Simone Lawson
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 Great Britain, and established the United States of America. They crafted a framework of government for the new nation, which included the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, making it the oldest constitution in the world. The Founding Fathers wanted to set up a fair and balanced government, and so they created a powerful central government with three branches to prevent any one branch from accumulating more power than the others. They also included a way to change the Constitution, known as amendments, which has only been done 27 times in over 200 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th September 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Number of Signatories | 39 |
| Purpose | To establish a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote general welfare, and secure liberty |
| Powers | Divided powers, independent courts, bicameral legislature, and checks and balances |
| Amendments | 27 |
| Ratification of the Bill of Rights | 15th December 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
The Founding Fathers
Some of the key Founding Fathers include George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. These men held important roles in the early US government, with Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison serving as the first four presidents. Hamilton, meanwhile, rose from obscurity to become a towering force in the founding of the American republic, driven by his ambition, intellect, and unrelenting resolve.
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The US Declaration of Independence
The US Constitution is a document of supreme importance in the history of the nation. It is often referred to as the "Supreme Law of the Land" because it lays out the framework for the Federal Government and the basic rules by which the country is governed. The Founding Fathers, as they are known, were a group of 18th-century revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States.
The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution. The Declaration of Independence is one of the three Charters of Freedom, expressing the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Founding Fathers also include certain military personnel who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with one additional signature added later, bringing the total to 39. The delegates, or Founding Fathers, had differing beliefs and opinions about the future of the United States, and they crafted compromises to create a powerful central government. They had gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June 1787, they had decided to completely redesign the government.
The Constitution established the three branches of the US government, with separate powers, and it still protects the rights of each American citizen today. The Founding Fathers wanted to ensure a strong, balanced government with independent courts and a bicameral legislature. They wanted to avoid unchecked power, whether democratic or aristocratic, and so the philosophy of checks and balances was enshrined in the Constitution.
The Constitution officially took effect on March 4, 1789, when the House and Senate met for the first time, and Washington was sworn in as the nation's first president. The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791, defining the rights of citizens and states in relation to the government.
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The Revolutionary War
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 Great Britain, and established the United States. They include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
During the war, the American colonies formed a loose confederation known as the Continental Congress, which served as a provisional government. The Continental Army, led by General George Washington, fought against the British Army and their allies, the Hessian mercenaries. The war consisted of campaigns across North America, including major battles at Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and Yorktown.
The war concluded with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, negotiated by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, which recognised American independence and established the boundaries of the newly formed United States. The Revolutionary War had a significant impact on the political and social landscape of the United States, setting the stage for the creation of a new nation and influencing the development of the U.S. Constitution.
In the aftermath of the war, the Founding Fathers assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had served as America's first constitution. However, they soon decided to completely redesign the government, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, creating a powerful central government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789, when the House and Senate met for their first sessions, and George Washington was sworn in as the nation's first president.
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The Constitutional Convention
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 Great Britain, and established the United States. This 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 had differing beliefs and opinions about what the future United States should look like. They crafted compromises, creating a powerful central government while remaining wary about centralised power and loyal to their states. They established the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it officially took effect on March 4, 1789, when the House and Senate met for their first sessions. It is called the "Supreme Law of the Land" because it lays out the basic rules of government and no other law is above it. It defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States and protects the rights of each American citizen.
The Constitution has been amended 27 times in over 200 years, with the first 10 amendments known collectively as the United States Bill of Rights, ratified on December 15, 1791.
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The Bill of Rights
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 Great Britain, and established the United States. This 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 drafted the Constitution of the United States to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it established the three branches of the federal government, with the aim of protecting the rights of each American citizen.
The Constitution is considered the "Supreme Law of the Land" as it outlines the basic rules of the government and no other law supersedes it. It defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States, outlining the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Founding Fathers, in their political writings, argued for a strong, balanced government with separated powers, independent courts, and a bicameral legislature. They also warned against unchecked democracy and unchecked aristocracy, advocating for a system of checks and balances.
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Frequently asked questions
The Founding Fathers were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation.
The U.S. Constitution is a document that lays out the basic rules of the government and is considered the "Supreme Law of the Land". It is the oldest and shortest written national constitution in the world.
The Founding Fathers wanted to set up a fair and balanced government. They wanted to make it difficult for one person, party, or group to get control of the government. They also wanted to establish rules for each part of the government and limit its power.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The Convention was pivotal in lending credibility to the effort of drafting a more robust government. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with one delegate signing on behalf of an absent delegate, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
The Founding Fathers had differing beliefs and opinions about what the future United States should look like. They also had to navigate challenges such as states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, which threatened to tear the young country apart.
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