Simone Lawson
The Constitution of the United States was crafted by 55 delegates, appointed by the original states, and is referred to as the Founding Fathers. These Founding Fathers were not unified on the issue of slavery, and many of them were wealthy slaveowners. John Witherspoon was the only minister among the Founding Fathers, although Lyman Hall had been a preacher before becoming a physician.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of preachers among the framers | 1 |
| Total number of framers | 55 |
| Number of framers who signed the Constitution | 38-39 |
| Age range of framers | 26-81 |
| Occupations of framers | Middle to high status |
| Number of framers who were landowners | Most |
| Wealth level of framers | Wealthy |
| Number of framers with strong educational backgrounds | Most |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
John Witherspoon was the only minister among the framers
John Witherspoon was the only minister among the 55 framers of the US Constitution. Witherspoon was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister, educator, farmer, slaveholder, and Founding Father of the United States. He was also the president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and a delegate from New Jersey to the Second Continental Congress.
Witherspoon was a strong supporter of the US Constitution and played a significant role in its ratification in New Jersey. He was politically active and served in Congress from 1777 to 1784, becoming one of its most influential members. He served on over 100 committees, including the sitting committees, the board of peace, and the committee on public correspondence. He helped draft the Articles of Confederation, organize executive departments, and shape public policy.
Witherspoon was also a prolific writer, authoring works on theology, politics, and religion. He wrote essays, sermons, and pamphlets, including "Ecclesiastical Characteristics" and "Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament." He was a strong advocate for the revolutionary cause and played a role in advocating for independence.
Witherspoon's lectures on moral philosophy at Princeton influenced his student James Madison, whose suggestions for the US Constitution reflected Witherspoon's ideas. Witherspoon argued for the right of resistance and recommended checks and balances within the government. He believed that public morality and virtue required a religious component, and thus, public religion was necessary to maintain public morals.
The Constitution: Welfare and Wellbeing
You may want to see also
28 of the 55 framers were Anglicans
The Founding Fathers of the United States were the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. They are referred to as the framers of the Constitution. Of these 55 delegates, 28 were Anglicans (members of the Church of England or Episcopalians). The remaining delegates consisted of 21 other Protestants, and three Catholics (Daniel Carroll, Fitzsimons, and Charles Carroll, who was not a signatory of the Constitution).
Among the non-Anglican Protestant delegates, there were eight Presbyterians, seven Congregationalists, two Lutherans, two Dutch Reformed, and two Methodists. The Founding Fathers were a diverse group, with a range of occupations and religious beliefs. They were, however, all white, and two-thirds were natives of the American Colonies, while the remaining delegates were born in other parts of the British Empire.
The Founding Fathers were also well-educated and prosperous, and all were prominent figures in their respective states. Over 70 percent (40 delegates) served in Congress when the convention was proposed. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The Constitutional Convention met in the Pennsylvania State House from May 14 to September 17, 1787. The convention was presided over by George Washington, the nation's most trusted figure. The convention operated under a rule of secrecy, allowing delegates to speak freely. The Founding Fathers were not unified on all issues, particularly slavery, which remained protected in the new nation despite some founders' moral opposition to it.
Understanding COBRA Coverage and Qualifying Events
You may want to see also
21 framers were non-Anglican Protestants
The Founding Fathers of the United States were political leaders who participated in the American Revolution. They signed the Declaration of Independence, took part in the Revolutionary War, and established the Constitution. The Framers of the Constitution were delegates to the Constitutional Convention and played a role in drafting the Constitution.
There were 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and of these, 39 or 38 signed the Constitution. The delegates included George Washington of Virginia, John Adams and Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, and Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest delegate at 81 years old.
Of these 55 delegates, 28 were Anglicans (Church of England or Episcopalian), and 21 were non-Anglican Protestants. Among the non-Anglican Protestants, there were eight Presbyterians, seven Congregationalists, and two Catholics (Daniel Carroll and Fitzsimons). Charles Carroll was also Catholic but was not a signatory to the Constitution.
The Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution had diverse backgrounds and experiences. Many were wealthy landowners, and some were slaveowners. They had strong educational backgrounds, with about half having attended or graduated from college, while others were self-taught or learned through apprenticeships. They also had extensive political experience, with four-fifths having served in the Continental Congress and nearly all having experience in colonial and state government.
Executive Agencies: Independence vs Cabinet Control
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Founding Fathers [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71f9-HsS5nL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
8 framers were Presbyterians
The Founding Fathers of the United States include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. The 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention are referred to as framers, and of these, only 39 actually signed the Constitution.
Of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, 28 were Anglicans (Church of England or Episcopalian), 21 were other Protestants, and three were Catholics. Among the non-Anglican Protestant delegates to the convention, eight were Presbyterians. Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders. The word Presbyterian is applied to churches that trace their roots to the Church of Scotland or to English Dissenter groups that were formed during the English Civil War.
Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought Presbyterianism to North America as early as 1640, and immigration remained a large source of growth throughout the colonial era. Presbyterianism grew in frontier areas where the Anglicans had made little impression, and some New England Puritans left the Congregational churches because they preferred Presbyterian polity. Presbyterians distinguish themselves from other denominations by doctrine, institutional organisation (or "church order"), and worship, often using a Book of Order to regulate common practice and order.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States, reporting 1,094,733 active members and 17,978 ordained ministers in 8,572 congregations at the end of 2023.
Washington's Executive Powers: A Constitutional Implementation
You may want to see also
7 framers were Congregationalists
The Constitution of the United States was drafted by 55 delegates, referred to as the Framers, at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Of these, 28 were Anglicans, 21 were other Protestants, and three were Catholics. Among the non-Anglican Protestant delegates, eight were Presbyterians, seven were Congregationalists, and two were of other denominations.
Congregationalism, or Congregationalist churches, is a Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity. Congregationalists practice congregational polity, which holds that the members of a local church have the right to decide their church's forms of worship, choose their officers, and administer their affairs without outside interference. This is derived from their foundational tenet of the priesthood of all believers, which holds that every believer is a priest, and every seeking child of God is given direct wisdom, guidance, and power. Congregationalists are generally wary of state-established religion and advocate for civil and religious liberty. They have two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper.
Congregationalism was brought to America by Puritans in the 1620s and 1630s. These Puritans were a Calvinist group within the Church of England, seeking to remove any remaining teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. They wished to replace the Church of England's episcopal polity (rule by bishops) with another form of church government. Some Puritans favoured presbyterian polity (rule by assemblies of presbyters), while others, the Congregationalists, favoured congregational polity.
Congregationalists were especially active in education in the 17th and 18th centuries. During the reign of Charles II (1660-1685), Dissenters were barred from universities, so Congregationalists started small schools and colleges, such as Manchester Academy and New Hackney College. Their curricula were more focused on the needs of everyday life than those of the universities, and they were the forerunners of many later educational developments.
The Constitution: Power Distribution and Checks
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
John Witherspoon was the only minister among the 55 framers of the Constitution. Lyman Hall had been a preacher before becoming a physician.
The Founding Fathers of the United States were political leaders who participated in the American Revolution. They signed the Declaration of Independence, took part in the Revolutionary War, and established the Constitution.
39 of the 55 framers of the Constitution signed the document.
