In today's America, we tend to talk about "the founders" as if they were a single group, ones who shared similar beliefs, similar lifestyles, and a similar vision for America. As you read last week, politically there were stunningly different visions for America and the United States. Some Federalist, like Hamilton, didn't want something as foundational as our Bill of Rights to be added to our Constitution.
This week, you will continue reading literature which reveals how fundamentally different various founders and colonies were in their religious beliefs. You'll find that many (most) of the radical founders--like Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, Monroe, etc.--were Deist, and they worked to create a unified society which could accommodate wildly differentiated religious and political belief systems.
This week, you'll have the chance to review the major belief systems in circulation in the late British Colonial period and some of the literature written about religion (and it's place in society) by several of the more influential founders. You'll also have a chance to find out that anytime someone speaks of "the founders," you should be wary. Just as there is no one way to be American today, there was no one way to be a member of the founding generation. Beliefs differed. What was shared was--in general--an optimism that people could build better lives, that is, if they were left free to do so. Also shared was the value of bringing together people to benefit from everyone's wisdom
Enjoy, and--as always--contact me with any concerns and questions.
Steve
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