Malcolm Rivera
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the Charters of Freedom, which have secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and its reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Constitution, on the other hand, outlines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. While several individuals are considered Founding Fathers of the United States, not all of them signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. In this response, we will explore which Founding Fathers signed these two key documents.
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What You'll Learn
- Roger Sherman was the only person to sign all four founding documents
- delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed the Constitution
- The Declaration of Independence expressed the reasons for separation from Great Britain
- The Constitution defines the framework of the US Federal Government
- The Founding Fathers were leaders in their communities and political leadership
Roger Sherman was the only person to sign all four founding documents
Roger Sherman is the only person to have signed all four of the most significant founding documents in America's early history. These documents are the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.
Sherman was an early American politician, lawyer, and Founding Father of the United States. Despite a lack of formal education, he established a successful legal career in Litchfield County, Connecticut. He served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and was a justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut from 1766 to 1789. He represented Connecticut at the Continental Congress and was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence.
The Continental Association, created under the First Continental Congress, was an agreement among the colonies to boycott British trade. The Declaration of Independence, drafted by the Second Continental Congress, expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Articles of Confederation, also drafted by the Second Continental Congress, established the first government of the United States, but it was not fully ratified until all 13 states signed it in 1781.
The United States Constitution, drafted by the Constitutional Convention in 1787, defined the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. Sherman served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and was a member of the committee that prepared a draft of the Constitution. He proposed a bicameral national legislature where states would be represented equally, but his proposal was rejected in favour of a unicameral legislature.
In addition to signing these four founding documents, Sherman also signed the 1774 Petition to the King and the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War. He is considered one of the most influential members of the Constitutional Convention and is known as the "Great Compromiser" for his skill in practical politics and diplomacy.
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55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed the Constitution
The creation of the U.S. Constitution was a lengthy process that involved many individuals. The Constitutional Convention, which took place in 1787, was a pivotal moment in this process. 55 delegates from 12 states attended the sessions of the convention, which was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, only 39 of these delegates ultimately signed the Constitution.
The delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention represented the original states of the United States, with the exception of Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates. The remaining 12 states collectively appointed 70 individuals to the convention. Unfortunately, several of these individuals could not accept or attend, including notable figures such as Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock.
The 55 delegates who did attend the convention ranged in age, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, due to his advanced age and infirmity, had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. The delegates engaged in vigorous debate and discussion over the course of the convention, shaping the content and principles of the Constitution.
Among the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution were individuals such as William Samuel Johnson, Gunning Bedford Jr., and Daniel of St. Thomas. These individuals, along with the others who signed, are often referred to as the Founding Fathers of the United States. Their contributions to the Constitution helped establish the framework for the country's federal government and enshrined the rights and freedoms of its citizens.
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The Declaration of Independence expressed the reasons for separation from Great Britain
The Declaration of Independence, formally titled "The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America", is the founding document of the United States. It was unanimously adopted by the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These delegates became known as the Founding Fathers of the nation.
The Declaration of Independence expressed the ideals on which the United States was founded and outlined the reasons for separation from Great Britain. It was designed for multiple audiences: the King, the colonists, and the world. The introductory sentence states the Declaration's primary purpose: to explain the colonists' right to revolution and to "declare the causes which impel them to the separation". The Declaration lists 27 grievances against King George III, including the right to rebellion, and asserts the natural and legal rights of the colonists, such as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Declaration was influenced by de Vattel's "The Law of Nations", a book that Benjamin Franklin claimed was "continually in the hands of the members of our Congress". According to historian David Armitage, the primary purpose of the Declaration was "to express the international legal sovereignty of the United States". The American revolutionaries needed to establish their independence from Great Britain to gain recognition from European powers.
The Declaration of Independence was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was adopted during the American Revolutionary War, which began in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Second Continental Congress passed the Lee Resolution two days before adopting the Declaration, asserting that the British had no governing authority over the Thirteen Colonies. The Declaration justified the independence of the colonies and claimed the powers of an independent country.
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The Constitution defines the framework of the US Federal Government
The US Constitution is the foundation of the country's federal government. It is considered the "supreme law of the land", and no law can be passed that contradicts its principles. The Constitution is divided into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This tripartite system ensures that no individual or group has too much power.
The legislative branch is made up of Congress (the Senate and the House of Representatives), as well as special agencies and offices that provide support services to Congress. The executive branch is headed by the President, who is the leader of the federal government and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution also establishes the framework for how these branches interact and balance each other's powers. For example, the President can veto legislation created by Congress, but Congress can override the President's veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. Similarly, Congress can remove the President from office in exceptional circumstances. The judicial branch can also check the power of the other two branches by overturning unconstitutional laws.
The Founding Fathers established three main principles on which the US government is based: justice, domestic tranquility, and the rights of anyone living in America. The Constitution is a "living" document, meaning it can be amended to allow for changes in the government. In over 200 years, it has been amended 27 times.
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The Founding Fathers were leaders in their communities and political leadership
The Founding Fathers of the United States were instrumental in the country's formation and the development of its philosophy and political system. They were leaders in their communities and political leadership, and their influence extended beyond the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Founding Fathers were statesmen, military leaders, and intellectuals who played a crucial role in shaping the nation's destiny.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are collectively known as the Charters of Freedom, and they have secured the rights and freedoms of Americans for centuries. The Founding Fathers who signed these documents were often wealthy and well-educated, with legal and political backgrounds. Roger Sherman, for example, served in the First and Second Continental Congresses, the Connecticut House of Representatives, and as a Justice of the Peace before becoming a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was the only Founder to sign all four major founding documents: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution.
The Founding Fathers' political leadership extended beyond their local communities to the highest levels of government. Many of them served as presidents, vice presidents, secretaries, and diplomats. George Washington, for instance, was not only the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army but also the nation's first president. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, despite not signing the Declaration of Independence, were also key figures in the founding era. Hamilton, in particular, authored The Federalist Papers, which advocated for the ratification of the Constitution, and served as the first secretary of the treasury.
The Founding Fathers' influence was not limited to their own lifetimes but continued to shape the nation's future. James Madison, for example, is known as the founding era's foremost proponent of religious liberty, free speech, and freedom of the press. The Founding Fathers' leadership and vision helped establish the framework for the Federal Government of the United States and laid the foundation for the country's democratic ideals and principles. Their political leadership and statesmanship guided the young nation through the challenges of the early years and set a course for its future development and growth.
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Frequently asked questions
None of the Founding Fathers signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Only 39 delegates signed the Constitution, and none of them were involved with the Declaration of Independence.
George Washington, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison are considered Founding Fathers but did not sign the Declaration of Independence.
In 1776, James Madison was a member of the Virginia state legislature at 25 years old. He was not present when the Declaration of Independence was drafted, approved, and signed.
The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 representatives from the 13 colonies, including John Hancock, who instructed General George Washington to read the Declaration to the Continental Army.
