This collection explores the woke sins of our founding fathers. All of the founding fathers of the United States have been canceled, or at least considered for canceling.
Each of the Canceled Fathers is a gif showing the transformation of their reputation through time. This is not meant to judge but show popular perception.
Initially, each is portrayed regally in living color, but, like all deceased, this slowly fades and our perception becomes monochromatic.
Then, after the real person has faded into history, they come under attack. The background begins to show evidence of the characteristic for which they are to be canceled.
After their woke sin has come fully into focus, the Canceled Father is made to wear a mask depicting their hashtag. This is like a muzzle as well as a scarlet letter, silencing them and letting everyone know why.
Finally, the individual fades into a mere ghost, completely overshadowed by their woke sin and cancellation.
In the making of this collection, I learned a lot about the founding fathers, especially the less famous ones. Each is complex, and most seemingly tried hard to better themselves morally. Still, about half of them owned slaves, and many had undeniable negative impacts on the world to counter-balance the positives.
Even those who may have had more negative impact should not be erased from history, however. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a self-made man of many talents. Older than the other founding fathers, he never served public office in the United States. Instead he spent his life exploring philosophy, science, and business.
Known as the “First American,” he shaped much of what we think of as traditional American culture. His hard work and clear thinking paid off well in business, and he founded many successful businesses throughout his career.
An archetypal capitalist, Franklin was put on the $100 bill, and has become a symbol of capitalism. He has been canceled for this, and other things, with statues of him being taken down.
George Washington
George Washington was the first President, and the Commanding General of the armies during the American Revolution. While he wielded great power and influence in politics and civic life, his reputation was undoubtedly forged in the heat of battle.
As General of the armies of the rebellion, his soldiers were untrained volunteers, and they had to find arms and supplies where they could. Perhaps due to this experience, he was a staunch supporter of the right to bear arms, should the need arise for the people to rise up against another tyrannical authority.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the third President. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and a staunch advocate of liberty and state’s rights.
Though he tried to reform and even ban slavery, he owned slaves, and fathered children with one Sally Hemings, a slave on his estate. He has been successfully canceled for this, including calls to “take down the Jefferson Memorial.”
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury. He wrote most of the Federalist Papers, and founded the first two pseudo-central banks.
As fans of the musical Hamilton surely know, he was a ladies man. We need look no further for his sin, since a number of feminist writers have suggested that he (and the musical) had a “problem” with women.
John Adams
John Adams Jr. was the second President. His professional contributions include negotiating the Treaty of Paris (ending the Revolutionary War), and co-authoring the Massachusetts Constitution.
A traditional, religious man, he was descended from Puritans. He attended a Congregationalist church regularly, and credited his success to religion.
Today, his piety would probably be ridiculed. It has become trendy to make fun of, and even abuse religiously conservative people.
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams as an important leader in the American Revolution. Thomas Jefferson called him “truly the Man of the Revolution.”
He was also accused of spreading propaganda, and provoking riots. Putting ideology aside, he may well have fit in with the antifa crowd, if he were alive today.
John Jay
John Jay was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He co-authored The Federalist Papers and advocated for gradual emancipation of all slaves.
Born into a wealthy family, it seems he had an easy time navigating the circuits of power. He did not accomplish as much as many of the other founders, nonetheless he was given great position and standing. His woke sin, therefore, is the privilege of the rich.
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President. He solidified and expanded the United States, negotiating then facilitating settlement of the gigantic Louisiana Purchase.
This era of expansion coincided with massive environmental degradation, such as deforestation. Few men have had such huge impact on the environment.
George Mason
George Mason was Squire of Gunston Hall, and one of the main authors of The Bill of Rights.
Though he publicly advocated for individual rights and liberty, he spent most of his life as the conservative Squire of a slave-run plantation. It is hard to not view this as hypocrisy, tarnishing his statements on human rights.
John Marshall
John Marshall was the fourth, and longest serving, Chief Justice. He shaped the Supreme Court and many important issues such as the relations between the state and federal governments.
He also made many decisions which could be called corrupt, allowing the Yazoo land scandal and denying various rights to the Native Americans. Though he called slavery “evil,” and represented slaves pro-bono, he was also a slave owner. This most famous of Justices had a very different concept from today’s Social Justice.
James Madison
James Madison was the fourth President. He co-wrote both The Bill of Rights, and The Federalist Papers.
A strong and proud executive, he was certainly nationalistic. He consistently advocated for a strong federal government, and seized 23 million acres of Native American land.
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an influential speaker and political leader, even though his highest office was Governor of Virginia.
He is mainly remembered for fiery oratory, and his influence with the common man. Controversial in his own time, and ever since, Henry has been canceled for owning slaves, and his association with white supremacy.
