a that this experiment in republican government would work. It almost didn't, as you'll see if you go on to read about the choppy history under our first government (guided by the Articles of Confederation). They gave it their best shot and they kept trying. As Ben Franklin said, "Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out."
There is no question that these were exceptionally bright people, and that their opinions and thoughts are to be valued by all patriotic Americans. At the same time, such patriotic Americans would do well to remember that the founding of this nation was not so much a perfectly executed display of omniscience as it was a noble goal that managed to gain military victory (with the critical aid of the French) and then enough stability to overcome the hardships that lay in wait. Our Founding Fathers were well read and they had admirable hopes and dreams; but they were human beings, flawed and fallible, with their own sets of contradictions and shortcomings. This is not so much a reason to revere them any less as it is a testament to the fact that what they managed to accomplish should be all the more noteworthy, given that they were human, like the rest of us.