...
By James Bickerton
News Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A number of prominent historians have hit out at House Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene following an X post in which she falsely claimed six key figures from American history had signed the 1776 Declaration of Independence, with one branding her statement "moronic."
On July 5 the Georgia Republican posted: "The average age of the signers of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 was 44 years old, but more than a dozen were 35 or younger: Thomas Jefferson: 33, John Hancock: 39, James Madison: 25, Alexander Hamilton: 21, James Monroe: 18, Aaron Burr: 20, Paul Revere: 41, George Washington: 44."
However a community note was soon attached to Greene's post by other X users, pointing out that of those she listed only Jefferson and Hancock were among the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress who actually signed the document.
Read More on U.S.
When asked for his reaction to Greene's post by Newsweek, Professor William Deverell, a historian who teaches at the University of Southern California, commented: "What it suggests to me is that Rep. Greene and staff are more interested in trying to score political points in the social media typhoon than taking fifteen seconds to fact check their assertions."
Professor Eliga Gould from the University of New Hampshire, author of Among the Powers of the Earth: The American Revolution and the Making of a New World Empire, made a similar point saying: "Everyone makes mistakes. I know I do. But it matters how you make them and where. If you go to the trouble of looking up the age in 1776 of the founders in your post, and if you know thousands of followers will read and believe what you write, you should probably get your facts straight."
Professor Christopher Capozzola, a historian who teaches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, likewise commented: "History has always been about more than just memorizing names and dates. But getting the facts right does matter, not just on Jeopardy! but in our democracy. Americans won't be able to learn the lessons of the past unless we base our conclusions on an accurate historical record."
Particularly blunt criticism was leveled by Professor Jack Rakove from Stanford University, author of 2010 book A New History of the Invention of America, who told Newsweek Greene's remarks were "moronic."
Referring to the Georgia congresswomen he added: "The woman is an idiot, a complete and utter publicity hound, and no one takes her seriously, outside MAGA world."
...
However, Professor Emeritus James Farrell, who used to teach at the University of New Hampshire, suggested nearly all members of Congress would struggle to name "more than a handful" of those who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Addressing Newsweek he said: "I'm sure that Congresswoman Greene meant to say something about the ages of the Founding Fathers but made a mistake in identifying them all as signers of the Declaration. I don't think it's a big deal. At least those she identified were, in fact, important figures of the Founding era. It's hardly a disqualifying error.
"I would venture to guess that very few members of the U.S. Congress today could correctly identify more than a handful of the 56 signers of the Declaration if queried about it. It would be good for the nation if ALL members of Congress from both parties had an intimate familiarity with not only the names, but also the writing, deeds, and political philosophy of all the chief members of the Founding Generation—Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, but also Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton, William Whipple (the New Hampshire signers), and also Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren."
Farrell concluded: "I think this is an opportunity for MTG's political opponents to give some back for all the (long-delayed) media attention on the president's evident mental decline. While MTG made an embarrassing error in calling Paul Revere, James Madison, et al. Declaration signers, that hardly compares to the unceasing flow of flubs from the White House gaffe machine, now in total damage control mode."
When approached by Newsweek for comment a spokesperson for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said: "You are pathetic and won't be winning any Pulitzers in the future."
Greene is facing a challenge in November from Democrat Shawn Harris, a 40-year military veteran who told Newsweek he believes he can pull off a surprise victory in Georgia's 14th congressional district via support from moderate Republican and female voters.
On July 1 Greene accompanied Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's former White House chief strategist, as he reported to prison in Connecticut after being found guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines