Equivalent_Alps_8321 t1_j12lp48 wrote on December 21, 2022 at 5:13 AM

Hey guys what did the American founding fathers think of Napoleon and his adventures? Just realized I've never read anything about it.

cbk714 t1_j1casnl wrote on December 23, 2022 at 6:10 AM

The founding fathers were split on their views. Thomas Jefferson replaced Franklin as ambassador of France in 1785 and remained there until two months after Bastille Day (1789). He was in favor of a monarchy falling and even helped Lafayette with drafting a new constitution for France.

Washington and Adams, on the other hand, thought it was economic suicide to aid the French. America was is incredible debt at the time. In addition, entering or aiding in the war would make America vulnerable to attack. Only six years had passed since Great Britain recognized America as independent. GB could’ve used the alliance as an excuse to start up another war.

Lastly, the revolution in France turned ugly quickly. The beheadings of any and all aristocrats turned many founding fathers off to the idea of lending a hand.

Dragev_ t1_j1i5499 wrote on December 24, 2022 at 3:33 PM

Wouldn't they also have been affected by the extreme anti-religious trend of the revolutionaries? I don't know much of American history but I've always had the impression the founding fathers were (at least mostly) Christians.

IlanWerblow t1_j1jz491 wrote on December 24, 2022 at 11:40 PM

Many of the founders were actually deists. While they were raised Christian, several of their beliefs were more closely to Deism. That was a theology based on a hands-off version of God and more of a focus on the natural world. Their focus was not as much on the religious side of the French Revolution, but as was stated earlier, the economic or political rights side.