To properly answer this question, we first have to identify what exactly the founding fathers vision actually was. Now, we obviously can't say for certain, as they lived over two hundred years ago, but we can formulate an educated guess by examining quotes from the founding fathers, their actions, and the constitution itself. Although, even in their quotes, the founding fathers do seem to contradict each other, as well as occasionally themselves. However, amongst the other contradictory and some simply incomprehensible quotes, these three, by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, stand out:
"To take a single step beyond the text would be to take possession of a boundless field of power." - Thomas Jefferson
"The basis of our political systems …show more content…
As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times." - Thomas Jefferson
The first quote identifies one of the unanimous beliefs of the founding fathers as to the relevance and purpose of the Constitution; it was meant to be absolute. The Constitution puts a significant amount of effort into preventing the anyone, in particular the government, from having too much power. But none of that would matter if they took a step beyond the text, or in other words, disregarded the boundaries set out in the …show more content…
In this sense, I think the vision of the founding fathers has only been achieved in part. Certainly, the Constitution helped them into a new era of representation and democracy, and it remains the absolute power today that it was meant to be. However, I think that some of the Founding Fathers might think that the execution of their vision has fallen short when it comes to the alterations. While there have been amendments to the Constitution since the days of the founding fathers, most of them have been about basic things that were not a representation of times changing. In my opinion, after a quick look at all the amendments after the original 10, is that only the 13th, 15th, and 19th seem to be relevant to chaining social values. (side note- the 27th amendment is DEFINITELY not a sign of changing values, because it was proposed 200 years before it was ratified!). I think that the founding fathers might be a little disappointed that there hasn't been more change to the constitution based on technological advances/societal evolution. To use an example from our letters: many people wrote to Thomas Jefferson or George Washington about gun control, and I think that that is one of the areas that the founding fathers would be most disappointed in. What better example is there of how the
"To take a single step beyond the text would be to take possession of a boundless field of power." - Thomas Jefferson
"The basis of our political systems …show more content…
As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times." - Thomas Jefferson
The first quote identifies one of the unanimous beliefs of the founding fathers as to the relevance and purpose of the Constitution; it was meant to be absolute. The Constitution puts a significant amount of effort into preventing the anyone, in particular the government, from having too much power. But none of that would matter if they took a step beyond the text, or in other words, disregarded the boundaries set out in the …show more content…
In this sense, I think the vision of the founding fathers has only been achieved in part. Certainly, the Constitution helped them into a new era of representation and democracy, and it remains the absolute power today that it was meant to be. However, I think that some of the Founding Fathers might think that the execution of their vision has fallen short when it comes to the alterations. While there have been amendments to the Constitution since the days of the founding fathers, most of them have been about basic things that were not a representation of times changing. In my opinion, after a quick look at all the amendments after the original 10, is that only the 13th, 15th, and 19th seem to be relevant to chaining social values. (side note- the 27th amendment is DEFINITELY not a sign of changing values, because it was proposed 200 years before it was ratified!). I think that the founding fathers might be a little disappointed that there hasn't been more change to the constitution based on technological advances/societal evolution. To use an example from our letters: many people wrote to Thomas Jefferson or George Washington about gun control, and I think that that is one of the areas that the founding fathers would be most disappointed in. What better example is there of how the