Search results

Paine had a great influence on the general population, but little or none on the Founders and the Framers, so I don't see a problem with omitting him from the list of forerunners of the Declaration. Paine was a great one for blowing things up (metaphorically), but he had very muddled ideas about...

The Declaration and the United States weren't created ex nihilo. The 18th century didn't suddenly make a leap from absolute monarchy to republican democracy. Human freedom had advanced and retreated many times over the centuries, never perfect, and never embracing everyone, but in various ways...

All of those who signed were sitting members of Congress - the rule being that you had to sign it in order take your seat (for reasons discussed above.) Washington had resigned his seat in Congress when he took command of the Army, and he never resumed it. Since he was not a member at the time...

Well, the case for independence had to take the form of an indictment of the King for a number of reasons, both political and philosophical. First, the colonists claimed that Parliament had no right to make laws for the colonies, that they were under the direct rule of the King through their...

Yes, despite the difference in spelling the fictional President Josiah Bartlet is described in The West Wing as a descendent of Dr. Josiah Bartlett, who signed the Declaration. (Like his fictional descendant, Dr. Bartlett served as both Congressman from and Governor of his native New Hampshire.)...