About Michael Troy Expertise My specialties are 17th through 19th Century history, especially in the Americas and Europe. I also have a fair knowledge of ancient Greek and Roman History, and some knowledge of Medieval European history.
My expertise is focuses on Military and political history, but I`ll take a crack at anything.
Experience I have been a guest lecturer at George Washington University. Mostly, I have just read hundreds of books about world history.
Education/Credentials J.D. Univ. of Michigan
B.A. George Washington University
General History - Influences on founding documents for the U.S
Expert: Michael Troy - 10/9/2009
Question I received your answer that you don't answer homework questions. I am 45 years old and debated with a Religious Right individual. I remember from school that Iroquois indians, Roman governmental structures and even French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau were what our country was essentially "founded" upon and not Christian dogma.
I appreciate that you do not want to be doing somebody's homework. In your answer I am surmissing that "yes" those are still what is taught in school texts and not that this country and its founding documents were soley based upon Christian dogma and the Bible.
Answer Hi Ariel,
Sorry for my original rejection. I do tend to get a lot of students just trying to get me to do their homework for them.
You are quite correct that the many founders of our country drew on many inspirations. The Iroquois Confederacy was one, but in my opinion, the effect of this source is overly emphasized by many.
The primary justification for Independence was drawn from theories of social contract. Philosophers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire were widely read by colonial leaders and were highly influential.
As far as the actual creation of government, the framers drew very heavily on the British model, at least how they thought the British model should work, as far as the division of powers into Legislative, Executive, and Judicial (though they certainly varied from the monarchical system). The ancient republics of Greece and Rome were also strong influences (many of the founders could read ancient Greek and Latin).
As far as the influence of Christian dogma, the Bible says almost nothing about good government structure. Much of the governments discussed in the Old Testament dealt with models ruled by prophets or kings, models clearly rejected by the founders.
Much of the basis for many modern right wing comments about the founders being strongly based in Christianity comes from the fact that all of the founders were Christians. Most attended church with some regularity.
But that said, many of the founders were deists. This meant they believed in God and the trinity, but did not understand God to be an interventionist God who would lead people through their day to day lives and would answer prayers with miracles. Deists generally believed that God acts through nature, gave man the mental and physical ability to solve our own problems and expected us to do so without continuing miraculous intervention. Jefferson even went so far as to cut out the parts of the Bible which focused on miracles and such because he believed them to be fiction. However he still thought the moral principles of Christianity to be important.
Many of the founders also made comments about how it was necessary that the people remain strong in Christian morality. Many of them were shocked to visit Europe and find how rampant crime was, which necessitated harsh tactic by government to crack down on crime. They contrasted this with the American system where almost everyone willingly obeyed the law and worked together cooperatively to build the society. They tended to credit the good Christian morals of the people for making this possible.
That said, the founders for the most part did not believe that government could enforce such morals through passage of laws based on Christian moral principles. Rather, they believed it was the role of the churches and their leaders to instill these principles in the people so that they would voluntarily act as good Christians to one another.
