America has had numerous patriots over the course of US History, But where are they now?
Early Patriots- Benjamin Franklin, Gorge Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. These seven patriots risked everything to ensure we where able to have our current freedoms, that most Americans take for granted.
Most historians define the "founding fathers" to mean a larger group, including not only the Signers and the Framers but also all those who, whether as politicians, jurists, statesmen, soldiers, diplomats or ordinary citizens, that took part in winning American independence and creating the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers where patriots first, and politicians second.
The 1st United States Congress voted to pay Washington a salary of $25,000 a year—a large sum in 1789. Washington, already wealthy, declined the salary, since he valued his image as a selfless public servant. At the urging of Congress, however, he ultimately accepted the payment, to avoid setting a precedent whereby the presidency would be perceived as limited only to independently wealthy individuals who could serve without any salary. George Washington placed the country before himself, our current politicians have forgotten this practice.
As a group, early Patriots comprised of both men and women representing the full array of social, economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. They included college students like Alexander Hamilton, planters like Thomas Jefferson, merchants like Alexander McDougall, and plain farmers like Daniel Shays and Joseph Plumb Martin.
The Patriots came from many different backgrounds. Among the most active of the Patriots group were highly educated and fairly wealthy individuals. However, without the support of the ordinary men and women, such as farmers, lawyers, mechanics, seamstresses, homemakers, shopkeepers, and ministers, the struggle for independence would have failed.
Currently we have Patriots amongst us, men and women who sacrifice for our country. These Americans come from similar and different backgrounds. They place the country ahead of themselves, they know that the country is bigger than themselves. They ask for nothing but to be able to defend our nations against all enemies foreign and domestic. They place the needs of America before themselves, they don't ask for favors, kickbacks, or special treatment. Our elected officials could learn a great lesson from out past and present Patriots.
