Would the guys who stayed at Valley Forge want to kick our a$$es?

Question

Is the 4th Of July actually now an Ironic Joke?The real name of the holiday is "Independence Day" , celebrating the fact that our country was no longer part of the British Empire and therefore 'independent', or self reliant. How would the founding fathers react if we told them we are now utterly dependent on just about every country in the world (except, well, maybe England...) for one thing or another? We could not survive one day as a nation were it not for our reliance on the Middle East for fuel, China for goods (and financial backing), India for, yep, you guessed it, customer service and so on and so on. I just was thinking about how July 4 ,1776 must have been. The ability to say, "Screw the rest of the world- We have everything we need RIGHT HERE!" if we want to. What a feeling that must have been. Maybe July 4 will have to become ," Start of the US Day". Or ' Global Economy Day" Or " Fireworks Day" (which are made, where, by the way?

Answer 1

~Chances are, the guys at Valley Forge knew that independence was declared on July 2, with the passage of the Lee Resolution. That would be the day that John Adams wrote about to Abigail as being the date which would be remembered and celebrated by Americans for time immemorial. I guess you didn't know that.

As to what they would have thought about free international trade, I suspect they would be in favor, given that that was one of the causes for which they were fighting. But, I suspect they were a little more up on dates, history and circumstances than are some of their descendants.

But hey, if they want to kick my butt, let them have at it. Do you realize how old and feeble they would be if they were still around. And I wonder how the 2/3's of the colonial population who did not support the war would feel. Such is the nonsense of inane inquiry.

The true American holiday should be September 17, (celebrating 9/17/1787). Have you any clue what occured on that day?

Answer 2

To answer your question in one word: No. "Independence" does not necessarily equate to self-reliance. And in the spirit of the term as it relates to the Fourth of July, "independence" is used to connote the idea of the declaration of autonomy of the 13 colonies from British rule and thus the manifestation of sovereignty in regard to the United States. Isolationist policies have nothing to do with why the American Revolution was fought.

Further, the US is not exclusively beholden to any of the nations you listed. They depend on the US to buy their goods and services just as much as we depend on them to produce said goods and services. There is a mutually beneficial relationship in existence. Also, historically-speaking, isolationist doctrine has traditionally been used diplomatically, militarily, and politically but never economically. Those that have attempted, or been forced into, economic isolationism have been ruined and returned to trade in the global market as soon as they realized their mistake, or were allowed. Why do you think that global economic sanctions and embargoes, or even the threat thereof, are so effective? Because they are devastating to the target country. Want an example? Look at North Korea for a fair picture. Or Cuba for what the economic disposition of a country looks like without the United States.

Answer 3

Actually, the problem is that Americans don't know anything about Thomas Jefferson other than the fact that wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

They are totally ignorant of the fact that he then went home and did not participate in the revolution, despite being young and healthy. He was eventually bullied out of his life of luxury and elected to be Gov of VA, however, he proved to be totally incompetent as an executive. His behavior as governor of Virginia was so atrocious, that when the House of Burgesses reconvened after the British attacks, they were going to publicly censure Jefferson, but backed off on Jefferson's promise to retire to Monticello and never again enter public life..

Unfortunately, Jefferson's honor was not as esteemed as his drafting ability.

Another thing that the people somehow fail to learn in school is the devastating results of Jeffersonian policies as President. He destroyed the US Navy, the US Army and the US economy and then left Madison to clean up his mess. The only accomplishment of his administration was the Louisiana Purchase, which he not only did not favor but did not believe was constitutional. Jefferson had Monroe ask Napoleon to purchase shipping rights through the Port of New Orleans, instead Monroe returned with a treaty for the Purchase of 1/3 of the continental United States. He was without a doubt, the worst President in US History.

"Jefferson was chosen to do the actual drafting for two reasons, Ellis explains. First, drafting such documents was what Jefferson did for the Congress. Second, the other eligible authors had more important things with which they were occupied. However, Adams and Lee would lead the debates.

For the rest of his life, Adams would reflect on that decision to leave this task to Jefferson. This role, Ellis notes, became Jefferson's "major ticket into the American pantheon" as the Declaration grew in importance and public esteem. "

"Jefferson deeply resented every revision and deletion. His work had been "mangled," he asserted. He circulated his original version noting the changes that had been made, and disowned the final result throughout the rest of his life."

So it is totally amazing to me that Jefferson is included in the national pantheon of founding fatherhood when he did absolutely nothing in which to deserve such an honor.

whale

Answer 4

You know, historically, the 4th of July was a partisan holiday, celebrated by the Jeffersonian Republican Democrats, in honor of the declaration of independence. Jefferson's rivals, the Hamiltonian Federalists, instead celebrated George Washington's birthday.

The Republican Democrats favored small government, state's rights, and most importantly, free trade.

The Federalists favored strong central authority, weak state's rights, and protectionism.

Trade brings peace. Protectionism is a form of nationalism, which is the cause of wars. Jefferson and his Republican Democrats were opponents to entangling military alliances, and foreign wars. In the words of John Quincy Adams: "America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. If she did, she would become dictatress of the world." In the words of George Washington: "Friendly trade relations with all, entangling alliances with none".

The reason the 4th of July prevailed as the nation's holiday is because the Federalist party imploded, it was Jefferson and his party that prevailed. America was made great because of the way she peacefully traded with nations, not because her natural resources allowed her to be the big bully on Earth.

Judging by your ultranationalist rant, it seems that America has forgotten Thomas Jefferson.

Answer 5

Our forefathers were not dumb or stupid... Almost all of them recognized the need to remain somewhat isolated from issues of other nations. They had seen the bitter rivalries in Europe and the endless wars that left it in constant ruin as a consequence.

Unfortunately, we were pulled into becoming more involved with the Monroe doctrine which came in order to stay European agression in the Americas. Since then, there has been a precedent for us to jump in whenever needed.

Answer 6

Washington knew that the British wouldn't take such a risk, so in a sense they stayed out of survival.

Answer 7

Your wrong. The reason we depend on other countries is simply because the world has gotten smaller. We would not be anything near where we are now if we relied primarily on our own goods, manufactured products, etc.

Answer 8

You need to get yourself one of those yellow ribbons the Chinese make for us to put on our cars that say, "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS", buy yourself a [made in China] US flag to wave around, turn your [made in Tiawan] computer back on and come back here to re-post with something containing a question.

Answer 9

Yes.
China.
It's a great joke the USA had it made and then you went and followed all the destructive practices ever made.

Answer 10

Yeah except most of them had never heard of half of those places.