Malcolm Rivera
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Britain, and established the United States of America. They crafted a framework of government for the new nation, including the United States Constitution, which has been amended 27 times since its ratification in 1781. The Founding Fathers intended the document to be flexible in order to fit the changing needs and circumstances of the country. Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers, believed that the Constitution should be revised every 19 to 20 years to adapt to new developments and the changing circumstances of each new generation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founding Fathers | George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and others |
| Intentions for the Constitution | To be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs and circumstances of the country |
| Amendments | Part of the Constitution; 27 amendments exist as of 2023 |
| Frequency of Updates | Thomas Jefferson suggested every 19 to 20 years |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Jefferson's views on updating the constitution
Thomas Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be updated periodically. In a letter to James Madison, he wrote:
> "Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched."
Jefferson believed that a dynamic society needed a flexible constitution that could be revised to keep up with the progress of the human mind. He wrote:
> "Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors... The earth belongs to the living generation."
Jefferson's solution to the problem of a constitution becoming outdated was to tear it up and start again every nineteen or twenty years. He believed that no society could make a perpetual constitution, and that each generation should be free to create its own laws and social contract. In a letter to Madison, he argued that the Constitution would expire after 19 years and must be renewed if it was not to become "an act of force and not of right". He believed that the American Constitution should lapse and become null and void in 1808.
Jefferson was unable to attend the 1787 Constitutional Convention, but he corresponded with those present, such as James Madison and John Jay, and shared his ideas with them. He wanted the new Constitution to be accompanied by a written "bill of rights" to guarantee personal liberties, such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom from standing armies, trial by jury, and habeas corpus. He also wrote to Madison explaining why the federal government should not be given the power to veto laws passed by the states.
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The First Amendment
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who played a crucial role in crafting the framework of government for the new nation. While there is some variation in the historical understanding of who is included in this group, it typically comprises those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States. Notable among them were George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison.
One of the most significant contributions of the Founding Fathers was the creation of the United States Constitution, which included the Bill of Rights, aimed at protecting civil liberties. The First Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, holds a prominent position in safeguarding fundamental freedoms. Adopted on December 15, 1791, it serves as a cornerstone of democratic ideals, guaranteeing several essential rights.
The right to assemble peaceably is another crucial liberty guaranteed by the First Amendment. This right empowers individuals to gather and collectively express their views without fear of governmental interference. Furthermore, the amendment includes the right to petition the government, enabling individuals to seek redress for grievances and hold the government accountable.
The Founding Fathers, notably Thomas Jefferson, recognised the need for the Constitution to adapt to changing circumstances. Jefferson, in particular, advocated for regular revisions to the Constitution, suggesting a period of approximately 19 to 20 years between revisions. This proposal reflected his belief in the importance of aligning the government with societal and scientific advancements.
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The Founding Fathers' intentions
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation. The group includes those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
The Founding Fathers intended the Constitution to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs and circumstances of the country. They recognized that the document should not be static but rather a living, evolving framework that could accommodate new developments in science and society. This is reflected in the numerous amendments that have been made to the Constitution over time, ensuring that it remains relevant and responsive to the needs of the American people.
One of the key intentions of the Founding Fathers was to create a strong central government with separate and equal branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. They wanted to ensure a balance of powers and prevent the concentration of power in any single branch. The judiciary, in particular, was designed to be independent and act as a check on the other branches, safeguarding against abuse of power.
The Founding Fathers also recognized the importance of protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. They laid out these rights in a series of amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, which was adopted in 1791. These amendments guaranteed freedoms such as freedom of religion, speech, and assembly, and provided the foundation for the expansion of rights over time, such as the right for women to vote.
While the Founding Fathers did not specify a particular timeframe for updating the Constitution, they understood the need for periodic revisions. Thomas Jefferson, for example, believed that a constitution should be revised every 19 to 20 years to adapt to changing circumstances and the emergence of new generations. He recognized that governments need to evolve and adapt to survive, and his ideas influenced the interpretation and amendment of the Constitution over time.
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The Constitutional Convention
Fearing that their young country was on the brink of collapse due to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington played a key role in convincing Congress to organize this convention. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the new Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures.
The delegates of the Constitutional Convention crafted a powerful central government while remaining wary of centralized power and loyal to their respective states. They created a framework with three separate and equal branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The first two branches, legislative and executive, were political, while the judiciary was designed to be independent, following the rule of law and acting as a check on the other branches to prevent abuse of power.
The Founding Fathers intended the Constitution to be a flexible document, adaptable to the changing needs and circumstances of the country. They understood the importance of amendments, and the Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments, was submitted to the state legislatures in September 1789 and ratified in December 1791. Since then, Congress has passed 23 additional amendments, with the states ratifying 17 of them.
Thomas Jefferson, while not directly involved in drafting the Constitution, expressed the belief that it should be revised every 19 to 20 years to reflect new developments and adapt to changing circumstances. He based this proposed timeframe on the era's mortality rate, reasoning that a new generation should not be ruled by the decisions of a generation that would likely be mostly deceased within that period.
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Amendments to the Constitution
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
The Founding Fathers intended the Constitution to be flexible in order to fit the changing needs and circumstances of the country. Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph, one of the five men tasked with drafting the Constitution, stated that the goal was to "insert essential principles only, lest the operations of government should be clogged by rendering those provisions permanent and unalterable, which ought to be accommodated to times and events."
The first ten amendments, or the Bill of Rights, were submitted to the state legislatures in September 1789 and ratified in December 1791. Since then, Congress has passed 23 additional amendments, and the states have ratified 17 of them.
One of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, believed that a constitution should be revised every 19 to 20 years to adapt to changing circumstances. In an 1816 letter to Virginia lawyer Samuel Kercheval, Jefferson wrote that a new generation should have the right to adapt its government. Jefferson also stated that the U.S. Constitution could last perpetually if it were regularly amended to reflect new developments in science and society.
The amendments to the Constitution have addressed a range of issues, including states' rights, income tax, the abolition of slavery, and the extension of citizenship to African Americans and women. The 16th Amendment, passed in 1913, gave the government the power to collect income tax, while the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, and the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to African Americans. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, enfranchised all American women and declared that they deserve all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
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Frequently asked questions
The Founding Fathers intended the Constitution to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs and circumstances of the country. They also knew early on that they wanted to amend the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson believed that the Constitution should be revised every 19 to 20 years to reflect new developments in science and society.
No, some Founding Fathers worried that trying to spell out all of Americans' rights in a series of amendments could be inherently limiting.
Since the Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791, Congress has passed 23 additional amendments to the Constitution, and the states have ratified 17 of them.
