In this research paper, I will examine how Greek education, Greek lifestyles, and Roman ideologies apply to understanding the founders of our nation. To create the foundation for American democracy today, our founders utilized their knowledge of the classics to formulate ideas create and create effective communication. Starting from the as young as the age of eight, our founders began Greek classical condition in order to be able to recite pieces of work for college admission (F.1, 2). These pieces of literature included Greek works such from Isocrates, Homer, Xenophon and the Greek New Testament (F. 2). Because grammar masters focused little else besides literature, teachers “required young scholars to display their knowledge of Latin and …show more content…
(F.53). These behaviors can be traced back to our founder’s personal heroes they learned through Greek Mythology (F. 53). More commonly known as our founder’s “models”, they used Greek heroes and the classics to create implicit analogies while also formulating contrasts between “ ancient and contemporary individuals, societies, and governments” (F.53). Athenian heroes such as Thucydides, Xenophon, and most notably Plutarch play key models in analyzing our founders’ behavior and thinking (F.53). Thomas Jefferson once called Samuel Adams “ the Palinurus of the American Revolution”, referencing the Greek Trojan War hero who piloted the Trojan ships to Italy and then drowned after falling overboard (F.55). Jefferson also compared John Adams to that of Themistocles, due to his unwavering support of a strong Navy (F.56). John Adams said in younger days that he’d rather make nothing at all, and spend his final days in a retreat like Xenophon (F. 57). Using Greek heroes as a way of behavior comparison, the Founding fathers were able to clearly and effectively communicate with each other because they all had a thorough understanding of the classics. Because our founding fathers modeled themselves and each other to the lifestyles of Greek mythological heroes, it helps to explain their reasoning, mental processes, and behavioral choices (F. …show more content…
208, 222). In the year 1772, John Adams once said, “The best governments of the world have been mixed. The Republics of Greece, Rome, and Carthage were all mixed governments.” (F. 132). The Roman government achieved the balance of three powers “which served as the basis of the city’s unparalleled stability, prosperity, and growth” (F.136). As the founding fathers were developing ideas for the type of mixed government that was needed in America, many used the Roman Republic as the base to start discussions and it’s the reason why our founders created three branches of government with checks and balances (F.132, 133). Although our founders were “seeking to emulate Sparta and Rome”, they created an entirely new form of government, one that is truly mixed, not by class (F.233). In addition, our founders used Roman ideas regarding how government should be created; they were also greatly influenced by Christianity. During the Roman Empire, Christianity rapidly expanded using the tremendous influence of the Roman Empire. Emperor Constantine used the Christian church as the institution to help unify his empire after he credited his victories to Christ (C. 224). As most of our Founding fathers