Protestant Sects

Hamilton
Thomas Paine
Jane Addams
Jackie Robinson
Grant
Henry Clay
William Jennings Bryan
John C. Calhoun
Truman/Wilson
Andrew Carnegie

Alexander Hamilton:

Dubbed as the “Father of American Economics,” Alexander Hamilton is the most influential American to roam the Earth. Although he is widely known for his work as an economist, he was also an avid political scientist and soldier as well. He joined Washington’s military staff in 1777 and commanded a battery of artillery in the extremely important Battle of Yorktown. If the colonists did not defeat Britain here with the help of Hamilton, we might still be under the despotic rule of the British. In the political field, he was a huge advocate for a stronger central government, which has shaped our nation today. As a member of the Continental Congress as well as the Constitutional Convention, he teamed with James Madison to write The Federalist Papers which persuaded many Americans to favor a strong central government. If it was not for Hamilton, our security might still be in danger because of a weak central government. He also influenced the Washington’s administration idea of neutrality toward the French Revolution as well as establishing rapprochement with Britain, ideas that greatly helped our nation’s security at the time. Most notably, Hamilton created a National Bank which stabilized the nation’s currency. He also created an excise tax to generate much needed revenue for the national government as well as the first ever tariff to protect American industries. Hamilton single handedly turned the nation from a weak agrarian economy into an industrial powerhouse If it was not for the financial genius of Hamilton, who knows where our nation’s economy would be today. He also championed the ideas of Assumption (paying all of the state debts) as well as Funding at Par (Federal government paying off its debts at face value with interest) to restore much needed faith in the government. If you can find a more influential American, I will be impressed. Oh wait, you can’t.

Thomas Paine:
Thomas Paine, a very influential figure in American history, was a popular political philosopher and writer. Paine has created many works that helped American society such as “The Age of Reason”, which institutionalized religion, and “Agrarian Justice”, which fought for land reform. However, the most well known work by Paine was his pamphlet, “Common Sense”. This pamphlet was basically the key American independence. It turned society on to the side of the rebels, causing a revolution- the American Revolution. In this revolution, America found it’s independence. Thus, without Thomas Paine’s influential pamphlet, America would not have created the urge to become independent. This pamphlet contained ideas involving the superiority of the republican government, citizen equality, and the significance of the American Revolution. Also, Paine got involved with the political debate caused by the French Revolution. He created a “Rights of Man”, an even more successful document, gave Americans a new view of the republican state. This new vision saw the republican state as a social welfare promoter which supported policies of progressive taxation, retirement benefits, and public employment. The Rights of Man gave way to the relationship between demands for political reform and a social program for the lower classes. Overall, Thomas Paine has filled American with new, inspirational, and moving ideas that have helped form the America we face today.













Jackie Robinson:

Jackie Robinson or the “colored comet” broke down the barriers of race through his influential baseball career and life as a working man after. He began his athletic career at an early age in high school and getting a scholarship at UCLA. He participated in track and field breaking many school records as well as baseball and football. He played among white players and began the desegregation in competitive sports. During college, Robinson served his country in WWII and fought bravely along with other African Americans. He returned back from war to play baseball in the Negro leagues. These were competitive African American leagues segregated from the popular white MLB league. Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in MLB as a second basemen for Broooklyn Dodgers. He faced oppression from all whites until one game against the Phillies where he was called a nigger and told to go back to the cotton fields. This united the Dodgers team and they protected Robinson as they began seeing him as a human being. Robinson helped advance the Civil Rights movement ending athletic segregation and gaining respect from whites. His baseball career was extremely successful winning rookie of the year in 1947 and MVP 1949. His achievements defied the color barrier in baseball and gave hope to all African Americans. His baseball number 42 is retired in the MLB and worn by every player on April 15 in honor for his perseverance through the racist system he endured. Jackie Robinson’s movement began a surge of African American pride and a demand for rights. After his athletic career, Robinson continued to deny racial barriers as he became the first black analyst on ABC and in the 1960s helped establish Freedom national bank for blacks in NY. He continued to give support in 1970 when Robinson established the Jackie Robinson Construction Company to build housing for low-income families. His impact was enormous bringing hope and new feeling of pride among African Americans. Robinson stated, “I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.”

Jane Addams:

The most influential woman in American history, Jane Addams is widely known for her influence on the lives of many minority groups including immigrants, women, and the poor, rejecting marriage and motherhood in favor of a lifetime commitment to the poor and social reform. Upon moving to Chicago, Addams established the Hull House which was a model for settlement work among the poor. It attracted male and female workers to social service, which was largely unseen at the time. In the Hull House, she eased immigrants’ and women's transitions to the American lifestyle by providing various services to them including learning how to speak read and write English, child care, and jobs within the settlement house. Seeing much needed development in Chicago, Addams establishing a nursery, dispensary, kindergarten, playground, gymnasium, and cooperative housing for young working women. She also saw much needed change in the city as she and other Hull House residents sponsored legislation to abolish child labor, establish juvenile courts, limit the hours of working women, recognize labor unions, make school attendance compulsory, and ensure safe working conditions in factories. The Progressive party adopted many of these reforms as part of its platform in 1912. If it wasn’t for Addams, would the Progressive party have ever existed? Would he Americans enjoy some the rights they enjoy today? I think not. She also served as a campaign leader for Theodore Roosevelt’s election in 1912, serving as a role model for other women. Later during World War One, she almost persuaded Woodrow Wilson to end the war to prevent future hostilities. Has a woman ever had this much influence in American society? After the armistice she helped found the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, serving as president from 1919 until her death in 1935. Her role as the most influential woman in American history was recognized in 1931 when she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her role in advocating for social peace during World War One.

Woodrow Wilson:

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something." -Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of this great nation, is known for his humanitarian efforts and his world vision. Woodrow Wilson is known for his far reaching progressive reforms. In terms of reforms, only FDR surpasses him. Wilson’s reforms, however are more remarkable than FDR’s because they came while the nation was stable, rather during a period of economic crisis. Continuing on Taft and the T. Roosevelt’s legacy, Wilson fought for the common man. Unlike his predecessors however, he established the Federal Trade Commission an independent government organization to enforce antitrust legislation. 1914, he pushed the Clayton anti-trust act through congress, which was the most comprehensive and furthest reaching anti-trust legislation to date. He established the federal reserve system, to weaken the immense influence of powerful; New York banks. While World War One raged on, Wilson kept the United states out of the conflict for as long as he reasonably could, until he could no longer tolerate German aggression. As WWI came to a close, Wilson pushed forward his “Fourteen points,” which outlined how world order should be restored following the war to end all wars. The points were based upon principles of free-trade, self-determination and open agreements. Wilson’s last point was a “League of Nations,” which he envisioned would end the need for wars. Unfortunately, European hatred of the Germans resulted in a treaty that lacked Wilson’s forgiving yet firm touch. Although the League of Nations itself was not a success, as Republican senators vetoed the U.S. membership, the United Nations was a huge success and was based most entirely off of Wilson’s vision for the future.

Harry Truman:

“If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen”

Harry S. Truman rose to power after the unfortunate demise of his predecessor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Good ol’ Harry is known as a hardworking and dependable man. The son of farmers, Truman is the most recent president to not have attended college. After a solid but unremarkable career as an officer in the military, Truman became a county judge. Truman began his national political career in 1935, when he ran as a democrat to be a U.S. senator from Missouri. To everyone’s surprise, he won by a solid 20% margin. As a senator, Truman proved himself worthy of national attention through his activities in the Committee on Military Affairs, which eventually became known as the “Truman Committee.” The Committee looked into government abuses as the nation prepared for war. In 1944 Truman was elected Vice President because the previous Vice President was considered too liberal to run the country in case of Roosevelt’s death. Roosevelt died soon after the election and Truman was sworn in April 12, 1945. Perhaps the most defining moment of Truman’s career came early in his career when he authorized the atomic bombing of Japan. While there is considerable moral debate about whether Truman made the right decision, it is undeniable that the dropping of the bombs forever changed the world. Truman is also known for his Truman Doctrine which supported soviet containment, and arguably began what is now known as the cold war. Despite a lackluster economy and extraordinarily low approval ratings Truman won re-election. Truman made tough decisions, and was not afraid of disapproval. In 1951 he fired General MacArthur because he did not want to start a full on war with the Soviet Union. Truman effectively began the civil rights movement. in 1948 he desegregated the Military and made discrimination is civil service positions illegal.


Ulysses S. Grant:

Ulysses S. Grant was one of the most influential commanders in the Civil War. He graduated from West Point as a somewhat undistinguished student and after fighting in the Mexican American War he would return home to start his family. His real influential years would not come until the start of the Civil War, when he was made a colonel of the 21st Illinois volunteers and then later a brigadier general. At one point following the capture of Fort Donelson in Tennessee, Grant stated in reply to a question about the terms of surrender, “No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted.” By 1863 Grant had made a name for himself as a determined leader and was appointed lieutenant general in 1864, giving him command of all U.S. armies. Grant was the leader of many campaigns that ultimately wore down the Confederate army and ultimately ended the Civil War. Grant was a national hero and was even appointed America’s first four-star general. Grant then went on to win the presidential election in 1868 making him then at the age of 46 the youngest U.S. president-elect in U.S. history at the time. During his presidency he worked to create a peaceful reconciliation between the North and the South. He attempted to protect the civil rights of former slaves while at the same time supporting pardons for former Confederate leaders. He also signed legislation that was intended to limit the actions of white terrorists groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. He wasn’t just talk though, Grant actually went as far as to station federal troops throughout the South so as to maintain law and order. Grant wasn’t only concerned with civil rights though, he also signed legislation creating the Department of Justice, the Weather Bureau, and America’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park. He also improved foreign policy by negotiating the 1871 Treaty of Washington that resulted in improved relations between the United Kingdom and the United States. Ulysses S. Grant made a positive impact in so many areas of government and politics and provided so much aid and leadership for the country in fighting the Civil War. He is obviously an influential person in our history not only as a general but as the 18th U.S. president as well.

Andrew Carnegie:

Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was born on November 25, 1835, in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. Although he had very little education around him, Carnegie grew up in a family that believed in the importance of books and learning. Carnegie soon grew up to become one of the wealthiest businessmen in America. When he was 13 in 1848, Carnegie ventured to the United States with his family. Carnegie then went to work in a factory, earning $1.20 a week. Hoping to advance his career, he moved up to a telegraph operator position in 1851. He then took a job at the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1853. He worked as the assistant and telegrapher to Thomas Scott, one of the railroad's top officials. Through this experience, he learned about the railroad industry and about business in general. Three years later, Carnegie was promoted to superintendent. While working for the railroad, Carnegie began making investments. He left the railroad in 1865 to focus on his other business interests, and by the next decade, most of Carnegie's time was dedicated to the steel industry. His business, which became known as the Carnegie Steel Company, revolutionized steel production in the United States. Carnegie built plants around the country, using technology and methods that made manufacturing steel easier, faster and vastly more productive. For every step of the process, he owned exactly what he needed: the raw materials, ships and railroads for transporting the goods, and even coal fields to fuel the steel furnaces. This "start-to-finish" strategy helped Carnegie transform into the dominant force of the industry and an exceedingly wealthy man. It also made him known as one of America's "builders," as his business helped to fuel the economy and shape the nation into what it is today. By 1889, Carnegie Steel Corporation was the largest of its kind in the world. In the same year, Andrew Carnegie published an essay titled "The Gospel of Wealth". He argued that the accumulation of wealth was beneficial to society and government should take no action to impede it. He believed the rich were trustees of their wealth, holding it until proper public uses could be discovered. Carnegie spent his last few years giving away his vast fortune. One of his many charitable ventures was the funding of more than 2,800 public libraries. He once said, "the man who dies rich dies disgraced."

Henry Clay:

Henry Clay could be considered somewhat of a dark horse in the debate over the most influential American but his guidance for America during their sectional crises, his effective economic plan, and convincing push for war in 1812 make him one of the most significant Americans in history. Henry Clay served his country as a Representative, Senator and Secretary of State for over half a century.  He changed the role of Speaker of the House and transformed it into the influential position it is today.  Clay actively pushed for American participation in the War of 1812 while the country was split on the issue.  The country eventually decided to fight Britain which proved to be an incredible success, thanks to Clay.  America truly became a respected and influential nation around the world and internally, a new sense of nationalism and improved industrialism boomed throughout the country.  Without Clay, America would not have developed its incredible power and influence abroad.  Clay helped encourage his country’s nationalism under his American System.  His progressive system of a strong national bank, protective tariff, and a network of canals and roads became the basis of the American economy.  During his role in the American Legislator, he saved the country multiple times which earned him the name “The Great Compromiser.”  His skills of negotiation and compromise proved invaluable in helping to hold the country together for the first half of the 19th century.  He developed compromises during national crises such as the Missouri Compromise, Nullification Crisis, and Compromise of 1850.  He effectively balanced regional interests and put off the civil war until a time where the nation could survive it.  Without Clay, a civil war could have broken out under an incapable leader and the South may have become a separate nation.  In addition, Clay helped create and become the most powerful leader in the whig party.  However, Clay’s influence did not end after his death in 1852.  He continued to have an effect of many future leaders on the country but especially Abe Lincoln.  Lincoln has been quoted saying that Clay was “my beau ideal of a statesman” that he “almost worshiped Henry Clay.”  Henry Clay’s ideals provided to be valuable guidance for Abe during the civil war.

Clay


William Jennings Bryan:
Although William Jennings Bryan never became president, he still had an enormous influence on the country due to his ushering of America into the progressive movement.  Bryan started his career as a populist leader.  He called for nationalization of the railroads, telegraph, and telephone due to his anti-trust mentality.  In addition, he wanted a graduated income tax.  But most importantly he believed free silver was a save all.  Bryan was a man of the people and he believed the government should also support the people especially following the corruption experienced during the Industrial Age.  Through his passionate speeches, Bryan ran for the presidency as part of the Democratic party in 1896, 1900, and 1908, calling for reform.  His most famous speech, “The Cross of Gold” was a plea for silver that would in turn produce easy money policies and help the forgotten man of America.  However, Bryan lost this election because America was not yet ready for a progressive movement.  Finally, Theodore Roosevelt was elected who extended the ideals of Bryan and lead the nation in a crusade to help the common man.  Political Progressivism reformed the corrupt voting process through initiative, referendum, recall, and the secret ballot.  Roosevelt, Truman, and Taft all curbed the power of monopolies through their anti-trust policies.  The 17th amendment gave women the power to vote.  Wilson appointed Bryan secretary of State in 1913.  The Clayton Antitrust Act and Adamson Act represented Bryan’s ideology and were enacted under the Wilson regime. These progressive acts and achievements could not have been possible without the start of the movement from Bryan.  The common man, especially farmers and industrial workers, owe their improved conditions to Mr. Bryan.








John C. Calhoun:
A South Carolinian and sectionalist, John C. Calhoun was one of America’s most famous political theorists. During his active and influential political life, Calhoun served as senator, U.S. secretary of war, vice president, and secretary of state. Calhoun controversially defended the slave plantation system, states’ rights, limited government, nullification and free trade in belief that that was what was needed in order to preserve the union. He penned The South Carolina Exposition, which lead the protests against the “Tariff of Abominations”. As a "war hawk", he agitated in Congress for the War of 1812 to defend American honor against Britain. Near the end of the war, he successfully delayed a vote on US Treasury notes being issued, insightfully arguing that the bill would not pass if the war were to end in the near future; the day of the vote, Congress received word from New York that the war was over. As Secretary of War under President James Monroe, he reorganized and modernized the War Department, building powerful permanent bureaucracies that ran the department, as opposed to patronage appointees and did so while trimming the requested funding each year. Calhoun was responsible establishing the Second Bank of the United States as well as joining with Henry Clay to develop the Compromise Tariff. Calhoun died eleven years before the start of the American Civil War, but he was an inspiration to the secessionists of 1860–61. Calhoun was one of the "Immortal Trio" of Congressional leaders, along with his Congressional colleagues Daniel Webster and Henry Clay.

Works Cited

"Alexander Hamilton." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

"Ashland - The Henry Clay Estate." Ashland The Henry Clay Estate. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June      2015.

"The Atlantic." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

"Common Sense Quotes." By Thomas Paine. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

"John C. Calhoun." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

"Jackie Robinson." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

Kennedy, David M., and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2013. Print.

"Thomas Paine." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 June 2015.

"Ulysses S. Grant." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 02 June 2015.

Whynot, Wyndham. "African Americans: World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.