The '''Illuminati''' are believed to have been a subversive splinter from [[Freemasonry]], allegedly founded in [[Bavaria]] by [[Adam Weishaupt]] in the 1700s. Their goal was believed to be to take over [[Europe]] (and the rest of the world) and establish a [[one-world government]], while abolishing organized [[religion]]. The Illuminati were said to have been officially disbanded in 1785 by the government of [[Bavaria]], and there is little evidence that they have survived into the modern day.
Some conspiracy theorists think people consider the appearance of the eye atop an unfinished pyramid (the so-called "Eye of Providence"), which appears on the back of the US one-[[dollar (U.S.)|dollar]] bill,<ref>http://www.msana.com/eyeinpyramid.asp</ref> means the [[Founding Fathers]] were Illuminati operatives or sympathizers. HoweverIn fact, amongst them only [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[John Hancock]], [[John Paul Jones]], and [[George Washington]] were Freemasons, <ref>[http://www.watch.pair.com/mason.html] THE MASONIC FOUNDATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES</ref> and all of them were members of regular Masonic lodges. (Franklin was also a member of the [[Lunar Society]].) Masonic self-proclaimed historians also maintain that an unfinished pyramid has never been a Masonic emblem. In addition, George Washington also publicly condemned and denounced "the nefarious, and dangerous plan, and doctrines of the Illuminati...." when an attempted revolution by French Agitator Edward Genet failed.<ref>http://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/history/item/4660-a-primer-on-the-illuminati</ref>
== History ==