The men of the revolutionary and constitution-writing years during the late 18th century, considered to be Founding Fathers, have always been held in mythical esteem by Americans. Included in this pantheon of heroes are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, among others. These men were crucial in defining the rights that the original thirteen colonies deserved and needed for independence, as well as creating a new country. In 1776, 1787, and 1789, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were drafted by our Founding Fathers to both define the meaning of freedom and create a new government that has lasted for 228 years.
Today, politicians and citizens alike consider what our Founding Fathers would have done in this situation, what exactly did they mean in those documents, and what would they think of America today. Should the decision making and words of men from the 18th and early 19th centuries be taken literally to solve our problems in the 21st century? Probably not.
How can we seriously take what these men said or presumably thought literally when they didn't take it literally? In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, with the help of Robert Hutchinson, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, wrote that all men were created equal and everyone was born with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This famous line was derived from the English philosopher John Locke, and Americans then and today base the meaning of freedom on it. However, during the same period that this was included in the Declaration of Independence, millions of African men and women were held in bondage, some of which were held by Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers. In fact, the majority of the Founding Fathers and presidents from Washington to Polk were slave owners, and substantial slave owners at that. Slaves did not have the right to life or liberty and they sure as hell weren't happy. The Founding Fathers intended for all white men who were educated and owned property to be considered equal, yet today that same line includes African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and women. Would these "perfect men" agree with what America has become? Uhhhh no.
Politicians and citizens also use the Founding Fathers when talking about the separation between church and state. Some people actually think that these men would want more religion in today's government and schools. That is absolutely absurd. The American Revolution and other revolutions of the time were brought about by Enlightenment thinking. Enlightenment questioned the divine right that kings had to rule and accepted scientific explanations to things that were often credited to God. This does not say that these men weren't religious. Jefferson himself was considered a deist. He believed that a higher power existed, but he/she never interfered. Whatever religious beliefs the men who came together in Philadelphia in 1787 to create the government and the country had, did not effect their positions on keeping religion out of the church and the state. I am assuming here, but I believe that these same men would be appalled at the question asked at the most recent Republican debate regarding God. They would probably believe it didn't matter, the power of the chief executive has nothing to do with God. This separation also includes education. The first amendment guarantees a freedom of religion, thus practicing a certain religion can not be curriculum in public schools. If it were, it would be teaching a religion that the students may or may not have chosen. That goes against the Constitution, which we all hold so dear.
The Founding Fathers were heroes of their time. However, if they lived today they would be racist and sexist hypocrites and would have little say in the government they created. The Constitution that they created was intended to be a living document, so that it would change with the times. If we take everything said in it literally, then the Constitution will last for 228 years and then end. The Constitution must change and so must the thoughts of our Founding Fathers.
