1. The Founding Fathers Were In A Fraternity
“That’s so frat.” – George Washington, after learning he had been elected the first President of the United States
That’s right – the majority of the founding fathers were in a frat. To be exact, they were members of the Freemasons, the oldest fraternal society on the planet. While the Masons are different than the modern system of collegiate Greek letter fraternities and sororities, the basis of the organizations are the same. The Freemasons, just like collegiate Greek Life, seek to mold their members into better individuals. They do community service and raise money for philanthropy, even holding social events for their members. Another similar aspect, and possibly the most important, is that of brotherhood. During the Revolutionary War, Masons knew that they could trust one another with sensitive information, such as troop movements and future battle plans, in the exact same way that you are able to place full confidence in the brothers of your fraternity.
2. They Liked To Dress Well
“Is it Comfort Colors?” – Alexander Hamilton, when asked if he wanted to buy a shirt commemorating the Revolution
There is nothing wrong with wanting to look sharp. Being well-dressed is mandatory for pulling power moves, such as starting your own country, and the Founding Fathers certainly made sure to do just that. When you look good you feel good, and when you feel good, you perform well. According to some historians, sporting the latest in 18th century fashion was a key factor in winning the Revolution. The Founding Fathers were also rocking the dad bod long before anyone else, as demonstrated by this portrait of Washington himself.
3. They Took Risks
“Just grow a pair, and sign it!” – Thomas Jefferson, during the signing of the Declaration
The Founding Fathers were not afraid to roll the dice, just like your chapter when you guys threw that party after a stern warning from the dean earlier that same week (to name only one example). Consider for a moment just the thought of declaring independence. The Founding Fathers were going to sign a piece of paper saying that they wanted to call the shots on this side of the Atlantic, essentially giving the finger to the most powerful empire in the world, then have to audacity to post copies everywhere and even send one straight to King George himself. They were then supposed to win a war despite having no professional military, and then create a new government from scratch that in all probability was not going to succeed. They were risking their lives, reputations, fortunes, and the welfare of their families all for a crazy idea. But they did it, they won, and the rest is history.
4. They Partied...Hard
“My name is Benjamin Franklin, and I like to party.” – Benjamin Franklin (probably)
It is no secret that fraternities like to party. Work hard, play hard. It was no different with the Founding Fathers. Take for example this quote by Benjamin Franklin: “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” Need I say more? It is quite clear that Ben enjoyed his drink, as did the rest of the Founding Fathers. In the late 18th century it was socially acceptable to be intoxicated, so long as you were not belligerent. But that’s just on a day-to-day basis. When the Founding Fathers wanted to have fun, they had fun. Historians have uncovered a bar tab from a party for George Washington that took place in 1787 (only three days before the signing of the Constitution). The party’s 55 attendees drank 54 bottles of Madeira (wine), 60 bottles of Claret (also wine), eight of whiskey, 22 of porter, eight of hard cider, 12 of beer, and seven bowls of alcoholic punch. The bill (including the damages) came out to be 89 pounds, which amounts to approximately $15,500 today. And you thought you had a lot to drink last weekend.
5. They Worked Towards The Greater Good
“The happy Union of these States is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.” – James Madison
At the end of the day, Greek Life exists to work towards the greater good. No chapter is perfect and the Greek system has had many failures in its history, but there also exists a multitude of resounding successes. Whether it is community service, raising money for philanthropy, or attending a leadership event, the ultimate goal of Fraternity is to forge better men, better campuses, better communities, and a better nation. In the same way, the Founding Fathers had the greater good in mind when they decided to act on the idea that government should be subservient to the people. It was for the greater good of the human race that a nation be established in which “all men are created equal” is the guiding principal, and the belief that each person is endowed with certain unalienable rights is not just a dream that is wished for but a reality that is acted upon. Just like Greek Life, the United States has also had its share of failures and embarrassments when imperfect humans fell short of fully grasping the lofty ideals upon which our nation was founded. But imagine where we would be today without the vision, courage, and determination of the Founding Fathers to take those bold fist steps towards establishing the United States of America. It is those same virtues of vision, courage, and determination that continue to drive those who are looking to make a difference in the world, from a chapter meeting to a cabinet meeting and everywhere in between.
