Founding Fathers: Age, Wealth, And Education

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 of 1787, which was held in Philadelphia, and helped draft the Constitution of the United States. 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 demographics of the framers of the Constitution are discussed in this paragraph.

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Age range of framers

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. 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 Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, the youngest at 26, to Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. The average age of the founders was 43, with nearly half being lawyers, and the remainder primarily businessmen and planter-farmers.

George Mason, a Gentleman with strong powers and a clear and copious understanding, was about 60 years old at the time of the convention. James McClurg, a learned physician, was about 38 years old. George Read, a lawyer and a judge, was about 50, and John Rutledge, one of the most famed orators in his state, was in his early 40s.

Of the 55 delegates, 39 signed the Constitution, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent. The Founding Fathers had extensive political experience, with four-fifths having been in the Continental Congress and nearly all having experience in colonial and state government.

Occupations

The Founding Fathers of the United States were political leaders who participated in the American Revolution. They signed the Declaration of Independence, oversaw the Revolutionary War, and established the Constitution. The Framers of the Constitution were delegates to the Constitutional Convention and helped draft the Constitution of the United States.

The Founding Fathers came from a range of occupational backgrounds. Nearly half were lawyers, while the rest were primarily businessmen and planter-farmers. They also practiced a wide range of high and middle-status occupations. Many had strong educational backgrounds at colonial colleges or abroad, while some, like Franklin and Washington, were largely self-taught or learned through apprenticeships.

The Founding Fathers included:

• George Washington, a general in the American Revolution and the nation's first president
• John Adams, who served as the nation's second president and was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence
• Thomas Jefferson, who served as the nation's third president and was also a member of the Committee of Five
• James Madison, who served as the nation's fourth president
• Alexander Hamilton, who was the first secretary of the treasury
• John Jay, the nation's first chief justice

Other delegates to the Constitutional Convention included:

• George Mason, a politician described as possessing a "clear and copious understanding" and being "able and convincing in debate"
• James McClurg, a physician who had not previously appeared in public life
• James McHenry, a physician who became a soldier and acted as an aide to a general
• George Read, a lawyer and judge known for his poor oratory skills but amiable character
• John Rutledge, a lawyer and one of the "American Worthies" known for his oratory skills

Birthplaces

The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American 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 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 single person most identified as the "Father" of the United States is George Washington, the nation's first president and commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.

The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance. The Founding Fathers who were delegates to the convention had strong educational backgrounds, with about half having attended or graduated from college. They practiced a wide range of high and middle-status occupations, with nearly half being lawyers, while the remainder were primarily businessmen and planter-farmers. Nearly all were native-born and of British heritage, including Scots, Irish, and Welsh.

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. George Read, a lawyer and judge, was described as being about 50 years old, with a weak constitution and a feeble voice. James McClurg, a physician, was about 38 years old and had never appeared in public life before the convention. George Mason was described as being about 60 years old, with a strong constitution.

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Religion

The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American 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 helped draft the Constitution of the United States.

The religious affiliations of the Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution are varied and, in some cases, difficult to ascertain. The religious demographics of this group included Congregationalists, Deists, Dutch Reformed, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers, Roman Catholics, and potentially others.

One notable figure among the Founding Fathers was Thomas Jefferson, who is often described as a Deist. Deism is a philosophical belief in a higher power based on reason and observation of the natural world, rather than religious doctrine or specific divine revelations. Jefferson's religious views were influenced by Enlightenment thinkers and he is known for his contributions to the separation of church and state in America.

Another key Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, had a complex religious journey. Franklin was raised in a Puritan family but later became a Deist. He was also influenced by various religious traditions and developed a personal philosophy that incorporated elements from different faiths. Franklin was known for his tolerance and respect for different religious beliefs.

George Washington, often referred to as the "Father" of the United States, was an Anglican (Episcopalian). He was a devout man who believed in the importance of religion for moral and social stability. Washington respected religious diversity and freedom of worship, which became a cornerstone of American religious liberty.

Other Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution had diverse religious backgrounds. For example, John Jay, the first chief justice of the United States, was raised in the Reformed tradition but later became associated with the Episcopal Church. Alexander Hamilton, a key figure in the Constitutional Convention, was likely influenced by Presbyterianism and may have had sympathies for Deism as well. James Madison, another influential Framer, had a Congregationalist background but also showed an interest in religious liberty and the separation of church and state.

In summary, the religious demographics of the Founding Fathers and Framers of the Constitution were varied and included a range of Protestant denominations, as well as Deists and Roman Catholics. Their religious beliefs influenced their political thought and contributed to the development of religious freedom and the separation of church and state in the United States.

Political experience

The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American political leaders who participated in the American Revolution. They oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework for the new nation's government.

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 single person most identified as the "Father" of the United States is George Washington, who served as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and later as president of the Constitutional Convention.

The Founding Fathers had strong educational backgrounds, with about half having attended or graduated from colonial colleges, while others were largely self-taught or learned through apprenticeships. They also had extensive political experience at the national and state levels. For example, the signers of the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation were members of the Second Continental Congress, and four-fifths of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention had served in the Continental Congress. Nearly all of the 55 delegates had experience in colonial and state governments, with nearly half being lawyers, while the remainder were primarily businessmen and planter-farmers.

The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with 55 delegates in attendance. 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. Four of the Founding Fathers—Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison—served as the first four presidents of the United States, while Hamilton served as the first secretary of the treasury, and Jefferson as the first secretary of state.

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