The next set of medallions commemorates the ratification of our Constitution and the inauguration of our first president, George Washington. The ratification of the Constitution was not a foregone conclusion. Indeed, the original goal was simply to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates who met in Philadelphia in May of 1787 soon realized the futility of that endeavor. The gathering then morphed into the Constitutional Convention, and the delegates spent four months (with Washington presiding) vigorously debating what this founding document would look like.
If you are interested in learning more about the context in which these discussions were taking place, and the (white) men who were having them, we recommend two great books that offer viewpoints from both of the major factions. The first is The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates, edited by Ralph Ketcham (ISBN 0451625250), and the second is The Federalist Papers In Modern Language, edited by Mary E. Webster (ISBN 0936783214). We have copies in our Foundation library and both of the editors have done an excellent job of organizing these historical documents in a way that provides the reader clear insight into the thought processes of the Framers who participated.
What can we say about George Washington that hasn’t already been said? He was a flawed man with a confounding legacy that forces us to reconcile how a person can devote their entire life to fighting for liberty, while at the same time enslaving his fellow human beings. He was a man of integrity, who refused to be crowned king when the position was offered to him, but probably still told lies during his life (despite the cherry tree myth). As a nation, we owe him a lot for the lives we live every day, even if there are aspects of his life that we can’t respect.
