I'm reading These Truths: A History Of The United States by Jill Lepore and am struck by reading a history that emphasizes the rebellion against slavery. There were parallels in not wanting taxation without representation and slavery that many pointed out. If we could have only abolished slavery at the beginning we could have saved ourselves a lot of trouble. I'd say one trait of American history is that we give in to greed quite easily. I thought about setting myself a course of learning about the founders : John Adams First vice president and second president. Benjamin Franklin Author, printer, political theorist, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. Alexander Hamilton Wrote most of the Federalist Papers. Inspired musical Hamilton. John Jay Wrote 5 of the Federalist Papers. First chief justice of the USA. Thomas Jefferson He wrote the Declaration of Independence . Third pre...