Why Samuel Adams?
Many people have asked me, since this blog began, why I have a portrait of Samuel Adams prominently displayed above the navigation bar (to the left)?
For many Americans unfamiliar with their own nation's history - and even for many who think they are - Samuel Adams is really just a footnote compared to the greatness of George Washington, Patrick Henry, or Thomas Jefferson.
Totally wrong, and I'll explain why.
Name any founding father other than Samuel Adams who was critical to the cause of American Independence. Of course, any one of their absences would have altered our history dramatically and may even have meant our loss of the Revolutionary War. However, without Samuel Adams, it would have taken decades (or longer) before Americans decided to step away from British rule...
No other founder did more to push America towards independence from Britain than did Samuel Adams. In fact, Samuel Adams did it in the best way possible: he recruited the common man, the "working man," and he instigated events that would propel the common man towards independent thinking. Of all the founders, Adams knew that if the hearts of the common man were not won, no one would be there to do the actual fighting when the time came to take freedom from the tyrants.
Adams was, all at once, a propagandist, a politician, and a statesman. He held the respect of dock workers, millwrights, printers, laborers, and gentry. In a strange way, he also held the respect of British royalty...
On April 19, 1775, British troops marched towards Lexington and Concord with two goals in mind: seize provincial powder stores meant for the militia...and arrest two men. Those two men were Samuel Adams and his political protege', John Hancock.
In fact, in June of 1775, British officials issued a proclamation offering to pardon all American rebels...except Samuel Adams and John Hancock...
Those were the only two arrest warrants issued before the Revolutionary War actually began. Samuel Adams had been labeled by British politicians as "The most dangerous man in Massachusetts." This was at a time when another British official declared that the American colonies were controlled by Massachusetts, which were controlled by Boston, which were controlled by Samuel Adams.
In my mind, you will find no greater patriot, no greater fighter for American independence, and no founding father more indespensible than Samuel Adams. Many of the greats we label as "founding fathers" right now claimed Adams as their mentor and political advisor.
That is why Samuel Adams' portrait, and no other, is prominently displayed on this website.
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Got comments? Email me, dammit!
Permanent link for this article which can be used on any website:
For many Americans unfamiliar with their own nation's history - and even for many who think they are - Samuel Adams is really just a footnote compared to the greatness of George Washington, Patrick Henry, or Thomas Jefferson.
Totally wrong, and I'll explain why.
Name any founding father other than Samuel Adams who was critical to the cause of American Independence. Of course, any one of their absences would have altered our history dramatically and may even have meant our loss of the Revolutionary War. However, without Samuel Adams, it would have taken decades (or longer) before Americans decided to step away from British rule...
No other founder did more to push America towards independence from Britain than did Samuel Adams. In fact, Samuel Adams did it in the best way possible: he recruited the common man, the "working man," and he instigated events that would propel the common man towards independent thinking. Of all the founders, Adams knew that if the hearts of the common man were not won, no one would be there to do the actual fighting when the time came to take freedom from the tyrants.
Adams was, all at once, a propagandist, a politician, and a statesman. He held the respect of dock workers, millwrights, printers, laborers, and gentry. In a strange way, he also held the respect of British royalty...
On April 19, 1775, British troops marched towards Lexington and Concord with two goals in mind: seize provincial powder stores meant for the militia...and arrest two men. Those two men were Samuel Adams and his political protege', John Hancock.
In fact, in June of 1775, British officials issued a proclamation offering to pardon all American rebels...except Samuel Adams and John Hancock...
Those were the only two arrest warrants issued before the Revolutionary War actually began. Samuel Adams had been labeled by British politicians as "The most dangerous man in Massachusetts." This was at a time when another British official declared that the American colonies were controlled by Massachusetts, which were controlled by Boston, which were controlled by Samuel Adams.
In my mind, you will find no greater patriot, no greater fighter for American independence, and no founding father more indespensible than Samuel Adams. Many of the greats we label as "founding fathers" right now claimed Adams as their mentor and political advisor.
That is why Samuel Adams' portrait, and no other, is prominently displayed on this website.
-----
Got comments? Email me, dammit!
Permanent link for this article which can be used on any website:
posted by Aaron Turpen @ 9:03 AM
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