Pizza With The Founding Fathers

Dear Readers, I have invited the Founding Fathers into our modern time to take them to my favorite restaurant, Mellow Mushroom.  I will buy them a Coke, a cheese pizza, and a brownie dessert.  While we eat, I will ask them these questions:

1. President Washington, you owned hundreds of slaves and your views about slavery changed throughout your life, ending with you giving your slaves their freedom upon your wife's death. What made you change your mind about slavery?
2. Do you think you still would have freed your slaves if you had not fought in the war and seen the African Americans fighting for their country alongside you?
3. President Washington, you are known as one of the greatest leaders in history. You took a makeshift army and won a war against the most powerful country on Earth. What qualities do you think make a good leader?

1. President Adams, I admire you for not owning slaves during a time when in was common and accepted. Why did you chose not to own slaves?

2. You were the last of the Founding Fathers, who are here at Mellow Mushroom with me, to die. It is reported that you said on your deathbed that, "Jefferson still lives." But actually, he died several hours earlier than you on the same day, July 4. Are you surprised to find out you were the last one standing? How do you feel about it?
3. President Adams, people wrote bad things about you during your Presidency. Your close friend and Vice President, Thomas Jefferson, is reported to have instigated some of the slander. How did this make you feel? How were you able to forgive President Jefferson?

1. President Jefferson, what were your inspirations to write the Declaration of Independence?

2. Why did you say slavery was wrong, but you still owned slaves?

3. President Jefferson, I like to read books just like you liked to read books when you were alive. If you could recommend three books to a boy my age, what would they be?

1. Mr. Franklin, what was your favorite quote from Poor Richards Almanack? My favorite one is, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."
2. Mr. Franklin, you had many jobs during your life - scientist, inventor, printer, writer, politician, ambassador, revolutionary, post master, and others. Which one was your favorite job and why?
3. Mr. Franklin, you spent many years as an ambassador to France for the colonies, helping us to gain France as an ally and win the war. What was your favorite thing to do as an ambassador in France?
4. May I ask you an extra question? I also admire you for choosing to stand up against slavery. What do you think are the long-lasting consequences of slavery in America?


My assignment was to write three questions for each Founding Father that both informed and inquired. This was extremely difficult for me! But, in the end, I would love to sit down with these Founding Fathers, eat good pizza, and ask them these questions.

Peace Out -
Ollie, Mom, George, John, Tom, and Ben