And I found it, courtesy of University of Wisconsin law professor Ann Althouse's blog. And I am happy to see that Alexander Hamilton is listed at #5. Thomas Jefferson, disappointingly is listed at #3. From the get go, independent America has been far more Hamiltonian than Jeffersonian. So, I would have reversed that order, with Jefferson at #5 and Hamilton and #3.
The top two spots are, of course, Lincoln and Washington, although I have to say that I'm perplexed as to why Lincoln is rated #1 and Washington #2. I would have reversed that order, too. No disrespect intended to Lincoln -- even more than Hamilton he stands as one of the key implementers of the idea of a unified American nation -- but without Washington, there wouldn't be a United States of America. We would either be a small Commonwealth country hugging the eastern seaboard or a collection of squabbling little republics united in little more than a free trade zone, menaced constantly by larger European colonial states in the western hemisphere.
Washington is not only the indispensable man when it comes to the Revolution and the creation of our Republic, he is the indispensable man when it comes to our nation's history as a whole.
3 comments:
Great list.
Are there any technological innovators on the list (Edison, Ford, Jobs, Whitney, etc.) It seems to limiting to have mainly political figures on there.
I agree completely, Mark, that Hamilton's influence has been greater than Jefferson's. And that GW's influence is greater than Lincoln's. Lincoln would've agreed with that too.
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