Dear Friends and Virginians:
In a few days, our country will enter its 250th year. Some of us are old enough to remember the “Bicentennial” of 1976, which was the celebration of a younger, less introspective, nation.
But America is no less greater. Indeed, the achievements of our Founding Fathers grow more noteworthy with time as our nation becomes less Euro-centric and more global in its constituency and its outlook.
With that in mind, here are my list of Great Americans from colonial times to 1876 —
- George Washington. The indispensable man. The general who held a ragtag army together for 8 years to eventually defeat the British (yes, with French help). To this day, America is the only English colony to win its freedom by force of arms and not by royal consent. The first President who established that the USA would be a democracy without a hereditary chief executive. Indeed, he willingly gave up his power — a truly novel idea at the time. And unlike others, he did not feel the need to imprison or execute his opponents.
- Abraham Lincoln. The founder of modern America. First, in reaction to secession, he decided that the Union was actually worth fighting for. Second, his decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation spelled the end of slavery. Third, he had a vision to reunite the nation, which (eventually) succeeded. In addition to the obvious, his administration also initiated the transcontinental railroad and the land grant university system. If Washington created the USA, then Lincoln put it on the road to become a superpower.
- Alexander Hamilton. No, this is not about the musical. Hamilton was a shockingly important figure in early America. Although he did not author the Constitution, his advocacy (“the Federalist Papers”) was critical in gaining its acceptance. As the First Secretary of the Treasury, he standardized our country on one currency and a common financial system with seamless borders between the states. That fledgling American economy would become the world’s most dynamic in barely 100 years. And it remains so today.
- Thomas Jefferson. TJ gets a bit of a rebuff these days due to the contradiction between his high-flown rhetoric and slave holding legacy. (Washington was noticeably less verbose re “freedom”). But TJ was a big deal. Author of the Declaration. The #1 political thinker of his generation, which is saying something. The first to define our nation as based on individual rights, limiting the power of government. As President, he also purchased Louisiana and most of the West for basically nothing.
- Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery in 1838, Douglass escaped and became a leading voice of the abolitionist movement. His oratorical and writing skills changed the 19th century perceptions of African-Americans, at least in reformist circles. He was an early advocate for black regiments in the Union Army, which played a major role in the War’s outcome. After the War, he pushed Republicans in Congress to enact the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments, which made “equal protection under law” the constitutional standard.
- Andrew Jackson. The original Bad Man, Jackson was hated by polite society in his own day as well as by modern-day academics. But his legacy was profound. As a soldier, he led armies which added Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida as U.S. states and, of course, crushed the British Army at New Orleans. Could we even have an SEC conference today without him? He formed the first outsider-based political movement in American history (yes, there would be others) and rode it to power. As President, he put down secession talk without a second thought.
- Pocahontas (Matoaka). Hear me out. In 1613, the English colonists were barely holding in Jamestown. The hostile Powhatan Confederacy surrounded them on all sides and had the ability to wipe them out (like they had with the Roanoke colony). In a desperate gamble, the English captured Pocahontas, who was the favorite daughter of Chief Powhatan. Motivations and context will never be fully known but we know these facts: the princess converted to Christianity, then married John Rolfe and had his son (Thomas) in 1615. Her indulgent father — perhaps as a wedding gift — chose not to immediately wipe out her husband’s people. In that brief window of peace, the English colonists discovered how to grow tobacco, and the history of the New World changed permanently. Today, we speak English in the Chesapeake Bay region, not French, Spanish or Algonkian. Thank you, Pocahontas.
- James Madison. Back to boring white guys, but this one can’t be ignored. Madison was the author of the Constitution, enacted in 1787, as well as the Bill of Rights which were added four years later. These words literally define American life and culture. (“Congress shall make no law restricting freedom of speech”). Madison’s influence is a bit militated by the fact that the Constitution initially protected slavery and the Bill of Rights (originally) had little impact on American life as it only applied to the Federal government, not the states. Regardless, those words and concepts are timeless and Madison wrote them.
So there’s my list. Left out a lot of notable explorers, religious leaders and military commanders, as well as common folk who built this country (literally).
Feel free to let me know your list.
JCP Notes: The outgoing Attorney General announced on Friday, December 19th that Virginia would be joining the class action litigation against drug companies and pharmacy benefit managers that have over-charged insulin prices for years. (My firm has been involved since early 2024 representing a dozen cities and counties in the “757” and “434” regions). Hopefully, the new AG will lean into this civil action, which arises under Virginia’s Consumer Protection Act.
Congratulations to the UVA Cavaliers who refused to compromise with Missouri last night in a 13-7 bowl win. A historic season with 11 wins.
Yes, this one truly went to Eleven. (H/T to the late, great Rob Reiner).
Peace,
Chap