Leadership

The required leadership to guide the colonist through a revolution was more than just one man could handle. It was determined by many historically named men, who stood up for their rights and declared their right to freedom. These men had courage, intelligence, and a very large ego. Many were bias and even contradicted each other on the matter of revolution. However, they were able to collaborate in one of the most finest ways in history. There had been many who were part of the revolution, but there were four who stood out in history. According to Joseph Ellis in his novel Founding Brothers, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were those men.

Although when it came to the bias and contradiction, two of those names stand out above of all the others. Adams and Jefferson were complete opposites in the sense that, they disagrees about everything. As Joseph Ellis puts it, "they were an incongruous pair... the Yankee and the cavalier, the orator and the writer, the bulldog and the greyhound..." They were like the first democrat and republican in America. Jefferson being the democrat and Adams the republican; Jefferson is a self contained man whose idea of a debate was that it was a "violation of the natural harmonies," when Adams' idea of a debate was a ruthless argument. They were different, they don't even debate in the same way. So how could it be that two different types of people, within a government, are able to work out many different problems without causing anarchy and loss of the democracy itself? They give some and lose some. It is a matter of giving up one idea for one you think is better. This creates a well balanced government, of which will last for many years to come.

Leadership is something that needs a certain characteristic that one man can not possess. To be a good leader you have to be open to new idea's and not hold on to the power of leadership. To be a good leader you have to accept the reality that you can't be there forever. This quality, although very minuscule has a great effect on the people. When George Washington became president of the United States of America, he knew he wouldn't be there forever. Four years pass and Washington declared his resignation of office. Thus proving that George was not an advocate for his own prosperity.

However, a major characteristic that was needed was the intelligence that one man possessed. Thomas Jefferson was one of the most intelligent of the founding brothers. He had a way with words that no one else could match. Overall, Jefferson had the confidence that he will be remembered. When Jefferson was on his deathbed, he whispered "Jefferson still lives" (Joseph Ellis, Founding Brothers). By this Jefferson's ego sought to tell him that his would be remembered throughout the ages.

As you can see, there were many characteristics that were required for the revolution and one man can not have all those qualities. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson collaborated in a way that no other group of people had before them. They, in times of futile disagreement and war, were able to come to many agreements through contradiction and bias ideas. Though it came to many times were their disagreements may have overcome their need for freedom, they pulled through. They declared their right to be free and have a democratic government; christened The United States of America.