Who are your top 5 Influential Americans?

[jeffdwright2001]

Marc with a C started a thread asking about the most popular American, and I started coming up with a list and realized that my criteria was based on influence rather than popularity.

It was tough to pick just five and there is no way I could get it down to one, but here's the first stab at it (in no particular order).

Note: The ones I've chosen are not necessarily because of a good influence, only one that has made a large impact on the course of our Country or Society.

1. John Adams - both behind the scenes and as President he was influential (if not instrumental) in the direction the country took during it's formative years.

2. George Washington - probably the most popular and yet still underated President we have had. He was the perfect choice for first President. ("His Excellency" is a good book about him without being dry)

3. Martin Luther King Jr. - His presence and work marked a turning point in terms of forcing the country to deal with an issue (no matter what side ideologically they landed on).

4. George W. Bush - he has set the course for our country for at least 2 decades based upon his decision in office. The perceptions that other countries (and even we) have about America have been changing since 9/11. Originally, I had thought this slot would be occupied by Bin Laden, but after consideration, I've decided that it has been the response to the event that has been most influential on the country.

5. Abraham Lincoln - the policies and ideas generated upon his election magnified one of the arguably biggest issues that had been lingering since the country was formed: the balance between State's rights and Federal authority. The political and military choices Lincoln faced and made were some of the toughest that any President has had to deal with as the fate of nation would be determined by the outcome.

I had a lot of names floating around, and I could easily be swayed to swap some names out if there is a good argument made.

Who are your top 5 and why?

[Knowledged_one]

1. Ronald Reagan
2. Jackie Robinson
3. Parents - I know not tradtional famous but they instill a lot in our lives and make us the people who we are
4. Thomas Jefferson
5. Patton - even though he was constantly demoted and stole supplies intended for other troops he still did a lot to help win the war

[A.J.]

To keep it short and sweet:

1. George Washington: For obvious reasons.
2. Thomas Jefferson: Authored the Declaration of Independence. His election marked the peaceful transfer of power between parties. This was tremendously important for the success of the new nation.
3. James Madison: Pretty much for being the author of the Constitution.
4. Abraham Lincoln: Saved the union.
5. Franklin Roosevelt: Rapidly expanded the powers of the Executive Branch. Created the social programs we still have today.

[jeffdwright2001]

John Marshall is probably the one I would have slid in if at all possible. He took the Supreme Court and made it an active viable part of the 3 branch equation that the country was built upon.

His influnce impacted Constitutional interpretation and law which in turn influenced the powers of the Executive and Legislative branches.

[jeffdwright2001]

1. Ronald Reagan
2. Jackie Robinson
3. Parents - I know not tradtional famous but they instill a lot in our lives and make us the people who we are
4. Thomas Jefferson
5. Patton - even though he was constantly demoted and stole supplies intended for other troops he still did a lot to help win the war


I like the idea of Parents, but it's kind of a cheat. It'd been a lot easier for me to have just said Presidents. It would have given me 4 other slots to fill with other folks.

I'm going to make a ruling and say that in a thread on most influential groups or segments of society, parents would be acceptable.

If you can't choose parents, who is your number 3?

Patton brings up an interesting question (at least to me) - who is more influential, the person who does the grunt work (a Patton or Grant) or the one who put them into their position?

With Patton, you can argue that because he broke the rules, he was more influential than his "boss". He was more actively involved in creating the needed change.

[Knowledged_one]

I like the idea of Parents, but it's kind of a cheat. It'd been a lot easier for me to have just said Presidents. It would have given me 4 other slots to fill with other folks.

I'm going to make a ruling and say that in a thread on most influential groups or segments of society, parents would be acceptable.

If you can't choose parents, who is your number 3?

Patton brings up an interesting question (at least to me) - who is more influential, the person who does the grunt work (a Patton or Grant) or the one who put them into their position?

With Patton, you can argue that because he broke the rules, he was more influential than his "boss". He was more actively involved in creating the needed change.

I definetly see your point but like you said as Americans its a bit different as your parents are probably just most influential in your life rather then as an American

Maybe Kennedy for leading us in the space race to get to the moon and withstanding the urge to nuke Russia and not blinking first in the Cuban Missile Crisis

And how about this for a real curveball:

If you grew up in America in the 80's then Hulk Hogan, who told us to say our prayers, take our vitamins, and came out to the song I am a Real American

[Mike Teacher]

Jonas Salk
William Shockley
John Bardeen
Walter Brattain
Bob Wilson

[jeffdwright2001]

Jonas Salk
William Shockley
John Bardeen
Walter Brattain
Bob Wilson

Did Shockley, Bardeen, and Brattain contribute enough individually to be listed on their own, or would you consider them more of a Watson & Crick?

[booster11373]

Thomas Edison

is the only person I havent seen in the above posts who I think belongs there, all the others I agree with

[Crippler]

Most of heavy hitters have already been mentioned, but for your consideration: Ben Franklin.

[Mike Teacher]

Did Shockley, Bardeen, and Brattain contribute enough individually to be listed on their own, or would you consider them more of a Watson & Crick?

True. They were a team, but it said individuals, and still, the transistor, more then anything else, changed modern society more then anything else.

And Bob Wilson should be w/ Penzias, and Sabin w/ Salk, but was Sabin an American?

Cant remember.

[nickeye]

(Einstein became a US citizen)

[Freakshow]

If you grew up in America in the 80's then Hulk Hogan, who told us to say our prayers, take our vitamins, and came out to the song I am a Real American

I drank my milk because of Cal Ripken, but the Hulkster had no effect on me.

[Gvac]

1) Thomas Jefferson

2) George Washington

3) James Madison

4) Elvis Presley

5) Thomas Edison

[Yerdaddy]

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa25/calamityjoe/menudo.jpg

[jeffdwright2001]

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa25/calamityjoe/menudo.jpg

Wouldn't they be top 5 Influential Protectorates as they were from Puerto Rico?