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Apr 24, 2023Liked by William Hogeland

You’re right Bill ; though for the life of me I cannot fathom why intelligent scholars get this wrong - ah, yes, ideology. It’ll get you every time.

No one can compete with me in my admiration, respect and more or less lionization of the Founders. I believe that the Founding was, if not among the 10 most important human achievements ever, then at least among the 10 most important political achievements of all time.

That said, the facts speak for themselves in book after book, articles galore. The Convention was no more abolitionist as the Articles of Confederation were a statement of a strong national state. The choices and compromises made in 1787, the deals with the devil that were made, the acceptance of slavery as a, the price of union are the historical reality and should be honored, recognized and in my opinion celebrated. The ultimate price in bloom was paid for these choices in 1861-65. And, more costs were paid in the loss of the economic dynamism of 100 years of Jim Crow. Those are the facts. They do not in any way take away from the unique, history making event that was the Founding. That is another fact.

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Apr 24, 2023Liked by William Hogeland

That is some bad history!

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Apr 24, 2023Liked by William Hogeland

In the recent Myth America: Historians Take On the Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past, Amar distinguishes himself among the mostly mediocre with an essay chocked full of howlers. It really shouldn't be missed.

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