What you described in being Ron Paul delegates for the RNC (right candidate 👍) reminds me of a book I read on how the US Constitution was passed, "Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788" by Pauline Maier, except then it happened on a larger scale, and for something far more significant. Basically corrupt shenanigans were used to steamroll acceptance of the Constitution, by the Federalists (who were like the Democrats of their day), which of course they don't teach you in school, and most Americans are likely ignorant of.

Alexander Hamilton and others wrote The Federalist Papers claiming the federal government would be limited in its powers, to get the Constitution to be accepted, but then once in office they did the opposite. A bait and switch, just like so many politicians have done when they are elected...

https://a.co/d/1iLcSOronly 

 Hamilton was the beginning of all that is bad in the Federal government.  He was a smart man (unlike most of our politicians today), but he also had very tyrannical tendencies.  Still, I think he would be appalled with what we have become today (culturally and what our government has become).  As bad as he was, I don't think he would like what we have today. 

 I think you're right. Hamilton probably would be proud that America became a great and powerful empire and that the president is more powerful than the monarch of Great Britain, but he surely would be appalled at what the USA has degenerated to.