Who are the founders of your nation?

Question

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Someone once said that the United States of America is a work in progress. Its' Founding Fathers are broadly well known not only in the USA but throughout the world - Alexander Hamilton (my favorite), Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Jay, George Washington.

These are the figures who formulated, debated and enacted the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights and who got the nation through the Revolutionary War and the early days of the Republic. Further, three of them - Hamilton, Madison and Jay - wrote the documents explaining the philosophy and rationale behind the Constitution. Hence, the Federalist Papers.

However, as the nation is a work in progress, to these classical figures one other should be added. Abraham Lincoln.

While the other Founders on the list had defining accomplishments and are of undoubted historical importance, none was as decisive and significant as Lincoln, who not only saved the Union in its darkest hour, he defined its very nature.

Indeed, some years back a group of historians rated Lincoln and Churchill not just as great national leaders, but as the greatest leaders in all Western civilization. They earned the accolade - to be sure an accolade not without controversy - because they recurred to very wellsprings of Western civilization to define their statecraft and preserve their societies.

To some degree, this is an observation with a speculative cast. We can only imagine how the Western world would have looked had the United States not survived its civil war. (Ditto had Britain not stood alone and survived in 1940-41.) However, even in a contemporaneous context, Lincoln stands out.

At the time Lincoln became President, it was not just that the country was divided on the question of slavery - with all of its implications for how man viewed his fellow man. The country was, significantly, divided over its very nature. The question of whether or not it was single national community, or instead a confederation of separate and distinct communities, each with their own identity and, in extremis, sovereignty.

Lincoln answered the question not just through military victory - which by itself would not have been enduring - but by summoning the nation to the philosophical essentials of its birth. He defined the nation by common attachment to a specific creed - "a nation dedicated to a proposition" - and in the fullness of time defined the nation.

No President - not even Washington nor Jefferson - answered the question of what the United States was, and thus what it is now, as permanently and definitively. By summoning "the mystic chords of memory," i. e. to a keener sense of its animating principles, Lincoln turned the country into a nation. Something much more essential and elemental and thus enduring.

Not perfectly or completely to be sure. There is no perfection in this mortal veil of tears. However, it is undeniable that had their been no Lincoln, there would have been no America, and had there been no America, the history of Western civilization going forward - with all of its promise of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - would have looked very different and likely would have taken a far darker turn.

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

Two of the four guys carved into that rock, and a bunch of others, too (some appreciated only a little less, like Ben Franklin; some MUCH less, like Samuel Adams). Interestingly, there was a Japanese book, made during their time of isolation, that depicts the events of the Revolution in a very interesting way, such as having Ben Franklin wield a cannon barehanded, George Washington punching a tiger to death, and John Adams battling a giant snake, that REALLY makes me wonder how someone who knew next to nothing about the country captured so much of its spirit. Here's a link to the images: (https://archive.wul.waseda.ac.jp/kosho/bunko11/bunko11_a0380/bunko11_a0380_0002/bunko11_a0380_0002.html ).

Also interestingly, the Crazy Horse memorial (in progress since 1948 and nowhere near finished) is only eighteen miles from Mount Rushmore. While I think the role of Amerind people in the foundation of the US is either incredibly understated or incredibly overstated depending on who's doing the talking, I'm all in favor of giant statuary. In fact, it's my hope that after that statue is finished, some ancestral enemies of the Lakota (Crazy Horse's tribe) will build an even BIGGER statue of one of their heroes, and so on until someone builds a statue of Michael Jordan with a hoop big enough for the moon to pass through. It'll be GREAT.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

According to tradition it was the Roman emperor Magnus Maximus in the 4th century. The story goes he had a dream about a beautiful princess in a castle. After searching the empire found her in North wales and they lived happily ever after, well for about 7 years when he left to go on the rampage across Europe never to return, but his sons went on to become the early welsh kings of various tribes hence binding them together.

The story is probably just early political spin by kings looking to prove their rightful place on the throne. What we do know as fact is he had a lot of support in in western Briton particularly around Gwynedd and a lot followed him into Europe on his campaigns where he gave France to the Welsh and allegedly we cut everyone's tongues out so not to dilute our language. (Usefully, Bretton and welsh aren't too far apart and we even have same national anthem)

As the Germanic tribes swept in from east, romanised tribes in the west bonded together and tried to stay Roman and the founding roots of wales were laid.

Potteplante · Accepted Answer

The Norse. They say Ingólfur Arnarson was one of the first settlers around 900, Alþingi (one of the oldest parliaments in the world) was established in 930 - was putt on hold in 1830ish when they became a part of the Danish kingdom.

I'm going to stop now before this ends up in a history lesson no one asked for.

RyanEC · Answer

I would say George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Frankly most principally.

Who would you consider the founders of France.
If I may say I think the different periods of France would have their own founders.

As a people I would say Clovis.

As a unified nation I would say Charlemagne.

For the current republic I would say Charles De Gaulle.

I suppose Napoleon would not be considered a founder since his government fell but he is an honorable mention.

RavVid · Answer

There are both a lot and few. I could go with the people who wrote the constitution but there were too many of them because of all the constitutional conventions.

Instead I will choose Dave Gregory the captain of the Combined XI who lead Australia to victory in the first Test Cricket match against England.

Sorting things out on the fields of sport rather than war is the Australian way :) Less bloodshed than having a revolution like the Americans did.

Starrrboy · Answer

Thousands of years ago.. some guys on the northern parts of Africa got some water.. started agriculture and made a civilization.. had a golden age.. then went down and got occupied by almost everyone for centuries lmao.. and now it's kidnapped by stinky Arabs and most of the residents think that's their identity.. okay, sad story ends lol

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Otto von Bismarck. I think he is easily identifiable in this iconic painting:

Anonymous · Answer

Privileged, selfish, misogynist white landowners who brought slaves over from Africa and other countries while displacing the Native Indian population as needed. Eventually they set precedence that would force them to abandon their culture and language or be tortured, all for profit. What a cool bunch of guys!

QuietRunner · Answer

They were Gentlemen of an Extraordinarily talented and educated group. My Nations founders had mostly the wisdom to see beyond their own self-interests to create a successful nation. They had faults, but no human is perfect. Some issues couldn't be solved right away and they recognized the limitations of there genius. They were predominately humble founders allowing nation the freedom to change and adapt to changing times.

It is a group to find inspiration in.

ZackBan · Answer

Funny enough one of them was buddies with my great grandfather, so my grandpa was named after him and I got my grandpa's name so I'm named after a founding father of my country literally 😂

lightbulb27 · Answer

the real founders are Larry, Curly, and Moe.

petera1987 · Answer

Most nations on Earth don't have historical "founders" they can name and idolise, because their formation was far more chaotic and unplanned.

Dargil · Answer

madison, hamilton, jefferson, john jay, franklin and a bunch of others.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

The Founding Fathers, though our style of governments actually originated with the Lycians

love_conquers_lust · Answer

Patriots who were apolitical because they were united in their causes.

strateguy632 · Answer

u. s. Washington and Jefferson and adams.

Mettbltt · Answer

İlk Modu ChanyuAnd last mustapha kemal

Chewy______ · Answer

A drunk named John A. Macdonald.

BLP11520 · Answer

Moe Larry and Curly?

Anonymous · Answer

Christopher Columbus

Anonymous · Answer

The African, Irish slaves and natives…

Luckycharms12 · Answer

The ira

eagle1951 · Answer

the indians

Anonymous · Answer

British seaman

Anonymous · Answer

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