Evan Thomas Quotes
It is notable that almost all the Founding Fathers were first generation, college graduates.
Evan Thomas, Historian & Journalist, C-SPAN, History, John Paul Jones, July 20, 2008
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Jefferson wrote more on more subjects than any other president in American history. For exa,ple, he wrote more letters during his presidency than any other president including the modern ones who had word processors and large staffs. So Jefferson wrote on almost every subject and expressed so many ideas that Lincoln could make this statement.
This was not exactly a complement. Adams was outraged by Paine’s overt and public atheism and anti religious statements. (See {623040}.) Others of the founding fathers were also atheists but Paine wrote publicly and actively tried to persuade people of his religious position. Adams was particularly concerned because Paine was not just one of the great leaders of the American Revolution. His was the most recognized name, and a huge percentage of the American population had read his Common Sense. He was the person who was most persuasive with the mass of Americans to revolt—more so than Jefferson, Washington, Madison, Franklin or any of the other great men of the time. Because Paine was so influential, Adams thought that he should be more passive in shaking the religious faith of so many others. Actually, it was Paine’s overt atheism that has tended to diminish his influence and status given by historians throughout the ages. It also caused him some difficulty in America after the Revolution and moreso in England.
John Adams, 2nd President of the U.S.
Anti-slavery opponents had cited the equality argument of the Declaration of Independence to buttress their argument.
His specialty was early American history. The early colonists believed that the Indians in America were descended from the lost tribe of the Jews. Therefore, they saw it as their duty to educate them and bring them into the Christian fold, as they had never yet had the chance. Harvard in its earliest days had what and Indian students. King Phillip’s War with some Indians had soured the views of many whites and soon Harvard adopted an all white policy.
Today, most Americans know little of Samuel Adams but see John Adams as a much larger and more important figure. But for the American Patriots fighting the Revolution, it was Sam Adams who made the most outstanding contributions to the political strategy and leadership.
Evan Welling Thomas III is an American journalist, historian, and author. He is the author of nine books, including two New York Times bestsellers.
