America: The Roman Connection

During the American Revolutionary War in the awful winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, Gen. George Washington defied the wishes of Congress by ordering Joseph Addison’s play, “Cato: A Tragedy,” and performing for his bedraggled troops. Fearing that its sad conclusion would demoralize the men (Cato took his own life rather than submit to rule by Julius Caesar), Congress had forbidden it, but Washington reckoned otherwise. He knew that Cato’s principled resistance and ultimate sacrifice would inspire the troops, and indeed they did.

America’s Founders knew the history of classical Rome, probably better than any subsequent American generation. The men who produced America’s Constitution just 10 years after Valley Forge were profoundly influenced by the lessons of the Roman experience.

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