6 The Founding Virtues
The American project has historically relied on four important virtues: industriousness, honesty, marriage, and religiosity. These qualities have been essential in shaping American society and its government, especially from 1960 to 2010.
In 1825, Francis Grund, a German who settled in Philadelphia, wrote about America and stressed that the success of the American Constitution depended on the moral character of its citizens. He believed that if people changed their habits and values, the Constitution would not work as intended. Although some European visitors criticized American behaviors like hygiene and eating habits, they also recognized that virtue was vital for a functioning democracy. The founders knew that personal virtue was crucial for the nation. Without it, even the best government systems could not ensure freedom and happiness.
The Constitution allowed Americans a lot of freedom. This sparked the idea that people had to be responsible and moral, not just rely on rules or laws. Benjamin Franklin noted that only virtuous people could maintain freedom, connecting hard work and morality to the success of government. Similarly, Patrick Henry insisted that good citizenship depended on justice, moderation, and virtue. George Washington pointed out that without virtue or morality, the principles of government could easily fall apart.
While some Europeans thought American manners were crude, many noticed that Americans generally had strong ethical standards compared to those in Europe. Historian Henry Adams highlighted how American behavior was rooted in ethics, even if it sometimes appeared rough. European thinkers like Tocqueville also commented on the stricter moral codes in America.
Different writers from various times have discussed the idea of virtue, agreeing on four main points: industriousness and honesty as personal virtues, and marriage and religiosity as institutions that support good behavior. Across generations, these four traits were seen as essential for America's success and survival.
Industriousness was viewed as a key aspect of America's identity. It meant not only working hard but also striving to improve one's own life and the lives of future generations. Grund noted that Americans found happiness through work. While some visitors criticized Americans for being too focused on making money, they recognized that this desire for industriousness helped people improve their lives and their children's futures.
Honesty was another crucial virtue for making the limited government work. The founders believed that for society to function well, citizens needed to be trustworthy. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington emphasized the importance of honesty, suggesting that it was necessary for a free society. They thought Americans were generally more honest than Europeans. Early crime statistics from Massachusetts indicated low theft rates, showing a society that respected the law. Although some incidents of violence were noted, especially on the frontier, Americans typically viewed crime as a shared concern, reinforcing a collective responsibility to uphold the law.
Marriage was seen as foundational to society. The founders believed that strong marriages were essential for creating moral citizens. John Adams argued that a solid home life contributed to the moral development of children. Visitors from Europe agreed, often observing that American marriages appeared to be healthier and more stable than those in Europe. There was a strong belief that American marriages were based on love and mutual respect rather than economic agreements. This view reinforced the idea that marriage played a critical role in promoting moral behavior throughout society.
Despite some instances of infidelity among the founders, many of them had strong and lasting marriages that demonstrated American values of commitment and partnership. Even when exceptions occurred, such as Alexander Hamilton's known affair, the overall perception of marriage in America was that it was stronger than in Europe. Factors like the absence of arranged marriages meant that individuals often had more freedom to choose their partners, impacting their education and upbringing positively.
Religiosity was another important aspect in the founders' vision for America. Even though many Enlightenment thinkers among the founders had different religious beliefs, they all recognized that religion was necessary for maintaining moral standards. George Washington made clear that morality and religion were vital for the republic's well-being. Thomas Jefferson argued that the liberty of the nation was founded on the belief that rights were given by God, highlighting the importance of religion in governance and social responsibility.
Throughout American history, the connection between virtue and government has been noted by various observers. Tocqueville famously remarked that while Americans had personal freedoms, religion played a significant role in guiding their moral actions. The close link between Christianity and freedom in the minds of Americans created a unique perspective where both concepts were seen as interconnected. Overall, the founding virtues of industriousness, honesty, marriage, and religiosity served as essential building blocks for the success of the American experiment in self-governance and community well-being. Each virtue not only defined the early American character but also helped maintain the moral foundation that supported the American republic.
Since the 1830s
From the 1830s until the mid-20th century, four founding virtues were taught in American schools as a means of socializing children. The primary tool for this was the McGuffey Readers, a popular series of reading textbooks used in elementary schools, which helped shape a shared understanding of being a good American. These Readers included many readings that exemplified these virtues and were widely recognized across different social classes.
Despite modern perceptions that the McGuffey Readers were outdated, they often showcased women as strong and highlighted the humanity of American Indians without negative stereotypes. Additionally, the teachings emphasized kindness, and they included religious teachings from various faiths without endorsing a particular doctrine. However, the Readers notably lacked references to African Americans, likely due to concerns about acceptance in Southern schools.
By the mid-20th century, the focus on instilling a specific set of virtues in schools began to wane, and the Readers were phased out. Although America still promoted the idea of opportunity and freedom, the belief that a good American had to act in particular ways faded. Nevertheless, the founding virtues are seen as essential for America's continued success, suggesting that virtue in citizens is still vital for the nation's exceptionalism today.
The American project has historically relied on four important virtues: industriousness, honesty, marriage, and religiosity. These qualities have been essential in shaping American society and its government, especially from 1960 to 2010.
In 1825, Francis Grund, a German who settled in Philadelphia, wrote about America and stressed that the success of the American Constitution depended on the moral character of its citizens. He believed that if people changed their habits and values, the Constitution would not work as intended. Although some European visitors criticized American behaviors like hygiene and eating habits, they also recognized that virtue was vital for a functioning democracy. The founders knew that personal virtue was crucial for the nation. Without it, even the best government systems could not ensure freedom and happiness.
The Constitution allowed Americans a lot of freedom. This sparked the idea that people had to be responsible and moral, not just rely on rules or laws. Benjamin Franklin noted that only virtuous people could maintain freedom, connecting hard work and morality to the success of government. Similarly, Patrick Henry insisted that good citizenship depended on justice, moderation, and virtue. George Washington pointed out that without virtue or morality, the principles of government could easily fall apart.
While some Europeans thought American manners were crude, many noticed that Americans generally had strong ethical standards compared to those in Europe. Historian Henry Adams highlighted how American behavior was rooted in ethics, even if it sometimes appeared rough. European thinkers like Tocqueville also commented on the stricter moral codes in America.
Different writers from various times have discussed the idea of virtue, agreeing on four main points: industriousness and honesty as personal virtues, and marriage and religiosity as institutions that support good behavior. Across generations, these four traits were seen as essential for America's success and survival.
Industriousness was viewed as a key aspect of America's identity. It meant not only working hard but also striving to improve one's own life and the lives of future generations. Grund noted that Americans found happiness through work. While some visitors criticized Americans for being too focused on making money, they recognized that this desire for industriousness helped people improve their lives and their children's futures.
Honesty was another crucial virtue for making the limited government work. The founders believed that for society to function well, citizens needed to be trustworthy. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington emphasized the importance of honesty, suggesting that it was necessary for a free society. They thought Americans were generally more honest than Europeans. Early crime statistics from Massachusetts indicated low theft rates, showing a society that respected the law. Although some incidents of violence were noted, especially on the frontier, Americans typically viewed crime as a shared concern, reinforcing a collective responsibility to uphold the law.
Marriage was seen as foundational to society. The founders believed that strong marriages were essential for creating moral citizens. John Adams argued that a solid home life contributed to the moral development of children. Visitors from Europe agreed, often observing that American marriages appeared to be healthier and more stable than those in Europe. There was a strong belief that American marriages were based on love and mutual respect rather than economic agreements. This view reinforced the idea that marriage played a critical role in promoting moral behavior throughout society.
Despite some instances of infidelity among the founders, many of them had strong and lasting marriages that demonstrated American values of commitment and partnership. Even when exceptions occurred, such as Alexander Hamilton's known affair, the overall perception of marriage in America was that it was stronger than in Europe. Factors like the absence of arranged marriages meant that individuals often had more freedom to choose their partners, impacting their education and upbringing positively.
Religiosity was another important aspect in the founders' vision for America. Even though many Enlightenment thinkers among the founders had different religious beliefs, they all recognized that religion was necessary for maintaining moral standards. George Washington made clear that morality and religion were vital for the republic's well-being. Thomas Jefferson argued that the liberty of the nation was founded on the belief that rights were given by God, highlighting the importance of religion in governance and social responsibility.
Throughout American history, the connection between virtue and government has been noted by various observers. Tocqueville famously remarked that while Americans had personal freedoms, religion played a significant role in guiding their moral actions. The close link between Christianity and freedom in the minds of Americans created a unique perspective where both concepts were seen as interconnected. Overall, the founding virtues of industriousness, honesty, marriage, and religiosity served as essential building blocks for the success of the American experiment in self-governance and community well-being. Each virtue not only defined the early American character but also helped maintain the moral foundation that supported the American republic.
Since the 1830s
From the 1830s until the mid-20th century, four founding virtues were taught in American schools as a means of socializing children. The primary tool for this was the McGuffey Readers, a popular series of reading textbooks used in elementary schools, which helped shape a shared understanding of being a good American. These Readers included many readings that exemplified these virtues and were widely recognized across different social classes.
Despite modern perceptions that the McGuffey Readers were outdated, they often showcased women as strong and highlighted the humanity of American Indians without negative stereotypes. Additionally, the teachings emphasized kindness, and they included religious teachings from various faiths without endorsing a particular doctrine. However, the Readers notably lacked references to African Americans, likely due to concerns about acceptance in Southern schools.
By the mid-20th century, the focus on instilling a specific set of virtues in schools began to wane, and the Readers were phased out. Although America still promoted the idea of opportunity and freedom, the belief that a good American had to act in particular ways faded. Nevertheless, the founding virtues are seen as essential for America's continued success, suggesting that virtue in citizens is still vital for the nation's exceptionalism today.