When the Southern states seceded from the Federal Union in 1860-61, they based their case around the idea of their cause being a Second American Revolution, and that they were acting in the tradition of the Founding Fathers. They fought in the memory of Washington and Jefferson, declaring their independence, and fighting for it. Yet, it would seem that the men they sought to honor through their so called War for Southern Independence was one that the Founding Fathers spoke against and would have been alarmed to hear their names connected to a war that sought to tear apart what they had worked so hard and bled so much to create. Here, I will seek to look at three men who were instrumental in the founding of the United States. George Washington served as general of the Continental Army, presided over the Constitutional Convention, and served two terms as the first president of the federal United States of America. Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, giving credence to the fight for independence, and later served as the third President. And lastly, James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, framed the document which is the basis of our government (and the Southern states attempted to tear apart) and served as the fourth president. There are many more to look at, but these men are without a doubt the most important three to take a look at, as they are revered above many others.
George Washington: The Father of Our Country.
The first person that we shall look at is George Washington. A Virginian, he served in the French and Indian War, was general-in-chief of the Continental Army during the War for Independence, delegate and President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and first president of the United States. During the Civil War, he was revered above all other Virginians, and his name was on many a southrons lips. Jefferson Davis' inauguration as President of the Confederate States was held on his birthday, next to his statue in Richmond. Yet, Washington would have been appalled that his name was being connected to this rending of the nation he had fought so hard to create and hold together in his eight years as President.
Washington understood the importance of the union of the thirteen original states and the others that were most assuredly to follow. Following the ending of hostilities in 1783, Washington send around his Circular Letter of Farewell to the Army. In it, he tells his men what was essential to sustaining the nation that they had fought and bled to create. The first of the essentials was, in his words an "indissoluble Union of the states under one Federal Head." Right here he sees that there needed to be one person, presiding over a federal goverment (he does not say what kind of federal government) and that this Union was to be unbreakable. This in and of itself should clearly establish that Washington was against anything and/or any person who would attempt to break apart the union of the states. He tells his men that "whatever measures have a tendency to dissolve the Union, or to contribute to violate or lessen the Sovereign Authority, ought to be considered as hostile to the liberty and independency of America, and the authors of those treated accordingly." Washington understood that union of the states was essential to the security of the new nation, and even a loose confederacy of states was bound to fail. And they did.
Throughout his years as president, Washington made remarks here and there pertaining to the importance of the union of the states, but it wasn't until his Farewell Address in 1796 that he made his most poignant argument for the sanctity and permanency of the Union. In his address, he points out three reasons as to why the union of the states was essential. The first of these reasons is that it is necessary for the wellbeing and happiness of all Americans. He said that "it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness...discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our Country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts." Here, once again, as in his Circular Letter of thirteen years prior, he shows his belief of how important the union is to the preservation of liberty. In fact, he states that it should be considered as the "main prop of your liberty, and that the love of one ought to endear you to the preservation of the other." The Union solidified the idea of Americans as one people, free and independent.
Washington also points out that the union is also in the best interest of the people. It provides security, since through the union there is greater strength in both resources and manpower, what he called the "united mass of means and efforts." He saw that as a united nation, there was less of a chance of a foreign, i.e. European, nation attempting to take over the United States. Along with providing security, the union would also enhance the fledgling nations prosperity. A formal union of the states, as opposed to a loose confederation, would offer more economic advantages, creating trade opportunities and allowing commerce to flourish. Unrestrained trade between the states and the trade advantages each could give the others would make for an "indissoluble community of Interest as one Nation."
The bedrock of this union was the Constitution. This was what connected the thirteen states and was important to the "efficacy and permanency of Your Union..." This was the supreme alliance of the states, binding them together. No other political alliance, "however strict between the parts can be and adequate subsitute." With this argument for the Union, Washington clearly stood for an indissoluble union of the states, unbreakable and necessary for the survival of the nation he fought so hard to establish.
Coming next: Thomas Jefferson.
George Washington: The Father of Our Country.
The first person that we shall look at is George Washington. A Virginian, he served in the French and Indian War, was general-in-chief of the Continental Army during the War for Independence, delegate and President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and first president of the United States. During the Civil War, he was revered above all other Virginians, and his name was on many a southrons lips. Jefferson Davis' inauguration as President of the Confederate States was held on his birthday, next to his statue in Richmond. Yet, Washington would have been appalled that his name was being connected to this rending of the nation he had fought so hard to create and hold together in his eight years as President.
Washington understood the importance of the union of the thirteen original states and the others that were most assuredly to follow. Following the ending of hostilities in 1783, Washington send around his Circular Letter of Farewell to the Army. In it, he tells his men what was essential to sustaining the nation that they had fought and bled to create. The first of the essentials was, in his words an "indissoluble Union of the states under one Federal Head." Right here he sees that there needed to be one person, presiding over a federal goverment (he does not say what kind of federal government) and that this Union was to be unbreakable. This in and of itself should clearly establish that Washington was against anything and/or any person who would attempt to break apart the union of the states. He tells his men that "whatever measures have a tendency to dissolve the Union, or to contribute to violate or lessen the Sovereign Authority, ought to be considered as hostile to the liberty and independency of America, and the authors of those treated accordingly." Washington understood that union of the states was essential to the security of the new nation, and even a loose confederacy of states was bound to fail. And they did.
Throughout his years as president, Washington made remarks here and there pertaining to the importance of the union of the states, but it wasn't until his Farewell Address in 1796 that he made his most poignant argument for the sanctity and permanency of the Union. In his address, he points out three reasons as to why the union of the states was essential. The first of these reasons is that it is necessary for the wellbeing and happiness of all Americans. He said that "it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness...discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion that it can in any event be abandoned and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our Country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts." Here, once again, as in his Circular Letter of thirteen years prior, he shows his belief of how important the union is to the preservation of liberty. In fact, he states that it should be considered as the "main prop of your liberty, and that the love of one ought to endear you to the preservation of the other." The Union solidified the idea of Americans as one people, free and independent.
Washington also points out that the union is also in the best interest of the people. It provides security, since through the union there is greater strength in both resources and manpower, what he called the "united mass of means and efforts." He saw that as a united nation, there was less of a chance of a foreign, i.e. European, nation attempting to take over the United States. Along with providing security, the union would also enhance the fledgling nations prosperity. A formal union of the states, as opposed to a loose confederation, would offer more economic advantages, creating trade opportunities and allowing commerce to flourish. Unrestrained trade between the states and the trade advantages each could give the others would make for an "indissoluble community of Interest as one Nation."
The bedrock of this union was the Constitution. This was what connected the thirteen states and was important to the "efficacy and permanency of Your Union..." This was the supreme alliance of the states, binding them together. No other political alliance, "however strict between the parts can be and adequate subsitute." With this argument for the Union, Washington clearly stood for an indissoluble union of the states, unbreakable and necessary for the survival of the nation he fought so hard to establish.
Coming next: Thomas Jefferson.
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