Saturdays are for DuBois

Hamilton/Paine:

Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Paine are the two most influential and important founding fathers. Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet “Common Sense” that was the first real advocacy for American Independence. In 1776 he sold over 150,000 copies which is a true testament to the power his words carried. Paine ignited the fire for America of which Hamilton fanned. After the Revolutionary war was won, Hamilton was a strong advocate for the ratification of the American Constitution, a large shift from the soft and ineffective Articles of Confederation. He penned 51 out of the 85 of the Federalist Papers (a collection of essays promoting the ratification of the constitution) whereas James Madison and John Jay combined only wrote 34. These papers ensured the ratification of the constitution, and couldn’t have been done without Hamilton. During Washington’s presidency, Hamilton served as the Treasury Secretary, and played an enormous role in the stabilization of the economy. His objective was to establish a steady currency based on gold and to pay the war debt. This was accomplished by assuming all debts so that people paid money to buy bonds in the government. So, his plan worked two fold: the debts were paid, and faith was restored in government. Lastly, he believed in the eradication of slavery. He was disgusted with the institution, and formed the New York Manumission Society, an organization dedicated to abolishing slavery in New York and instrumental in doing so.

DuBois:

In 1895, he became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Du Bois wrote extensively and was the best known spokesperson for African-American rights during the first half of the 20th century. He co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.) in 1909. Du Bois published his landmark study — the first case study of an African-American community — The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study (1899), marking the beginning of his expansive writing career. In the study, he coined the phrase "the talented tenth," a term that describes the likelihood of one in 10 black men becoming leaders of their race. He very publicly opposed Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Compromise," an agreement that asserted that vocational education for blacks was more valuable to them than social advantages like higher education or political office. Du Bois criticized Washington for not demanding equality for African Americans, as granted by the 14th Amendment. Du Bois fought what he believed was an inferior strategy, subsequently becoming a spokesperson for full and equal rights in every realm of a person's life.

Sanger:

Margaret Sanger is widely regarded as the founder of the modern birth control movement, and was ranked 51st in The Atlantic’s 100 most influential Americans. In 1916, she opened the first birth control clinic in the United States. Five years later, she founded the American Birth Control League, which would later become the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She formed the National Committee on Federal Legislation for Birth Control in 1929, which served as the focal point of her lobbying efforts to legalize contraception in the United States. And, from 1952 to 1959, Sanger served as president of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. For all of these accomplishments, she has been championed as a woman’s rights hero, and her influence can be seen in the strength of the modern day birth control movement.

T. Roosevelt:

Theodore Roosevelt was a driving Republican after the turn of the century; he was a proponent of fairness and reform and pushed the Progressive era forward. He acted as Vice President until William Mckinley was assassinated in 1901, where Roosevelt then took office until 1909. He established his ‘Square Deal’, which called for breaking trusts, pure food and drugs, regulations of railroads, and equity for the average citizen. Roosevelt followed his promise of conservation by naming several national parks, forests, and monuments with the intention of preservation of the nation’s natural resources. With his successful solution-making and peace-handling skills to bring about an end to the Russo-Japanese War, Roosevelt was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. His memorable years as president placed his face permanently into the rocks of Mount Rushmore next to Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln.

Lee/Schwarzkopf:

Robert E. Lee (1807-70) served as a military officer in the U.S. Army, a West Point commandant and the legendary general of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War (1861-65). In June 1861, Lee assumed command of the Army of Northern Virginia, which he would lead for the rest of the war. Lee and his army achieved great success during the Peninsula Campaign and at Second Bull Run (Manassas) and Fredericksburg, with his greatest victory coming in the bloody Battle of Chancellorsville. Lee has been praised by many for his tactical brilliance, and remains a revered figure in the American South. He was also considered to be the greatest general of the Civil War by both the north and south. Also only one battle was lost under his direct command (Gettysburg) and he won the battle of Antietam with a confederate army half the size of the Union one. Schwarzkopf graduated from West Point and fought in the Vietnam War. In 1983, he was made a major general and several years later became a four-star general and commander of the U.S. Central Command. His career included commanding forces in Grenada and the Persian Gulf War. He died in Florida in December 2012.

H. Ford:

While working as an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company in Detroit, Henry Ford (1863-1947) built his first gasoline-powered horseless carriage, the Quadricycle, in the shed behind his home. In 1903, he established the Ford Motor Company, and five years later the company rolled out the first Model T. In order to meet overwhelming demand for the revolutionary vehicle, Ford introduced revolutionary new mass-production methods, including large production plants, the use of standardized, interchangeable parts and, in 1913, the world’s first moving assembly line for cars.

Oppenheimer:

Born in New York City in 1904, physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer served as director of the Los Alamos Laboratory during the development of the atomic bomb. After the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, Oppenheimer was selected to administer a laboratory to carry out the Manhattan Project, the program that developed the first nuclear weapon during World War II. He is often referred to as the "father" of the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer, due to his conscience and regrets over making such horrible weapons of mass destruction, opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb in 1949. This makes him an important figure in American history as he developed the invention that ultimately revolutionized how international politics revolves. The creation of the atomic bomb not only ushered in a period of mass hysteria from the use of atomic diplomacy and the ideas surrounding mutually assured destruction, but is often the viewed as the quintessential piece of technology that distinguishes a nation's power as in the modern day much of international politics is centered around nuclear arms.

E. Whitney:

Eli Whitney, brilliant creator, single handedly revived the southern economy. Separating the cotton seed from the cotton was time consuming, and slowed down production rates, thus handicapping the south’s potential. Whitney fixed this problem with the invention of the cotton gin, which separated the two entities with rapid precision. This increased the south’s cotton output by making it cheaper and faster to produce. Whitney did not rest after this initial success; he was teeming with more ideas and barriers to break. When America was threatened with war by France, he was commissioned to produce 10,000 muskets in 2 years; a feat that had never been accomplished. He achieved the unthinkable with his idea to employ interchangeable parts as a means to speed up production. This standardization of manufacturing gave way to mass production, which Whitney is credited with pioneering.

Rockefeller:

John D. Rockefeller is arguably the wealthiest American of all time. With a peak net worth of $400 billion (adjusted for inflation) in 1913, Rockefeller revolutionized several industries as well as business management and capitalistic tactics. Beginning with a modest partnership in his 20s, Rockefeller and partners began to focus on oil refining. Their company then bought out other oil refineries, ultimately developing a fortune for the partners. Rockefeller himself created the Standard Oil Company, which eventually grew to control 90% of the United States Oil at its peak. Additionally, the Standard Oil Company was the first great American business trust. Rockefeller focused his resources on oil, but also branched into the railroad industry, as the railroads transported the oil. After the Standard Oil Company broke several antitrust laws and was forcefully dismantled into small companies (one day to become well-known names like ExxonMobil and Chevron), stock and investment into the smaller companies increased to become worth more than the original company, boosting Rockefeller into the position of America's first billionaire. After he retired, Rockefeller spent the last 50 years of his life developing modern philanthropy. He created foundations aiding fields of medicine, education, and scientific research. His foundations ultimately eradicated diseases such as hookworm and yellow fever. Rockefeller additionally founded Rockefeller University and University of Chicago, and funded the establishment of Central Philippines University in the Philippines. Rockefeller’s contributions to American business and capitalist systems as well as his influence of targeted philanthropy continue to be apparent today.

Link to Slideshow: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LmG1VQR9P2YvWO7l3nFaU2kA_9j-gBP-CDzwMSUKi4Y/edit#slide=id.g3b55197c08_0_65

Final Argument:

Our superb group of candidates clearly are the best. We shouldn’t have to look any further than our two most influential founding fathers Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Paine. Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” that was the first real advocacy for American Independence, the beginning for what led to the greatest country on all of Earth. In 1776 he sold over 150,000 copies which is a true testament to the power his words carried. After the Revolutionary war was won from Paine’s pen, we got the man Hamilton who was a strong advocate for the ratification of the American Constitution, a large shift from the soft and ineffective Articles of Confederation which created a stronger America. The man also solely stabilized the economy by assuming all debts so that people paid money to buy bonds in the government. Moving onto Dubois he was the I the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University which is no easy task, paving the way for African Americans in the higher education. He co-founded the most impactful organization for African Americans the ,National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (N.A.A.C.P.) in 1909. Dubois was spokesperson for full and equal rights in every realm of a person's life. Then we have Margaret Sanger who founded the American Birth Control League, which would later become the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and one of the most outspoken in her lobbying efforts to legalize contraception in the United States and to give women their reproductive rights. TEDDY ROOSEVELT shouldn’t need and introduction. He established his ‘Square Deal’, which called for breaking trusts, pure food and drugs, regulations of railroads, and equity for the average citizen. How could such a man who did so much good for the common man not be on the list. Now we got military genius Robert E. Lee the legendary general of the Confederate Army considered to be the greatest general of the Civil War by both the north and south. Also only one battle was lost under his direct command (Gettysburg) That is a sick record. Another general Schwarzkopf Fought in the Vietnam War. In 1983, he was made a major general who had amazing success commanding forces in Grenada and the Persian Gulf War.

Now for Henry Ford the man who created the Model T, making cars easily accessible commodity for all Americans, not just the rich what a dude. Then Oppenheimer the father of the atomic bomb, what a genius to be the first to develop that technology that made America the most technologically advanced in the world.

Arms. Eli Whitney, brilliant creator, single handedly revived the southern economy and created unthinkable production with the cotton gin dude actually started the industrial revolution for the south. Oh and last but not least is John D. Rockefeller is arguably the wealthiest American of all time which isn’t easy and kinda awesome.

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