Well done! Captures the fundamental flaw of the American society and government.
You can build a great and handsome edifice, but when the foundations have rot in them that is never really fixed, only covered over, a collapse will come.
Or just look at the history of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A fundamental problem in the foundation. They tried to “fix” it by putting a kink in the tower. It did not work. Stability required reworking the foundations.
In Ken Burns epic documentary The Civil War, historian Barbara Fields remarks that the greatest fault was the establishment of the United States Constitution with slavery still on the books. In defense of our Founding Fathers, they wanted to remove slavery, but the South Carolinans would not sign, or go along with the Declaration of Independence if negroes were included. Years later, during the Constitutional Convention (which was chaired by George Washington), they threatened to walk out if slavery was even debated. Slavery was once again tabled, with hopes that it would eventually die out. Then came the cotton gin.
As mentioned, many of our Founders owned slaves, but quite a few did not own slaves and opposed slavery. The slavery issue was divided close to North and South boundaries. Even Jefferson, a slave owner, was in favor of making the slaves free and equal. The South refused. Our Founders knew they had little chance to win a war with the world’s Super Power of that time, let alone do it with only 7 states. The slaves’ freedom was sacrificed in order to build a Nation. Black Americans have been asked/made to sacrifice for this Nation since. It’s long past time to recognize their sacrifice and right the wrongs done.
Washington received his first slaves when he was only a young boy, after the death of his father. He was a cruel master, denying them nutritional food and warm clothing in the winter, among other harsh treatments. John Ferling has two biographies (Ascent of Washington & First of Men) of Washington that tell about it. This is only in addition to Washington’s racism against native populations and his eradication of entire tribes. You can read about that in David Stannard’s American Holocaust. He was also a failed military commander, a cold and aloof leader, greedy, and avariciously ambitious. Essentially, the Trump of the early national period.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Well done! Captures the fundamental flaw of the American society and government.
You can build a great and handsome edifice, but when the foundations have rot in them that is never really fixed, only covered over, a collapse will come.
Or just look at the history of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A fundamental problem in the foundation. They tried to “fix” it by putting a kink in the tower. It did not work. Stability required reworking the foundations.
The Love of Money is . . . almost 4 years ago
Early fact checking when we proclaimed that all men were created equal.
Zebrastripes almost 4 years ago
It’s easy to proclaim…should read…do as I say and not as I did….
William Bednar Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Only very few of the so called “founding fathers” did not own and use imported Black Africans as slaves.
moosemin almost 4 years ago
In Ken Burns epic documentary The Civil War, historian Barbara Fields remarks that the greatest fault was the establishment of the United States Constitution with slavery still on the books. In defense of our Founding Fathers, they wanted to remove slavery, but the South Carolinans would not sign, or go along with the Declaration of Independence if negroes were included. Years later, during the Constitutional Convention (which was chaired by George Washington), they threatened to walk out if slavery was even debated. Slavery was once again tabled, with hopes that it would eventually die out. Then came the cotton gin.
Radish the wordsmith almost 4 years ago
By the rich, for the rich, only white male land owners can vote.
Michael G. almost 4 years ago
“The wolf under the table.”
wirepunchr almost 4 years ago
The dirty little secret of US history that isn’t so secret.
VT8/VF84 almost 4 years ago
Read “The Peculiar Institution,” by Kenneth Stampp 1956, not history taught in many classrooms today.
ncorgbl almost 4 years ago
As mentioned, many of our Founders owned slaves, but quite a few did not own slaves and opposed slavery. The slavery issue was divided close to North and South boundaries. Even Jefferson, a slave owner, was in favor of making the slaves free and equal. The South refused. Our Founders knew they had little chance to win a war with the world’s Super Power of that time, let alone do it with only 7 states. The slaves’ freedom was sacrificed in order to build a Nation. Black Americans have been asked/made to sacrifice for this Nation since. It’s long past time to recognize their sacrifice and right the wrongs done.
jal333 almost 4 years ago
Yup, slaves built the White House, Mount Vernon, Monticello and so on…
IDEALeducation almost 4 years ago
Washington received his first slaves when he was only a young boy, after the death of his father. He was a cruel master, denying them nutritional food and warm clothing in the winter, among other harsh treatments. John Ferling has two biographies (Ascent of Washington & First of Men) of Washington that tell about it. This is only in addition to Washington’s racism against native populations and his eradication of entire tribes. You can read about that in David Stannard’s American Holocaust. He was also a failed military commander, a cold and aloof leader, greedy, and avariciously ambitious. Essentially, the Trump of the early national period.