Founding Fathers
First State of the Union: George Washington’s Blueprint Betrayed
“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined.” January 8, 1790. George Washington walked into the Senate Chamber of Federal Hall in New York City and delivered his first annual message to a joint session of Congress. Today, we call it the State of the...
Be at War with Your Vices: Benjamin Franklin’s New Year’s Challenge
“Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New Year find you a better Man.” -Benjamin Franklin This timeless lesson, along with many others drawn from his legendary Poor Richard’s Almanack, continues to inspire and guide us nearly three...
Consolidation: George Mason’s Core Anti-Federalist Warning
“A monarchy, or a corrupt tyrannical aristocracy.” That, George Mason warned, is what the Constitution would produce. His objections to ratification became the foundation for some of the most influential Anti-Federalist arguments. Born December 11, 1725, Mason was one...
True Loyalty vs Sedition and Treason
“It is a very great mistake to imagine that the Object of Loyalty is the Authority and Interest of one individual Man.” Decades before the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Adams understood the foundation of what became the American Revolution. It was a complete...