Report on Finding America's Founding

How much do you know about America? Do you know what America stands for? If you had to guess, between legal immigrants and American citizens, which group would have a greater than 90% passing rate of the citizenship/naturalization test and which would result in only one in every three persons passing? And do you also think two of the men in the above image look like Benjamin Franklin (I guess ChatGPT thinks John Adams and Ben Franklin looked very much alike)? Or do you know what Benjamin Franklin or John Adams, or both, look like?

To save some from Googling the third aforementioned question, the answer  is American citizens are more likely to fail a test about America than legal immigrants. Meaning, the answer to the first two questions may actually be disturbing. 

Though one can argue this somewhat makes sense purely from the extent that those studying for the ACT/SAT test are more likely to receive a passing score than those who are no longer in school (or even those who are already attending a university but no longer concern themselves with ACT/SAT subject matter), this is a wide discrepancy and can be concerning when voting comes around and some proclaim they know the principles of the United States. When in fact, many cannot identify states that were part of the original 13 colonies; they cannot discern one thing that Benjamin Franklin was known for; or they cannot explain why colonists declared independence against Great Britain.

Even this can make sense, arguably more sense, as well. As time has progressed, especially in the 20th and 21st century, many American leaders and policies have skewed away from the principles espoused by the Framers. Moreover, many either do not know much about America's founding or they choose to revise history in a manner that tarnishes accomplishments, often utilizing what is known as presentism - judging the past using present-day attitudes and ignoring context. 

And yet, America's founding, and the principles associated with such, transcend time. The founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, have influenced numerous sovereign nations since 1776. But what do they say? What were these principles? What does America stand for?

What would normally cost anywhere from $15-to-30, the answers to these questions are provided in this complimentary report. The principles and ideals that America stands for - or in other words, what America's Founding Fathers (as well as Abraham Lincoln) stood for and what they intended the American government to be - or not be - and represent is laid out and explained in simple terms. Particular Founding Fathers who are under the microscope are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, utilizing quotes from each of them, including letters, speeches, and research from biographies, so as to not mince words. Since Abraham Lincoln helped keep the Union together, and did such while strictly adhering to the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, he is mentioned throughout as an "Honorary Founding Father." 

This report is meant to compliment my memoir, Finding Reagan, as excerpts are included and topics are expanded upon. One would be hard-pressed to find a president that liked to allude to the Founders as much as President Ronald Reagan, so it is only natural that one aims to help readers find our founding and explain our founding principles. Moreover, as demonstrated by the citizenship test statistics and the overall political climate of 21st century America, understanding America, our founding, and our values is essential.

Perhaps unity and patriotism may be enhanced once reading has been completed, with readers going forward linked arm-in-arm with American flags on their hats and in their hearts, looking to preserve America rather than diminish her before it's too late. And who knows, maybe you will walk away after reading with more knowledge about America than the tens-of-millions of legal immigrants who have to study about her for a test, and maybe you can join the tens-of-millions more of Americans who would pass a citizenship test.

(Last updated report on October 5, 2025)