How come hardly anyone knows that Samuel Adams is the REAL father of our country(Thomas Jefferson's opinion)??
486777
Because history is created by the people who end up in power. We see only one side of most things, when there are many points of view...
630645
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams\nhttp://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0760591.html\nhttp://www.forerunner.com/mandate/X0069_The_Education_of_Joh.html\n\nGood luck!
187904
JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS SO THAT IT READS A BIT SMOOTHER...(I'M A TEACHER!)\n\nAFTER ONLY seventeen days, Thomas Jefferson finished WRITING the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration stated that men should be created equal, and have some unalienable rights.\nWilliam Pennington's dream was what Jefferson HAD stated in the Declaration of Independence. He wanted to escape from slavery, to the free state of Pennsylvania. If he were to be caught, he would be sent to the far South, never to return. Leaving his loving family, AND FACING MANY OBSTACLES ALONG THE WAY, he finally made it to Pennsylvania, ACHIEVING HIS LIFELONG GOAL OF FREEDOM. \nElizabeth Stanton FELT THAT IT WAS UNFAIR THAT WOMEN HAD FEWER RIGHTS THAN MEN. SHE BELIEVED THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE GUARANTEED THE SAME RIGHTS AS MEN AND USED "THE FIRST WOMENS'S RIGHTS" CONVENTIONS TO VOICE HER HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.\nStanton, Jefferson, and Pennington are famous for being brave, strong and courageous. \n\nMAY HELP, MAY NOT!\nGOOD LUCK
676345
Yeah, you get that sometimes, it's one of those "facts you never knew" because, depending on how you say it it may be literally "true" but not complete.  \n\nUnder the Articles of Confederation, which the United States Government operated under from 1781 to 1789, the presiding officer was known as President of the United States in Congress Assembled.  Basically, he was president of Congress which governed the country.  So, there were a few people who held this office.  Probably the most well-known for holding the office was John Hanson, the first man to hold the office.  He usually shows up on trivia questions about who the "real first president of the US" was.  \n\nBut, in reality, it was a totally different office.  The United States government and the office of President of the United States as we know it did not exist until 1789, leaving no doubt that George Washington was indeed the first President of the United States.\n\nDoes that make sense?  From 1781 to 1789, the US existed and operated under The Articles of Confederation.  In 1789, the U.S. Constitution came in to effect, literally creating a new government out of the same 13 States.  So under the Articles, the president of congress was the top official and a few people held that office, but the office of President of the USA didn't really exist until George Washington took it in 1789.  Hope that helps.
623333
All that has been proven by DNA research is that SOME male in Thomas Jefferson's line (that is, Thomas, his sons, their sons, and so on) fathered a child with one of Jefferson's slaves.  Although there has been speculation that it may have been one of Thomas's sons, it is also very possible that Thomas himself did the deed.  Possible, not proven.
904574
I can't believe you had to come here to find the answer to such a question. As I have stated time and time again, all American citizens under the age of 35 in this country are history illiterate. Do you know who the first president of the United States was? Who bombed Pearl Harbor? What day was the Declaration of Independence signed? \nI had the displeasure once of cracking open a modern history book my daughter who is now 18 and in college brought home from school one day. To my absolute horror, I found more references to Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, the KKK and Bill Clinton than I did George Washington, Abe Lincoln, or Thomas Jefferson. Enjoy the United States while you can folks, because as long as our kids are going to be taught this garbage this country is doomed, and will be gone as we know it much sooner than you all think.
853781
Awesome...for the points, I'll take them! And the in the election of 1800, a tie between two men of the same party--Jefferson and Bur--resulted. The 12th amendment made it so the electors vote twice, specifying which man they voted for president and which they voted for vice president.\n\nThanks and have a nice day!
692888
http://www.whitehouse.govJohn Adams \n\nLearned and thoughtful, John Adams was more remarkable as a political philosopher than as a politician. "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity," he said, doubtless thinking of his own as well as the American experience. \n\nAdams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735. A Harvard-educated lawyer, he early became identified with the patriot cause; a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, he led in the movement for independence. \n\nDuring the Revolutionary War he served in France and Holland in diplomatic roles, and helped negotiate the treaty of peace. From 1785 to 1788 he was minister to the Court of St. James's, returning to be elected Vice President under George Washington. \n\nAdams' two terms as Vice President were frustrating experiences for a man of his vigor, intellect, and vanity. He complained to his wife Abigail, "My country has in its wisdom contrived for me the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived." \n\nWhen Adams became President, the war between the French and British was causing great difficulties for the United States on the high seas and intense partisanship among contending factions within the Nation. \n\nHis administration focused on France, where the Directory, the ruling group, had refused to receive the American envoy and had suspended commercial relations. \n\nAdams sent three commissioners to France, but in the spring of 1798 word arrived that the French Foreign Minister Talleyrand and the Directory had refused to negotiate with them unless they would first pay a substantial bribe. Adams reported the insult to Congress, and the Senate printed the correspondence, in which the Frenchmen were referred to only as "X, Y, and Z." \n\nThe Nation broke out into what Jefferson called "the X. Y. Z. fever," increased in intensity by Adams's exhortations. The populace cheered itself hoarse wherever the President appeared. Never had the Federalists been so popular. \n\nCongress appropriated money to complete three new frigates and to build additional ships, and authorized the raising of a provisional army. It also passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, intended to frighten foreign agents out of the country and to stifle the attacks of Republican editors. \n\nPresident Adams did not call for a declaration of war, but hostilities began at sea. At first, American shipping was almost defenseless against French privateers, but by 1800 armed merchantmen and U.S. warships were clearing the sea-lanes. \n\nDespite several brilliant naval victories, war fever subsided. Word came to Adams that France also had no stomach for war and would receive an envoy with respect. Long negotiations ended the quasi war. \n\nSending a peace mission to France brought the full fury of the Hamiltonians against Adams. In the campaign of 1800 the Republicans were united and effective, the Federalists badly divided. Nevertheless, Adams polled only a few less electoral votes than Jefferson, who became President. \n\nOn November 1, 1800, just before the election, Adams arrived in the new Capital City to take up his residence in the White House. On his second evening in its damp, unfinished rooms, he wrote his wife, "Before I end my letter, I pray Heaven to bestow the best of Blessings on this House and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise Men ever rule under this roof." \n\nAdams retired to his farm in Quincy. Here he penned his elaborate letters to Thomas Jefferson. Here on July 4, 1826, he whispered his last words: "Thomas Jefferson survives." But Jefferson had died at Monticello a few hours earlier.
871613
Thomas Jefferson wrote extensively on this issue. In one writing he stated the following:\n\n"History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes" (Letter to von Humboldt, 1813)\n\nBasically he was reminding that people have been persecuted before when governments, monarchies or even a specific religion controls what a person believes is his/her true religion or god. \n\nRemember the reason for the Mayflower? Those people wanted to practice their religion without the persecution of King James. \n\nSome people in this country forget the reason this country exists.
23142
Unless you have polled the population of the entire world you are making a bland assumption based on a few well known people. Besides, our first President was unable to have children with his wife :-)
739458
A vote for Jefferson is American as Cherry pie.\n\nCoach
226378
GEORGE WASHINGTON  •  U.S. President / Military Leader / Revolutionary War Figure \n \nGeorge Washington is often called "the father of his country" for his crucial role in fighting for, creating and leading the United States of America in its earliest days. Washington was a surveyor, farmer and soldier who rose to command the colonial forces in the Revolutionary War. His success in the war made him a tremendously popular figure in America even after he retired to his farm at Mount Vernon in 1783. He was the natural choice to serve as the country's first president in 1789 after the new United States Constitution was ratified. He served two terms, refused a third, and returned to his Virginia farm. In 1798 he was again commissioned as commander in chief of the army, a title he held until his death 18 months later. He was succeeded as president by John Adams. \nExtra credit: Washington married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis in 1759; they had no children together, but Washington adopted Martha's children John and Martha... Washington was land-rich but often cash-poor, and had to borrow money in order to get to his first inauguration... Washington had false teeth but, contrary to popular rumor, they were not made of wood. According to the Mount Vernon official site, Washington's dentures "were probably more uncomfortable than wood. They were made of cow's teeth, human teeth, and elephant ivory set in a lead base with springs that allowed him to open and close his mouth"... The story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree is also not true; it was invented by an early biographer of Washington, Parson Mason Weems.    \nOne more thing, they did not use powder to make their hair \nwhite, in that era men wore wigs to make them look more \ndistinguished,,,,, don't figure lol.
423161
you are right. and i see another piece of misinformation cropping up as well.  our founding fathers were not christian.  one was an atheist and the others were all Diest (belief in the clockwork structure of the universe.  God made it all, wound it up, and lets it go.  God does not take a personal or vested interest in any part of his creation.).  So no knowledge of the Treaty of Tripoli or that there were NO Christian Founding Fathers of America.
666565
All of our founding fathers were....Free Masons, Templars, etc etc.\n\nThat's actually why, when you look at the birdseye map of the White House and the surrounding streets, there's a definitive pentagram shape w/ the White House at the "mouth of the beast" if you will.\n\nI reccomend looking through Google Earth.
243891
George washington.\nThere would be no America without him.
773702
Coragryph is right. And I think that by today's definitions of each party, Thomas Jefferson would have been a Democrat. He was a humanitarian, and disliked aristocratic attitudes in government. Interesting man- I always enjoyed reading about his philosophy- he is definitely one of my favorite wise men in American history.\n\nI just read the 2nd part to your question, about the textbooks--OMG!! My 17 year old stepson (yes, Texas) told me some things that were in his history textbooks as well, asking why they would make kids believe one thing, only to have to relearn the truth later on. At least he is inquisitive enough to want to do so. Some kids will never learn the truth. When will these far right people realize that you cannot rewrite history to your liking? I do not understand the mentality that only Republicans are good people, or moral, or Christian. I'm a Christian- a lover and seeker of the Truth. It is just not right to imply that one political party is the steward and dictator of what truth is- especially when they lie.
667556
Thomas Jefferson.\n\nHe wrote the Decleration of Independence, otherwise, we wouldnt be free.\n\nYou bunch of hippies!