitution and for that, she is a last Founder. The Preamble of the Constitution states: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Unknown to her, she was invoking the Preamble when she honored the soldiers after each battle won since is it an action of common defense. Isn’t it an act of promoting general welfare when she mobilized the society who contributed their own funds to reestablish Washington, the seat of the government, when it was destroyed by the enemies? In effect she was demonstrating domestic tranquility when she tried to unite political parties by throwing parties bringing together two opposing political parties; introducing social etiquette and protocol included. In renovating the White House she wanted every Americans to take pride of it; because to her, the White House is the representation of authority, and a common defense. When she installed dignity to women’s position at a time when gender equality reigns, she is practically framing the constitutional rights of women of equality. Gender equality later on became part of the Constitutional Amendment. I believe Dolley Madison had every right to be called the “last founders” because she put into practice the idealism prescribed in the Constitution long before it was penned into law. She created symbolic ties that brought the government closer to the lives of people which were never done before. To me, she has earned that right to be called the Last Founder as she instituted manners and behaviors as a way to regulate human society and government. Criticisms on this move favored her since it was said, “laws might regulate behaviors, but manners formed the heart and the mind” (Allgor’s Parlor Politics, p 55). It was theorized that this was extremely necessary, since manners played a crucial role in civilizing a society. However, there are those who would not agree on this. Thomas Jefferson, for one, her husband’s predecessor, disliked the meddling of women in politics and those others who were settled that women should not indulge in politics and should stay as domestics. This could practically be correct, because women at those times were denied of their rights. Others viewed it as the Scottish Enlightenment would say, that the presence of women in politics would confuse men, and that in some instances, contradict men’s ideas (Allgor’s Parlor Politics, p.55). Still others, particularly, the Anti-Federalists view the participation of ladies would introduce the government in a monarchy system, and would encourage the rise of aristocracy wherein ruling becomes a center of fashion. Dolley lived during the era of highly gendered world. Thus men were frightened of the “creeping monarchy” that would endanger both men and women”. Women were depicted with excessive longings for dresses and manner, thus it was said “the natural tie with women would sap the masculine vigor of the young Republic”,(Allgor’s Parlor Politics, p.55 ) and so therefore the title “last founder” does not describe of her. The Anti-Federalist viewed Madison’s presidency as a rising monarch. Everyone viewed this as a tendency for a central authority that would breed corruption. Dolley Madison realized this confusion, and for this she was ready to toe between the lines of being conflictual and contradictory. As the signing of the constitution draws to an end, no other woman, to me, had so much influence to people that resembles that of Dolley Madison. Besides, during her era, no other Constitution was declared that nullified the established one, and only Amendments were introduced, so it is apt to say that she is a Last Founder. --Explain what does it mean to be a founder. Founding Fathers is a term coined by President Warding G. Harding in 1916 in his inaugural address to denote a large group of men who were among the signers of the Constitution. This includes all others who worked hard for gaining of the independence of America. Founders were leaders who took part in the signing of the declaration of independence, and the framers of the Constitution (on line Library of the Liberty, 2013). Prominent names include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and others wherein each one participated in heavy argumentations on the approval of the Constitution. Each of them had important contributions to the rules set in the Constitution. The most important involvement of Dolley’s husband, James Madison was the sponsoring of the Bill of Rights, and for that he earned the title of “Father of the Constitution”. --Things Dolley Madison did as a 1st lady. What was she creating for the future. How did she shape the future White House. Dolley Madison did many remarkable things for her husband. She was a devoted and loving wife and would cushion her husband from intrigues and criticisms put by rival political parties. She set two things on the first day she stepped up to the presidential residency; that of legitimizing the administration of her husband, and of renovating the White House. She was faced with a difficult problem of the widening gap between the citizenry and the government that was a big obstruction to her intention of having unity; the attitudes of legislatures and citizenry on political power, and the weakness of the presidency. The Madison’s administration was left with the formidable task of organizing, creating, defending measures necessary for launching a new government, and above all, guiding the nation through the war. Madison, through circumstance and fault, put the United States into an unprepared war that almost led the nation into the verge of disunion. Madison did not match the eloquence and appeal provided by Jefferson, but Dolley, his wife, filled this gap with her own style of charisma and diplomacy. She was indeed creating a future, because she believed that by innovating the nation building wherein she blended regional traditions, European traditions, and innovations of presidents’ wives before her, she was creating a national etiquette and style suitable for a seat of government. She believed that by doing so, she was developing a style that enhances status of the rulers, one that displays power and facilitates the building of the capital, a government structure, and a nation. To Dolley, there was a need for a unique style that will undergo all the processes she envisioned and that by doing so, she was imparting to the people the sense of being Americans. Washington City was planned to be the permanent seat of the government, and to have the necessary developments of cultural, social, and commercial opportunities. Dolley took note of the heavy burden laid on her as soon as they stepped into the city because what she saw was a complete inept expectation of a capital city. The renovation was not intended only for the White House, but for the political system working on a national political framework of executive and legislative branches. She wanted people to take pride of the residential place because it is a place that symbolizes authority and power, and for that it must be respected, and be a place of pride. As a step forward, she decorated the White House with national symbols to become a focus of the locals in particular, and by the people of the United States, in general. She also created a place for day-to-day converging of people for politics. Dolley proved to be very good in image building and a believer on the importance of architecture in building the nation. Recognizing Dolley’s ability to manage, James completely entrusted the project of renovation to her, a rare move during those times. Indeed, every visitor in the White House admired the place after its renovation. It was like hitting two birds in one stone because both worked simultaneously. The residential place was consigned to be a place where all people in society converged and political enemies united. Her parties became a gathering of all classes, and sometimes would draw up to 300 guests at a time. Her rooms became a concrete place for discussions of Republican ideals. However, even with the transformation of the White House, the community remained underdeveloped and was only dependent on the government as the city lacked commercial and industrial establishments, and therefore, retards development. Under this situation, the city soon developed a highly socialized strata of society, wherein the top level was composed of the very wealthy plantation owners and investors, families with long residences in the city; the bottom strata composed of the African-Americans, laborers, free slaves, black slaves, and artisans. However, it will be noted that the there is a peculiar absence of middle class that is composed of low skilled professionals, skilled artisans and whites mingling folks. Under this atmosphere, it was literally difficult to introduce cohesion because of culture differences. But Dolley together with her two friends were able to bridge the gap between these two groups and was able to create a big circle of people called the Washington Society. Her efforts to connect the government and to the locals had created greater effect because they welcomed the locals; as James and Dolley cultivated relations with families by attending local gatherings, assemblies and dances. She was known for her long tolerance of families and men in her parties. If bridging the gap between the elites and the low class segment of society was not easy, it was far more difficult to bring together two contradicting views of political parties, much more with a threat of secession from South, and conflicts in Congress. So the dilemma of creating a ruling class was a big task for Dolley. She needed to form a “political system run by interchangeable functionaries, and to do this, the “participants in the legislature and bureaucracy must have a common language”. How she accomplished this is thru her unique style. In official dinner parties which she lavishly held for congressmen, distinguished guests and members of diplomatic corps, she would occupy the head of the table, keeping the communications flow, as she had an established conversational ability, which was contrary to her husband who was silent in large companies. Often, in her parties, she would solicit and offer an exchange of recipes from all over the country, thus bringing intimacy between families. One of her most important contributions was the establishment of social institution wherein she opened her drawing rooms to political enemies where they met and talked civilly. Her parties were differentiated by names like Wednesday nights’. “squeezes’, and others. Her parties allowed free-wheeling activity for political conversations, and one that accommodated numbers of people; and provided an ample opportunity for private talks. The ladies in her parties showed delight because they were given importance. Her style of entertainment made contributions to the reconciliations between aristocracy and democracy done in American style. She was always dressed up for every occasion she hosted. She was adept in concealing her emotions even to those who vilified her husband. She kept herself and her husband available even to enemies because she was a master politician. Dolley used her charms to develop political machinery through friends, congressional wives, and kins who would later on become her allies in the reconstruction of the White House and to her many activities in the political life of her husband. She demonstrated her patriotism when the war reached their residency and was determined to protect it from the attacking enemies. But when things went wrong, she had to snatch the picture of George Washington for safekeeping because she believed it was important for the American people. When the Capitol building was destroyed during the war, the future that she created was not totally foregone. The seeds of patriotism that she planted in the people’s hearts bore fruit when the money of the public saw its restoration. People would not simply dismiss the loss, but took every penny to restore their national symbol and pride. Legislators and people insisted to retain Congress in Washington, whereupon all took part from men building projects, to women doing the fund raising. Dolley succeeded in preserving the President’s House and the capital in the American’s mind. Her flight from the Washington’s capital and preservation of the icon of America gave a new symbol of patriotism; and when the news of that spread, she became “identified to be with the nation’s crisis”. This was most significant to Americans because of the decision to stay in Washington and to rebuild the city; the federal government was enabled to assert its powers as center of the nation. Works Cited: Allgor Parlor Politics, pdf. Pp. 1-96. The Online Library of Liberty. School of Thought: The Founding Fathers of the Constitution, 2013. Web. Read More