Even though, Muhammed Ali has professed to be the "Greatest" in more modern times, who do you think was the greatest early American and why? (Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, or Benjamin Franklin)
Out of all of the great early Americans, perhaps the greatest would have to be Thomas Jefferson. Out of every one of them, he managed to have a driving role in nearly everything before the War of 1812. He was the one to pen the Declaration of Independence, the document that showed America's cry for independence from Britain's tyranny. He headed the Republicans, as known as the Jeffersonian Republicans, who were an important political party that outlasted the Federalists and had an impact on the values of American society. Finally, as president he helped expansion by going along with the Louisiana Purchase and approving the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and managed to further avert war with European powers, despite his blunder in the Embargo Act (then again, no man or woman is perfect). He has had a hand in major events in America's history from the Revolution to the War of 1812, making him one of the greatest and most influential early American leaders.
Although all of the mentioned men stick out with distinct characteristics and events that define them as great Americans, the greatest in my mind was Thomas Jefferson. His writing of the Declaration of Independence was the document that drove America into and through the revolution. It was the cornerstone for the Americans to thrive on. As a founding father, his contribution was just as important and pursuasive as any other man mentioned. After the war, his role in the political world before and during his presidency made way for the republican party at the time, eventually wearing down the Federalist party and a dominant central government. As president, his role in the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the US and ultimately led to the country escalating to become a world power. His ideas of strong state government have carried over to present day economics, and the third President of the United States left a mark on early American history. His positive impact shaped the country to what it has become. He is one of the greatest from that time period.
The generation of our Founding Fathers is without a doubt the most influential generation to America. But George Washington was arguably the greatest and most important of these founding fathers. George Washington was most famous for being the first President, but before this he was extremely influential during the Revolutionary War, in which he was the commander of the American forces. Without his leadership and knowledge the colonists may not have won, American may have not even been created. Washington then went on to presede over the creation of our country, a very important job that definatly shaped how our country works today. George Washington was so well liked that he was appointed President, the most important role of his life. He dealt with domestic affairs by defining the power of federal government and he dealt with foreign affairs by keeping America out of conflict with European powers. As President, Washington set a precident for all other presidencies to come by defining what the precidency was and how much power it had. Through doing this he also definded the new American government, a very important job because it determined the future of America.
*Forgo George Washington* Of all the extraordinary men that America had in early times, James Monroe was the greatest. The man that Monroe was and his high moral character may have only been rivaled by George Washington. Monroe came within one electoral college vote of being the second unanimous President ever elected (the only unanimous vote was Washington). Along with Washington he was a Revolutionary war hero and the last of Virginian Dynasty. Monroe's presidency set off the "Era of Good Feelings" in which America was truly united unlike ever before. Major additions during his presidency was the Compromise of 1820 (Missouri Compromise) in which two states entered America. Missouri desired statehood and the great state of Maine wished for separation from Massachusetts, they viewed that as an opportune moment. He viewed slavery (Missouri entered as a slave state) as an undesirable, but necessary, sacrifice. In the end with slavery eventually being abolished, Monroe's quest for expansion was a great thing for America. Also, the Monroe Doctrine (1823) and it's outlook on foreign policy - no European expansion or involvement - is still a part of America today with Teddy Roosevelt's Corollary and FDR's Good Neighbor Act. Those things make Monroe the greatest (exception: George Washington) American ever.
In the modern America, no issue is as hotly debated as our foreign policy. James Monroe is the grandfather of American Foreign Policy, and during his presidency he defined both our political and economics goals abroad. Monroe's presidency culminated with the "Era of Good Feelings" coupling with an increased sense of nationalism, made Monroe a clear choice for the office in 1816 and again in 1820. He followed the precedent laid down by his predecessors in term restrictions and unlike Adams he discouraged the growth of the party system. Monroe's greatest long lasting achievement was solely rooted in masterful grasp and execution of foreign policy. His prodigal work, after his death named the Monroe Doctrine, was decisive in developing American policy abroad. The Doctrine put simply, commanded all European countries to cease all attempts of colonization and political or governmental interference in the western hemisphere. This bill was a direct result of countless Spanish colonies in South American rebelling. America was a huge proponent in the spreading of democratic and liberal values, and wanted to remove all European influences from the fledgling South American Countries. Monroe's impact did not just include revolutionizing foreign policy, but also guiding America through the Panic of 1819, postponing a civil war through the Missioner Compromise and last but not least he ushered "Era of Good Feelings" leading to a new sense of nationalism. For these reasons, James Monroe deserves to be in the discussion for the most influential and important early American
There were many large and influential Americans involved in the early aspects of the country, but Thomas Jefferson was perhaps the greatest of the bunch. The different views he presented benefited America and his actions as president helped our country to progress and expand. He drafted the Declaration of Independence and founded the University of Virginia. In his inaugural address, the first one ever given, he informed America of the essential principles of government, like equal justice to all men and the maintenance of a sound economy. One of the most important decisions during his presidency was the approval of the Louisiana Purchase. The purchase doubled the size of the country. From 1804-1806, Lewis and Clark explored the territory and further, documenting the inhabitants and the flora and fauna. Jefferson was a strong influence on James Monroe, affecting many of his views. Ultimately, Thomas Jefferson was the greatest of the early Americans.
Thomas Jefferson was the greatest early American because of all the contributions that he gave to America during his life. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence which was the document written during the Revolution that declared our freedom as a country to the British. He also served as the third president during which time he used his dreams of expansion to add land to the country through the Louisiana Purchase. That doubled the size of the U.S. and led to the great expedition of Lewis and Clark who explored all of it. Jefferson also kept America out of war with Britain by establishing the Embargo Act. He was also the head of the Republican Party and his many leaders, called the Jeffersonians. Over all, Thomas Jefferson was a great man who helped set the foundation of our country right from the very beginning and his political and moral beliefs influenced the country long after his death.
The greatest person in early American history was George Washington. Not only did he have the titles of founding father and the first president of the United States, but he had accomplishments that far exceeded any title. He was an amazing general in the Continental Army, and can be considered the single most important person in the American Revolution and the defeat of the British. Without him, there would have been no precedent set for all of the presidents to follow, and there would have been some other person as the first president who couldn’t have been nearly as influential. Although there were many other important figures in early America, none of them had the impact of Washington. He was an amazing general and can be credited with winning the United States its freedom as well as getting the country on its feet and working properly. Washington had so many firsts and set so many things for others to follow, there’s no comparing anyone else to him because he was the greatest in early American history.
Out of all of the great early Americans, perhaps the greatest would have to be Thomas Jefferson. Out of every one of them, he managed to have a driving role in nearly everything before the War of 1812. He was the one to pen the Declaration of Independence, the document that showed America's cry for independence from Britain's tyranny. He headed the Republicans, as known as the Jeffersonian Republicans, who were an important political party that outlasted the Federalists and had an impact on the values of American society. Finally, as president he helped expansion by going along with the Louisiana Purchase and approving the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and managed to further avert war with European powers, despite his blunder in the Embargo Act (then again, no man or woman is perfect). He has had a hand in major events in America's history from the Revolution to the War of 1812, making him one of the greatest and most influential early American leaders.
ReplyDeleteAlthough all of the mentioned men stick out with distinct characteristics and events that define them as great Americans, the greatest in my mind was Thomas Jefferson. His writing of the Declaration of Independence was the document that drove America into and through the revolution. It was the cornerstone for the Americans to thrive on. As a founding father, his contribution was just as important and pursuasive as any other man mentioned. After the war, his role in the political world before and during his presidency made way for the republican party at the time, eventually wearing down the Federalist party and a dominant central government. As president, his role in the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the US and ultimately led to the country escalating to become a world power. His ideas of strong state government have carried over to present day economics, and the third President of the United States left a mark on early American history. His positive impact shaped the country to what it has become. He is one of the greatest from that time period.
ReplyDeleteThe generation of our Founding Fathers is without a doubt the most influential generation to America. But George Washington was arguably the greatest and most important of these founding fathers. George Washington was most famous for being the first President, but before this he was extremely influential during the Revolutionary War, in which he was the commander of the American forces. Without his leadership and knowledge the colonists may not have won, American may have not even been created. Washington then went on to presede over the creation of our country, a very important job that definatly shaped how our country works today. George Washington was so well liked that he was appointed President, the most important role of his life. He dealt with domestic affairs by defining the power of federal government and he dealt with foreign affairs by keeping America out of conflict with European powers. As President, Washington set a precident for all other presidencies to come by defining what the precidency was and how much power it had. Through doing this he also definded the new American government, a very important job because it determined the future of America.
ReplyDelete*Forgo George Washington* Of all the extraordinary men that America had in early times, James Monroe was the greatest. The man that Monroe was and his high moral character may have only been rivaled by George Washington. Monroe came within one electoral college vote of being the second unanimous President ever elected (the only unanimous vote was Washington). Along with Washington he was a Revolutionary war hero and the last of Virginian Dynasty. Monroe's presidency set off the "Era of Good Feelings" in which America was truly united unlike ever before. Major additions during his presidency was the Compromise of 1820 (Missouri Compromise) in which two states entered America. Missouri desired statehood and the great state of Maine wished for separation from Massachusetts, they viewed that as an opportune moment. He viewed slavery (Missouri entered as a slave state) as an undesirable, but necessary, sacrifice. In the end with slavery eventually being abolished, Monroe's quest for expansion was a great thing for America. Also, the Monroe Doctrine (1823) and it's outlook on foreign policy - no European expansion or involvement - is still a part of America today with Teddy Roosevelt's Corollary and FDR's Good Neighbor Act. Those things make Monroe the greatest (exception: George Washington) American ever.
ReplyDeleteIn the modern America, no issue is as hotly debated as our foreign policy. James Monroe is the grandfather of American Foreign Policy, and during his presidency he defined both our political and economics goals abroad. Monroe's presidency culminated with the "Era of Good Feelings" coupling with an increased sense of nationalism, made Monroe a clear choice for the office in 1816 and again in 1820. He followed the precedent laid down by his predecessors in term restrictions and unlike Adams he discouraged the growth of the party system. Monroe's greatest long lasting achievement was solely rooted in masterful grasp and execution of foreign policy. His prodigal work, after his death named the Monroe Doctrine, was decisive in developing American policy abroad. The Doctrine put simply, commanded all European countries to cease all attempts of colonization and political or governmental interference in the western hemisphere. This bill was a direct result of countless Spanish colonies in South American rebelling. America was a huge proponent in the spreading of democratic and liberal values, and wanted to remove all European influences from the fledgling South American Countries. Monroe's impact did not just include revolutionizing foreign policy, but also guiding America through the Panic of 1819, postponing a civil war through the Missioner Compromise and last but not least he ushered "Era of Good Feelings" leading to a new sense of nationalism. For these reasons, James Monroe deserves to be in the discussion for the most influential and important early American
ReplyDeleteThere were many large and influential Americans involved in the early aspects of the country, but Thomas Jefferson was perhaps the greatest of the bunch. The different views he presented benefited America and his actions as president helped our country to progress and expand. He drafted the Declaration of Independence and founded the University of Virginia. In his inaugural address, the first one ever given, he informed America of the essential principles of government, like equal justice to all men and the maintenance of a sound economy. One of the most important decisions during his presidency was the approval of the Louisiana Purchase. The purchase doubled the size of the country. From 1804-1806, Lewis and Clark explored the territory and further, documenting the inhabitants and the flora and fauna. Jefferson was a strong influence on James Monroe, affecting many of his views. Ultimately, Thomas Jefferson was the greatest of the early Americans.
ReplyDeleteThomas Jefferson was the greatest early American because of all the contributions that he gave to America during his life. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence which was the document written during the Revolution that declared our freedom as a country to the British. He also served as the third president during which time he used his dreams of expansion to add land to the country through the Louisiana Purchase. That doubled the size of the U.S. and led to the great expedition of Lewis and Clark who explored all of it. Jefferson also kept America out of war with Britain by establishing the Embargo Act. He was also the head of the Republican Party and his many leaders, called the Jeffersonians. Over all, Thomas Jefferson was a great man who helped set the foundation of our country right from the very beginning and his political and moral beliefs influenced the country long after his death.
ReplyDeleteThe greatest person in early American history was George Washington. Not only did he have the titles of founding father and the first president of the United States, but he had accomplishments that far exceeded any title. He was an amazing general in the Continental Army, and can be considered the single most important person in the American Revolution and the defeat of the British. Without him, there would have been no precedent set for all of the presidents to follow, and there would have been some other person as the first president who couldn’t have been nearly as influential. Although there were many other important figures in early America, none of them had the impact of Washington. He was an amazing general and can be credited with winning the United States its freedom as well as getting the country on its feet and working properly. Washington had so many firsts and set so many things for others to follow, there’s no comparing anyone else to him because he was the greatest in early American history.
ReplyDelete