Simone Lawson
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 of the United States. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Founding Fathers also include certain military personnel who fought in the American Revolutionary War and others who played a significant role in the nation's formation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 September 1787 |
| Number of Signers | 39 |
| Type of Document | Constitution |
| Previous Document | Articles of Confederation |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Signatories | George Reed, on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware |
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What You'll Learn
The signing of the US Constitution
The US Constitution, one of the three "Charters of Freedom", was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates, who ranged in age from 26 to 81, represented a wide range of interests and views, and their task was to revise the existing government. However, they ended up creating an entirely new form of government, establishing a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their individual states.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia in May 1787, was convened due to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had given the Confederation Congress significant powers, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. Disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young nation apart.
Fearing that their country was on the brink of collapse, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington played key roles in convincing Congress to organize the Constitutional Convention. The 55 delegates who attended the convention, referred to as framers, included notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin, who, at 81, was the oldest delegate and had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.
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The founding fathers who didn't sign
The United States Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, is considered one of the "Charters of Freedom" that established the rights of American citizens. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, out of 55 total delegates who attended its sessions. The youngest delegate was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
While the Founding Fathers of the United States are typically considered to be those who signed the three key documents mentioned above, it is worth noting that several influential figures did not sign the Constitution. Here are some details about the founding fathers who didn't sign:
John Adams: John Adams was a prominent Founding Father who did not sign the Constitution. He was unable to attend the Constitutional Convention due to other commitments. Adams went on to become the second president of the United States and is known for his contributions to the nation's early government.
Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson, another key Founding Father, also did not sign the Constitution. Like Adams, he was unable to attend the Constitutional Convention. Jefferson played a significant role in the nation's formation and went on to become the third president of the United States.
Samuel Adams and John Hancock: Samuel Adams and John Hancock were also notable Founding Fathers who did not sign the Constitution. They, too, were unable to attend the Constitutional Convention. Samuel Adams was a leader in the movement for independence, and John Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, making him a symbol of the American Revolution.
Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry: Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry were two additional Founding Fathers who did not sign the Constitution. They declined or were unable to attend the Constitutional Convention. Both men played important roles in the early government of the United States and were known for their strong beliefs in liberty and individual rights.
It is important to note that while these individuals did not sign the Constitution, they still made significant contributions to the founding and development of the United States of America. Their influence extended beyond the signing of a single document, and their ideas and actions helped shape the nation's principles and government.
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The Constitutional Convention
Alexander Hamilton played a crucial role in convincing Congress to organise the Constitutional Convention, which consisted of state delegates working on revising the Articles of Confederation. George Washington, who was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, presided over the convention as its president. James Madison and George Washington shared Hamilton's concerns about the fragile state of the country.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39. The delegates who signed the Constitution are often referred to as the Founding Fathers of the United States. These Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
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The US Constitution's adoption
The US Constitution, one of the "Charters of Freedom", was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The delegates, who ranged in age from 26 to 81, represented a wide range of interests and views, and their task was to revise the existing government. However, they ended up creating an entirely new form of government, establishing a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their individual states.
The US Constitution was the nation's second constitution, following the Articles of Confederation, which had been the country's first constitution after the Revolutionary War. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the authority to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. This led to disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the country's stability.
Alexander Hamilton played a crucial role in convincing Congress to organise a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, included 55 delegates, referred to as framers, with only 39 signing the Constitution. The framers of the Constitution included notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
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The US Constitution's ratification
The US Constitution, one of the ["Charters of Freedom"], was signed by 39 of the 55 founding delegates on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. The delegates, who ranged in age from 26 to 81, represented a wide range of interests and views, and crafted compromises to create a powerful central government. The signing of the Constitution was an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates had been tasked with revising the existing government, but instead created a completely new one.
The Constitution was the second attempt at establishing a national government for the United States, the first being the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. The young country was on the brink of collapse due to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. Alexander Hamilton helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787.
The founding fathers set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required to enact the new government. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, advocated for the ratification of the Constitution. George Washington, who was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and later president of the Constitutional Convention, also played a key role in the ratification process.
The Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, has secured the rights of the American people for over two centuries and is considered instrumental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. The single person most identified as the "Father" of the United States is George Washington, who was a general in the American Revolution and the nation's first president. Other key founders include John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Washington.
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Frequently asked questions
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the US Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
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, a general in the American Revolution and the nation's first president. Other founding fathers include John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.
There are three founding documents known collectively as the Charters of Freedom: the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The Declaration of Independence expresses the ideals on which the United States was founded and the reasons for separation from Great Britain. The Constitution defines the framework of the Federal Government of the United States, and the Bill of Rights defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government.
