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, 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. 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The Founding Fathers who signed the Constitution include George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe, among others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals appointed to the Constitutional Convention | 70 |
| Number of delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Youngest delegate | Jonathan Dayton, aged 26 |
| Oldest delegate | Benjamin Franklin, aged 81 |
| First five U.S. presidents regarded as Founding Fathers | Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe |
| Signers of three key documents generally considered Founding Fathers | Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and U.S. Constitution |
| Number of signers of the Declaration of Independence | 56 |
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What You'll Learn
The 39 men who signed the US Constitution
The Founding Fathers were a group of individuals who played pivotal roles in America's independence from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States government. The Founding Fathers were not a homogeneous group with the same beliefs, but rather had extremely different views on a variety of issues, including the role of the federal government, the issue of slavery, and the scope of the American Revolution.
The Founding Fathers were not just men, but women also played important roles, and they are known as the Founding Mothers. This group includes Abigail Adams, Deborah Franklin, Dolley Madison, Eliza Pinckney, Martha Washington, and Mercy Otis Warren, among others.
The Founding Fathers who signed the Constitution had extensive political experience at the national and state levels. They were leaders in their communities and colonies, and they were willing to assume responsibility for public affairs. Many of them had served in the Second Continental Congress, and some had served in state assemblies.
The Constitution was drafted by the Founding Fathers, and it was sharply criticized by the Anti-Federalists, who believed that it did not adequately protect individual liberties from the federal government. Despite these criticisms, the Founding Fathers who signed the Constitution believed in the importance of compromise to secure the republic's future.
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The 70 individuals appointed to the Constitutional Convention
The delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention are referred to as the Framers of the Constitution. Almost all of the 55 Framers had participated in the Revolution, with at least 29 having served in the Continental forces, most in positions of command. All but two or three had served in colonial or state government during their careers. The vast majority (about 75%) of the delegates were or had been members of the Confederation Congress, and many had been members of the Continental Congress during the Revolution. Several had been state governors.
The Founding Fathers, which included the Framers, are often viewed as a unified group with similar beliefs and goals. However, they had diverse views on issues such as the federal government's role, slavery, and the American Revolution's scope. These differences sometimes damaged relationships and threatened national unity. The Founding Fathers were also much younger than commonly depicted, with many being young men when they helped establish the country. For example, George Washington was 43 when he took command of the American Army during the war.
The first five US presidents, Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, are considered Founding Fathers due to their active participation in the American Revolution and their leadership roles in their communities and colonies. They all served as delegates to the Continental Congress. The Founding Fathers were the upper echelon of political leadership in the British colonies during the latter half of the 18th century, and they were willing to take responsibility for public affairs.
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The Founding Fathers who were delegates
The Founding Fathers were a group of individuals who played pivotal roles in America's independence from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States government. The term "Founding Fathers" was popularized by Warren G. Harding in the late 1910s and early 1920s, and it refers to those who contributed to the creation of the republic. The Founding Fathers who were delegates at the Constitutional Convention played a crucial role in shaping the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, appointed by the original states except for Rhode Island, and only 39 of them signed the Constitution. The delegates included young men like 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and older individuals like 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to sessions due to his infirmity. Franklin, despite his age and frailty, carried immense weight at the convention. He proposed a bicameral legislature to balance the power of large and small states and appealed for humility during heated debates.
The delegates who signed the Constitution included James Madison, who was recognized as the foremost proponent of religious liberty, free speech, and freedom of the press during the founding era. Madison played a crucial role in shaping the Bill of Rights, influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights drafted by fellow delegate George Mason. Other notable delegates who signed the Constitution were George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Monroe, who, along with Madison, served as the first five U.S. presidents and actively participated in the American Revolution.
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The Founding Fathers who were presidents
The Founding Fathers of the United States were the group of men who contributed to the country's founding in the latter half of the 18th century. They were the leaders of their communities and colonies and had extensive political experience at the national and state levels. The Founding Fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution, and some also fought in the American Revolutionary War. The Founding Fathers are often viewed as a single entity, but they had diverse opinions on issues such as the role of the federal government, slavery, and the radicalism of the American Revolution.
The first five U.S. presidents are considered Founding Fathers due to their active participation in the American Revolution: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Each of these men served as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
George Washington, the first president of the United States, is the single person most identified as the "Father" of the nation. He was a general in the American Revolution and led the Continental Army to victory over the British. After presiding over the convention that drafted the U.S. Constitution, Washington was unanimously elected president.
John Adams, the second president, began his political career as a town council member in Braintree, Massachusetts. He gained wider attention through a series of essays he wrote during the Stamp Act crisis of 1765. Adams went on to serve in the Massachusetts General Assembly, lead Boston's Committee of Correspondence, and was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774.
Thomas Jefferson, the third president, is known for his efforts to contain slavery. In 1782, he proposed a ban on slavery in all western territories, which failed to pass by one vote. However, Congress did ban slavery in the Northwest Ordinance for lands north of the Ohio River. In 1807, President Jefferson signed into law a federally enforced ban on the international slave trade throughout the U.S. and its territories.
James Madison, the fourth president, is recognized as the foremost proponent of religious liberty, free speech, and freedom of the press during the founding era. He was the principal author of the Bill of Rights, which were the amendments proposed in response to criticisms of the Constitution by Anti-Federalists.
James Monroe, the fifth president, is best known for his "Monroe Doctrine," which opposed European colonialism in the Americas. His first term became known as the "Era of Good Feelings" due to his efforts to unite Republicans and Federalists.
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The Founding Fathers who were writers
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, 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.
In addition to these two prominent figures, other Founding Fathers made significant contributions to the founding documents and the literature of the time. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest member of the group at 70 years old, was a renowned writer and intellectual. He played a crucial role in negotiating the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which established American independence and ended the American Revolutionary War.
Alexander Hamilton, another Founding Father, rose from obscurity to become a pivotal figure in the founding of the American republic. While his early life was marked by instability, Hamilton's ambition, intellect, and resolve guided his vision for a nation unified by order and economic strength.
The Founding Fathers, despite their differences in views and backgrounds, shared a common goal of shaping a nation founded on liberty and self-governance. Their writings, thoughts, and actions continue to influence the course of the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
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, 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.
39 individuals signed the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and George Washington.
Some of the Founding Fathers who did not sign the Constitution include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock.
Many of the Founding Fathers were wealthy slave-owners before and after the country's founding. They were also known for their leadership, longevity, and statesmanship.
