Isabella Carter
The Founding Fathers of the United States, often simply referred to as the Founding Fathers or the Founders, 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. The U.S. Constitution was drafted and signed in 1787 by the Founding Fathers, making it the oldest constitution in the world. The Founding Fathers were a collection of delegates or statesmen who worked together to create the government of the United States. The list of Founding Fathers often includes George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, James Madison, James Monroe, Thomas Paine, and many others.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Founding Fathers | 70 individuals were appointed to the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended, and 39 signed the Constitution |
| Age | Ranged from 26 (Jonathan Dayton) to 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| Gender | Male, but women like Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren also played important roles |
| Roles | Signers of the Declaration of Independence, members of the Constitutional Convention, and/or drafters of the Constitution |
| Examples | George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and more |
| Concerns | Feared future generations might not maintain American liberty; nearly half were slaveholders |
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What You'll Learn
The signers of the Declaration of Independence
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution were a group of individuals who played a significant role in the creation of the country and its form of government. Among them, 56 delegates, representing the 13 colonies, signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776, at the Pennsylvania State House (later renamed Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. The Declaration proclaimed the independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain and their status as free and independent states, no longer a part of the British Empire.
The signatures on the Declaration were grouped by state, with Button Gwinnett from Georgia signing first and Matthew Thornton from New Hampshire signing last. Some delegates were not present on the day of the debate and added their signatures later, while others, like Robert Morris, signed despite abstaining from the vote. The date of signing has been a subject of debate, with some, like Thomas McKean, disputing the July 4 date.
The Founding Fathers, while instrumental in establishing the nation, were not without their flaws. Many of them were slaveholders, and all profited from the system of slavery. Their creation of a government that protected the rights of white, property-owning men stood in contrast to the lack of universal protections for all Americans, a discrepancy that would take nearly 200 years to address. Despite their imperfections, the Founding Fathers' contributions to the formation of the United States were significant, and their influence can still be felt today.
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The drafters of the Constitution
The Founding Fathers is a name collectively given to several historical figures who played pivotal roles in America's independence from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States government. The names included on this list vary, but they often include John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Thomas Paine, and George Washington. The name can also refer to the members of the Constitutional Convention, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and/or the drafters of the Constitution.
The Founding Fathers were not a monolithic group, and they had diverse political beliefs and ideologies. They are often viewed as old men with white wigs and false teeth, but many of them were quite young when they helped create the country. For example, George Washington was 43 years old when he accepted command of the American Army during the war, and Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest of the Founding Fathers, was 70 years old at the Second Continental Congress.
The Founding Fathers were not perfect, and they had their flaws and contradictions. While they created a form of government that was unlike any other in the world at that time, nearly half of them were slaveholders, and all of them profited from the system of slavery in the United States. The nation they created ensured the rights of white, property-owning men, but it took almost 200 years to extend those same protections to all Americans.
The process of drafting the Constitution was a collaborative effort involving many individuals. The original states, except for Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. Some of these individuals did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. In total, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, who was 26, to Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 and had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
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The members of the Constitutional Convention
The Founding Fathers is a name collectively given to several historical figures who played pivotal roles in America's independence from Great Britain and the establishment of the United States government. The Founding Fathers include the members of the Constitutional Convention, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and/or the drafters of the Constitution.
The original 13 states collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. Some of these individuals did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. In total, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution. 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 Founding Fathers who were members of the Constitutional Convention include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, James Monroe, and Thomas Paine. While the contributions of some of these men are more well-known, the writings, thoughts, and actions of numerous others also influenced the ultimate shape of the United States.
In addition to these men, women also played important roles in the founding of the United States, such as Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren. Despite her status as a woman, which denied her a proper education, Abigail Adams was considered one of the greatest minds of her generation.
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The Founding Fathers' writings
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution were a group of individuals who played a significant role in the creation of the country and its foundational documents, including the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The phrase "Founding Fathers" was popularized by Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, and has since become a common term to refer to these influential figures.
Among the most well-known Founding Fathers are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. These individuals held various important positions during the country's early years, such as command of the American Army (Washington), Secretary of the Treasury (Hamilton), and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Jay). They also contributed significantly to the foundational documents, with Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence at the age of 33.
In addition to their political and philosophical writings, the Founding Fathers' correspondence and personal libraries offer a glimpse into their intellectual pursuits and influences. For example, Thomas Jefferson's "Letter to Peter Carr" and "Letter to Robert Skipworth with a List of Books" provide insight into his reading preferences and recommendations. Jefferson's library included a range of history books, as documented by Trevor Colbourn in "The Lamp of Experience: Whig History and the Intellectual Origins of the American Revolution."
While the contributions of some Founding Fathers, like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, are widely recognized, it is important to acknowledge the contributions of others who played smaller but significant roles. Individuals such as George Mason, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, John Marshall, and Samuel Adams contributed to the founding of the nation, along with women like Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren, who were denied equal opportunities for education due to their gender.
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The Founding Fathers' fears
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution were 55 delegates appointed by the original states to the Constitutional Convention. Of these, only 39 signed the Constitution. The Founding Fathers included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin, among others.
The Founding Fathers had several fears, including:
Fear of Government Overreach
The Founding Fathers, particularly Thomas Jefferson, feared that the government would be used for private gains instead of for the benefit of the people. Jefferson believed that the Constitution favoured the government over the people. He pushed for a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution, which passed in 1791. He also opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which jailed critics of the government, and wrote the 1798 Kentucky Resolutions, arguing that states could defy unjust laws.
Fear of Forgetting Crucial Restrictions
The Founding Fathers were concerned about forgetting or omitting crucial restrictions in the Constitution. To address this, they chose to define the powers of the government instead of its limitations. They gave the national government only clearly specified powers, as they had just escaped a monarchy and wanted to avoid giving too much power to the central government.
Fear of Federal Overreach
Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, who were strong advocates for states' rights, feared federal overreach. They clashed with Alexander Hamilton, who favoured a strong central government. Jefferson and Madison eventually agreed to support Hamilton's financial plan in exchange for relocating the national capital to the Potomac, a compromise that led to the birth of Washington, D.C.
Fear of Losing American Liberty
Many of the Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, feared that future generations might not be capable of maintaining the liberty and freedom they had secured. Franklin famously replied, "A republic, if you can keep it," when asked if they had created a monarchy or a republic. They were concerned about the ability of succeeding generations to protect the freedoms and rights outlined in the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Founding Fathers of the United States Constitution 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. Some of the most notable Founding Fathers include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison.
The Founding Fathers wanted to set up a fair and balanced government, limiting government powers and establishing rules for each part of the government. They agreed to be governed under the Articles of Confederation, which was adopted in 1781 as the nation's first constitution. The Founding Fathers also understood that the Constitution should be able to change and grow over time, so they included a way to change the Constitution through "amendments".
The Founding Fathers, who were former British subjects, rejected the British Parliament's model with its House of Lords and Commons. However, they were inspired by existing models closer to home, such as the democratic systems practiced by the Cherokee and the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. The Great Law of Peace, which united five member nations under a representative democratic system, had clear parallels with the Constitution.
