A prominent legal scholar dismantles a progressive congresswoman’s claim that America’s Founders waged war against wealth itself, exposing a dangerous rewriting of history to justify modern socialist policies. Rewriting History to Justify Modern Agendas Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told students at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics that the American Revolution was fought against “the billionaires of their time,” casting the Founders as champions of wealth redistribution. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley challenged this narrative in a Fox News opinion piece, calling it a “socialist myth” that distorts the historical record. The disagreement represents more than academic quibbling; it exposes how politicians manipulate America’s founding story to justify policies that many believe contradict the principles on which the nation was built. The Founders’ Actual Economic Philosophy Historical evidence contradicts Ocasio-Cortez’s characterization of the Founders as anti-wealth revolutionaries. Robert Morris, known as the “Financier of the Revolution,” personally funded much of the war effort with a fortune that inflation adjustments estimate would equal billions today. The Founders embraced Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations,” published in 1776, which advocated free markets and individual economic liberty. Alexander Hamilton and other framers incorporated constitutional protections for contracts and property rights, demonstrating their commitment to capitalism rather than collectivism. The Declaration of Independence itself enshrined the pursuit of happiness, a concept rooted in individual prosperity and economic freedom. Economic Factionalism and Property Rights Under Threat Turley argues that Ocasio-Cortez’s rhetoric promotes “economic factionalism,” the very danger James Madison warned against in Federalist Paper No. 10. Madison cautioned that allowing majorities to target minorities based on economic status would undermine republican government and lead to what Turley calls “democratic despotism.” Modern proposals for billionaire taxes in states like California and from federal legislators like Bernie Sanders echo policies that drove capital flight in other nations. France’s 2012-2014 supertax on the wealthy resulted in approximately 60,000 millionaires leaving the country, demonstrating the practical consequences of confiscatory taxation policies that discourage investment and entrepreneurship. The Real Revolution: Individual Liberty Over Collective Control The American Revolution challenged British monarchy’s fusion of government power with aristocratic privilege, not the existence of private wealth itself. Jefferson and Madison opposed concentrated power that prevented ordinary citizens from economic advancement through merit and effort. Turley emphasizes that the Founders “believed in unleashing everyone’s ability to become a Morris,” creating conditions for upward mobility rather than tearing down those who succeeded. This distinction matters because it reveals fundamentally different visions of America: one that rewards initiative and protects property rights versus one that views wealth as inherently suspect and subject to redistribution by government decree. Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts joined Fox News to critique Ocasio-Cortez’s statements, representing business leaders concerned that anti-capitalist rhetoric will shape policy in ways that harm economic growth and job creation. The debate continues as America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, making accurate understanding of founding principles increasingly important. Both conservatives frustrated with socialist overreach and liberals concerned about wealth inequality deserve honest historical analysis rather than politically convenient fiction. When elected officials distort the past to advance present agendas, they undermine the shared understanding of national identity that holds diverse viewpoints together, leaving citizens to wonder whether anyone in Washington prioritizes truth over political advantage. Sources: JONATHAN TURLEY: AOC’s war on billionaires twists America’s birth into a socialist myth – Fox News Opinion Jonathan Turley – jonathanturley.org