Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) schooled a Harvard professor on Twitter Friday in a debate over the origins of America.
Joyce Chaplin, a professor of American Studies at Harvard, tweeted about the Paris accord, arguing that since the international community created America, America should give back to the international community.
“The USA, created by int’l community in Treaty of Paris in 1783, betrays int’l community by withdrawing from #parisclimateagreement today,” she wrote.
The USA, created by int’l community in Treaty of Paris in 1783, betrays int’l community by withdrawing from #parisclimateagreement today
— Joyce E. Chaplin (@JoyceChaplin1) June 1, 2017
Cruz, who attended law school at Harvard, slammed the idea that America was created by a treaty, calling it “sad” that a Harvard professor apparently doesn’t know about the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, or the Constitution.
Just sad. Tenured chair at Harvard, doesn’t seem to know how USA was created. Not a treaty. Declaration+Revolutionary War+Constitution=USA. https://t.co/tQALvjdkTs
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 2, 2017
“USA was created by force,” he reminded Chaplin.
Lefty academics @ my alma mater think USA was “created by int’l community.” No–USA created by force, the blood of patriots & We the People. https://t.co/zOxVdj21en
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 2, 2017
Treaty of Paris simply memorialized that fact, of our total victory at Yorktown. Her claim is like saying a plastic globe created the earth. https://t.co/eHDPfmsjIB
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 2, 2017
Chaplin offered a weak response, saying that America couldn’t exist without international recognition.
Sad. US Senator, Harvard Law degree. Doesn’t know that national statehood requires international recognition. https://t.co/gcxtJifWCl
— Joyce E. Chaplin (@JoyceChaplin1) June 2, 2017
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the international community created America, but simply recognized its existence. Many foreign countries respected American independence before the treaty was ever signed.
@tedcruz Joyce, your argument is like saying someone isn’t born until they get issued a birth certificate.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) June 2, 2017
We’re scoring this one for Teddy.