US Founding Fathers Debate

Cluster centers on debates invoking the US Founding Fathers' intentions, views on the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and government principles, often arguing whether modern issues align with or contradict their vision.

➡️ Stable 0.7x Politics & Society
2,954
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#806
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
2
2008
1
2009
27
2010
59
2011
47
2012
90
2013
253
2014
103
2015
131
2016
160
2017
169
2018
143
2019
185
2020
267
2021
297
2022
278
2023
250
2024
131
2025
332
2026
29

Keywords

US III historians.org I.e AC USA pastebin.com archives.gov U.S foundingfathers.info constitution founding fathers government declaration independence founded religious america articles

Sample Comments

d0ne May 5, 2011 View on HN

It's a good thing the founding fathers of the US didn't share your views...

hanniabu Nov 11, 2019 View on HN

The founding fathers would disagree

defterGoose Aug 6, 2019 View on HN

I'm of course aware of the basis of these documents as an American. However, a lot of the core ideas behind the US' founding were that it was possible to form "a more perfect union". I.e. one where government was done 'right', I.e. democracy. There were certainly anarchists at the time too, but the form of anti-government sentiment we have now seems to be almost pathological; memetic rather than considered.

bdcravens Aug 11, 2024 View on HN

The appeal to authority via the "founding fathers" probably isn't the best argument one could make. The centuries have propped up a legendary version of them that is a bit different from the reality. In reality they weren't all Christians; Jefferson in particular. Jefferson also said the constitution should be rewritten every 19 years. History has lost the voices of those who dissented.The point is that the values we have ascribed to them may not be accurate. I don't

ntw1103 Dec 18, 2017 View on HN

Actually, the founding fathers had a lot to say on this topic: https://pastebin.com/SfhHWVPb

ameister14 Jan 1, 2013 View on HN

While I understand your statement and its origins in 19th century thought, you seem to misunderstand the foundations of our government. This is completely normal, as almost no-one really get what the founders thought or why they made the decisions they did.I'm one of those people that obsessively studied that period of history, however. Please, before you comment about the overreaching nature of our government, read Hume.

somenameforme Sep 17, 2022 View on HN

Contrary to many other nations, the Constitution of the US is a rather plain organizational description. There is literally zero ideological, logical, or other sorts of rationale contained. That rationale rests within a number of places including the Declaration of Independence and in the rather extensive writings of the Founding Fathers, who notably made many statements such as,"And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their peop

papln Aug 5, 2019 View on HN

Read the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence if you thing this view is new.

sparkzilla Aug 15, 2018 View on HN

Tell that to the Founding Fathers.

ams6110 Dec 22, 2013 View on HN

Reminds me of "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." (John Adams)