The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American

by Andrew L. Seidel

Yet one more purpose was to unite the colonies in the war against Britain. In 1776, the citizens who would come to be known as the American people were divided. Some were committed to independence, some were opposed, and some were wavering despite the convincing arguments in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. King George issued an ultimatum: “The colonies must either submit or triumph.”25 There was no turning back. If Patrick Henry did, in fact, proclaim “give me liberty or give me death,” he was right: the choice was to win or die.26 Or, as Franklin put it: “Join, or Die.” But the people had to be convinced. Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, and other founders were traitors in the eyes of the king. The Declaration essentially put every citizen on the enemies list. As Franklin may have said, “we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”27