Neo-Nazi Theory (American founding fathers)
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Over the past few decades, neo-Nazi groups in the United States and elsewhere have floated rumors that the founders of the United States held anti-Semitic views. Recent years have seen even wider distribution of such statements, through the Internet. [1]
[edit] George Washington
A number of anti-Semitic groups have promoted a forged "quote" supposedly written by George Washington. Historians have debunked this quote as a forgery [2].
In fact, in 1790 Washington sent a letter to the Jewish community in Rhode Island, writing that he envisioned a country "which gives bigotry no sanction ... persecution no assistance". For the first time in history, Jews lived in a country where they enjoyed full and equal human and political rights - as a birthright of citizenship [3].
[edit] Benjamin Franklin
- See also: The Franklin Prophecy
A similar allegation regarding Benjamin Franklin has also been thoroughly discredited. [4] He was a patron of the first synagogue in America.
