Consequential Contribution of Founding Fathers to America - Essay Example

Jobeth D. Yambao of the Concerned July 12, 2009 Consequential Contribution of Founding Fathers to America Thesis Statement: The important contribution that our founding fathers did to make the America today. I: Introduction It was an unprecedented achievement on the part of our founding fathers that they were able to come out with a vision of a democratic America, when the world around them was being ruled and dictated by kings and queens. All the credit goes to the personal perception and unwavering character of the founding fathers that they were able to create a modern nation, established and governed by a liberal approach towards life. The virtues and the qualities that define modern America have their origins in the wisdom and farsightedness of the founding fathers. They came out with the belief that the ultimate sovereignty of any nation ensued from its citizens and was independent of the whims and wishes of any divinely sanctioned monarchy. They laid the foundations of a capitalist America, based on the belief that the eventual economic well being of any nation was a direct function of the opportunities it extended to its citizens to channelize their energies and talents in a free market. Enlightened individualism, which is the hallmark of the American way of life, has its origins in the thought and vision of our founding fathers. It was by the dint of the validity and sanctity of their values that America was able to win a war of independence against a nation that was far superior to it in terms of military might and economic affluence. They envisioned a nation with a system of governance that relied on the fundamental principles of natural rights, free from any form of monarchial or ecclesiastical interference. Founding father undeniably made a marked contribution to the American way of life that will continue to guide and motivate this great nation in the times to come. II. George Washington George Washington was a leader far ahead of his times. It is easy for people today to visualize America as a free and sovereign nation. However, in the times of Washington, America was just a bunch of rebellious colonies, which were loosely held together, courtesy their shared aversion to the British rule.1 The astuteness of Washington was manifested in his will to hold on to a vision of a united America, irrespective of the ground realities of those times, which totally discouraged the perception of America as a great nation. The vibrant and self-sufficient America that we see today was once a mere vision in the heart and mind of Washington and other founding fathers.2 It was only by the dint and confidence of Washington and his revolutionary propensities that a nation was born irrespective of the mighty resistance posed by the great military and political powers of those times. George Washington was a prominent personality that defined the American nation, not only because he was the first president of America, but also because he happened to be the supreme commander of the American forces fighting for independence and the chairman of the convention that drafted the constitution of the United States of America. The wisdom of Washington lied not only in his ability to hold together the 13 rebellious colonies with diverse interests and priorities, but also in his shrewdness in channelizing the rebelliousness governing the American resistance into a well knit, consolidated and unanimous verdict in favor of the foundation of an independent America.3 The task before Washington was utterly complex in the sense that he was not only required to be a military commander, but also a seasoned and sharp political leader who could extend guidance and direction to a zealous but nascent movement, which could have easily degenerated into an insignificant and directionless mutiny, as was desired by the imperial forces. Therefore, as a military commander he succeeded in soliciting the unwavering sincerity and commitment of the men serving under him. At the same time, as a political leader he was able to come out with a tangible vision that was indispensable to the eventual metamorphosis of America into a free and sovereign nation. Washington played a pivotal role in the chain of events that finally materialized into the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Initially, the Constitutional Convention intended to focus on a mere revision of the Articles of Confederation. However, Washington being thoroughly aware of the aspirations and expectations of the men fighting under his command redirected the objectives of the Convention into a movement for the drafting of a new constitution.4 Washington restrained from interfering directly into the framework of the new constitution. Still, it was greatly owing to his support and prestige that the constitution leaned in the favor of a dominant central government. Such an arrangement was necessary to tackle the divergent stakes residing in most of the liberated colonies. III: Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States of America and the person who authored the Declaration of Independence, was an ardent supporter of democracy and the fundamental rights of man. He not only strived diligently to make way for the indisputable inculcation of the principles of democracy and freedom in the political framework of the upcoming American nation, but his eloquence and clarity of thought played a prominent role in convincing the salient stakeholders in the American Revolution to the validity and relevance of a democratic system of governance.5 One main factor that raised the stature of Jefferson amongst the political and intellectual giants surrounding him was his unshakable belief in the purity and viability of his principles. His possession of a complete and thorough philosophy pertaining to the ethos those were to govern the American nation in the times to come, make him a central player in the history of America. As today, the politicians in the times of Jefferson were bifurcated in two important groups. One those vouched for a strict federal hold whiles the others who believed in the autonomy of the respective states. In such a conflict-ridden scenario, Jefferson played the role of a moderator, who strived for a balance between the federal dominance and the state autonomy. One aspect of Jefferson's personality that the students of history often overlook is the role played by Jefferson's correspondence in the proliferation of the American notion of democracy. His approval of the purchase of Louisiana catapulted the United States to the ranks of prominent continental powers. Though in practice, Jefferson continued to benefit from and thrive on slave labor, in theory, he was the most avid champion of the natural rights of man and liberty.6 Some scholars do find the personality of Jefferson to be enigmatic and sometimes hypocritical. Still, it is a fact that Jefferson played an undeniable role in the proliferation of American ethos. The astuteness and clarity of ideas, which were the hallmarks of Jefferson's personality, could be estimated from the fact that Jefferson was merely 33 years old when he authored the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was selected by his contemporaries to draft the Declaration after considering his erudition in literature and science and his talent for contemplation and composition. Declaration of Independence, which stands to be Jefferson's most enduring contribution to the American history and politics, also qualifies to be the nation's most revered instrument of liberty.7 By authoring the Declaration, Jefferson gave voice to the expectations and aspirations of the American masses. The Declaration also served as a medium for expressing grievances against the British order and boldly justified the colonies' severing of ties with England. IV: John Adams John Adams was one of the initial proponents of American independence. He played a central role in the American history and had the honor of enjoying some of the most coveted posts in the colonial America. John Adams stood to be an important figure in the Continental Congress. He also had the privilege of authoring the Massachusetts constitution. John Adams served as the first vice president and the second president of the United States of America. He was a prominent American thinker who played an important role in defining America's foreign policy. While he served as an ambassador to England, he was largely ignored and sidelined by the colonial stakeholders owing to his allegiance to the cause of American independence. Being a voracious reader of European history, he was largely instrumental in choosing a republican form of government for an independent America. John Adams was an astute political thinker. The crux of his political thought was a denial of all such ideologies that were far from being practical and propagated a utopian sense of complacence in the newfound American nation.8 He was one of those few founding fathers who refused to be swayed by purely theoretical considerations and were intimately in touch with the ground realities of their times. Though Adams was an ardent supporter of American Revolution, he vociferously protested against any severing of relationships with the past traditions and institutions, which he believed could be pragmatically customized and adopted to serve the emerging American nation. There is no denying the fact that Adams was misunderstood by most of his contemporaries. However, his panache for realistic perspectives and a severe abhorrence for purely theoretical plans have succeeded in soliciting for him an immense respect and approval in the 21st century. The fall of the communist bloc in the 20th century amply testified to the validity of his aversion for utopian schemes. The sense of pragmatism and common sense that Adams infused in the American polity, assured that the independent United States of American never falls victim to any radical philosophies and theoretical affiliations. Adams was the only president who signed the American Declaration of Independence. The primary trait that defined Adams' personality was his ambition, a trait that is respected and cherished in the contemporary America. However, in his times, the word 'ambition' was associated with an insatiable aspiration for wealth and power that is largely responsible for him being sidelined in the annals of American history.9 Still it is a fact that it was Adams who tirelessly persuaded the Congress to declare independence, though Jefferson took all the credit because of being associated with the Declaration of Independence. V: Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton was the first secretary of the Treasury of the United States. He served as a captain in the American Revolution. He also served as an aide-de-camp to George Washington. It was Hamilton who first focused on the financial weaknesses of the newly independent America. During his tenure as a politician, he continually strived for a strong federal government. However, Hamilton's support for the federal dominance had little influence on the framing of the constitution. Hamilton happened to be a thinker and a doer at the same time, who never hesitated from giving a practical form to his political convictions.10 He was a consummate federalist, who made immense contribution to the American economic thought and practices. Hamilton is usually given very little credit for his role in the American Revolution because his prime contribution was to the areas, which mostly attract scarce public attention, like national economy and public finance.11 Still, there is no denying the fact that Hamilton made an exceptional contribution to the political and economic aspects of the American Government. His vision pertaining to the shape and powers of the federal government holds relevance even today. VI: Conclusion The contributions made by the founding fathers to all the aspects of American life, be it politics or economy, played a pivotal role in shaping modern America. The concepts like democracy and human dignity, which today stand to be synonymous with America where at one time considered intellectual aberrations, which would have perished long ago had they not been preserved by the founding fathers with their blood and sweat. It is by the grace of the seeds sown by the founding fathers that America finally emerged to be a political, ideological and economic giant. The founding fathers played a pivotal role in giving a shape and form to nascent America, which eventually evolved to be the celebrated upholder of civil rights and liberty. Works Cited Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton. London: Penguin Press, 2004. Bernstein, R.B. Thomas Jefferson. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 2003. Ellis, Joseph J. George Washington. New York: Knopf, 2004. McCullough, David. John Adams. London: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Read More