Omar Bennett
The Founding Fathers of the United States, also referred to as the Framers of the Constitution, were a group of late-18th-century American political 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 list of Founding Fathers is often expanded to include the signers of the Declaration of Independence and individuals who later approved the U.S. Constitution. Some of the most notable Framers of the Constitution include George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, James Wilson, and Gouverneur Morris.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Framers of the Constitution | 70 individuals were appointed to the Constitutional Convention, 55 of whom attended, and 39 signed the Constitution |
| Names of Framers | George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and more |
| Age Range | 26-81 |
| Occupations | Wide range of high and middle-status occupations |
| Education | Strong educational backgrounds at colonial colleges or abroad, some self-taught or learned through apprenticeship |
| Political Experience | Extensive |
| Military Experience | Many fought in the American Revolutionary War |
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What You'll Learn
- George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first US president
- John Adams: Member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence
- Thomas Jefferson: Committee of Five member and first US secretary of state
- Benjamin Franklin: America's senior diplomat during the Revolutionary War
- James Madison: Often called the Father of the Constitution
George Washington: Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and first US president
George Washington is remembered as the first President of the United States, but he is also revered for his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. Born in 1732 in Virginia, Washington was a planter of tobacco and wheat at Mount Vernon and owned many slaves. He began to oppose slavery towards the end of his life and provided for the eventual manumission of his slaves in his will.
Washington's military career began in 1754 when he became commander of the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War. He served the British Crown in their war against the French, which would prove invaluable experience for the coming conflict against the British two decades later. In 1771, Washington began to openly criticise the British for their oppressive tax policies towards the colonies. He was elected by the Virginia legislature to represent the colony at the First Continental Congress in 1774.
After the eruption of conflict in Massachusetts in April 1775, Washington attended the Second Continental Congress. On June 14, 1775, Congress created the Continental Army, and John Adams nominated Washington as its commander-in-chief, citing his military experience and the belief that a Virginian would better unite the colonies. Washington accepted the appointment, and his leadership qualities and experience proved vital in the coming conflict.
Washington led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War, helping to secure American independence. He resigned as commander-in-chief in December 1783, bidding farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern. In a final appearance in uniform, he gave a statement to Congress, commending the interests of his country to Almighty God and its superintendence.
Washington's leadership and status made him the unanimous choice to head the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He worked with the delegates for over a year to create and ratify the Constitution. He was then unanimously elected as the first President of the United States, serving two full terms from 1789 to 1797. As president, he set enduring precedents, including republicanism, peaceful transfers of power, the use of the title "Mr. President", and the two-term tradition.
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John Adams: Member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence
John Adams was a key figure in the founding of the United States and played a pivotal role in the country's independence from Great Britain and the establishment of a self-governed nation. Born in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1735, Adams graduated from Harvard College in 1755 and was admitted to the Suffolk County Bar to practice law in 1758. He became a prominent lawyer and was an early advocate for independence from Great Britain.
Adams was a delegate to both the First and Second Continental Congresses, and during the First Continental Congress, he was sought out for his views on government. He was a member of the Committee of Five, which was appointed by the Second Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence. The other members of the committee were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Adams played a crucial role in advocating for and defending the Declaration of Independence, and his contributions were widely recognised by his peers.
As a strong supporter of independence, Adams pushed for a plan to outfit armed ships to raid enemy vessels and drafted the first set of regulations for the provisional navy. He also drafted the preamble to the Lee Resolution, which stated that the colonies were "free and independent states." Adams was a leading figure in the American Revolution and helped shape the country's constitutional form of government. He believed in the importance of written constitutions to ensure stable and democratic governments.
Adams was a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, where he served on a committee to draft the Massachusetts Constitution, which remains the oldest functioning written constitution in the world. He also played a role in negotiating the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which established American independence and ended the American Revolutionary War. The constitution he helped draft for Massachusetts proved influential in the language and development of the U.S. Constitution.
John Adams' contributions to the founding of the United States were significant, and he is remembered as one of the key Founding Fathers of the nation. He went on to become the second president of the United States, serving as the nation's first vice president under George Washington before assuming the presidency.
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Thomas Jefferson: Committee of Five member and first US secretary of state
Thomas Jefferson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a member of the Committee of Five, a group of five members who drafted what would become the United States Declaration of Independence. The committee was appointed on June 11, 1776, and Jefferson wrote the first draft. The committee then made extensive changes, and Jefferson produced another copy incorporating these alterations. The Committee of Five presented their work to the full Congress in the Pennsylvania State House on July 5, 1776, the day the Declaration was published.
Jefferson was also the first US Secretary of State, serving from March 22, 1790, to December 31, 1793. As Secretary of State, Jefferson's approach to foreign affairs was limited by President George Washington's preference for neutrality regarding the war between Britain and France. Jefferson favored closer ties to France, who had supported the US during the Revolutionary War. Tensions within Washington's cabinet, notably with Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, prompted Jefferson's resignation.
Jefferson was a leading activist in the US independence movement. He was a founding member of Virginia's Committee of Correspondence, which spread anti-British views, and in 1774 he published 'A Summary View of the Rights of British America'. In 1775, he was elected as a Delegate to the Second Continental Congress, and in 1776, he drafted the Declaration of Independence. During the Revolutionary War, Jefferson returned to Virginia and served as a Delegate (1776-1779) and then as Governor (1779-1780). He played a major role in shaping federal land policy and negotiated commercial treaties with European powers.
Jefferson is often regarded as one of the most influential of the Founding Fathers. He was a leading proponent of democracy, republicanism, and natural rights, and he produced formative documents and decisions at the state, national, and international levels. He was also a philhellene, sympathizing with the Greek War of Independence and advising Greek scholar Adamantios Korais on building the political system of Greece.
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Benjamin Franklin: America's senior diplomat during 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, 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.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and America's senior-most diplomat from the start of the Revolutionary War through its conclusion with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Franklin was also the first American diplomat, serving from 1776 to 1778 on a commission to France tasked with gaining French support for American independence. Franklin's diplomatic achievements include the 1778 alliance with France, which was essential for the military and diplomatic success of the American War of Independence, and the 1783 peace treaty, which confirmed American independence.
Franklin's popularity and diplomatic skill, along with the first American battlefield success at Saratoga, convinced France to recognise American independence and conclude an alliance with the thirteen states in 1778. Franklin presented his credentials to the French court in 1779, becoming the first American Minister (the eighteenth-century American equivalent of Ambassador) to be received by a foreign government. Franklin was also instrumental in raising vast sums of money, largely on credit, amounting to many billions in today's dollars.
Franklin's diplomatic achievements also extended to his time in France, where he was a welcomed guest at Royal receptions, with the King and Queen appreciating his ready wit. Franklin was also backed by Lafayette, who had done much for the American cause out of his private fortune and by persistently lobbying his government for men, equipment, and ships. Franklin's time in France was not always focused on war planning and persuading French officials to be more generous in their gifts to America; there were also pleasant and joyful times at social events.
In addition to his diplomatic role, Franklin was a member of the Committee of Five that was charged by the Second Continental Congress with drafting the Declaration of Independence. Franklin was also one of 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the United States Constitution.
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James Madison: Often called the Father of the Constitution
James Madison, born on March 16, 1751, was an American Founding Father, statesman, diplomat, and the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He is often hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting, promoting, and influencing the ratification of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
Madison was born into a prominent slave-owning planter family in Virginia. He studied law and saw himself as a law student rather than a lawyer. He never joined the bar or practised law, but his understanding of legal publications proved valuable in his political career. Madison's political career began during the American Revolution. Strongly opposed to British taxation, he joined the Patriots in 1774. He was a member of the local Committee of Safety, a pro-revolution group that oversaw the local Patriot militia. He also served as a colonel in the Orange County militia and was elected as a delegate to the Fifth Virginia Convention, which produced Virginia's first constitution. Madison played a significant role in the Virginia constitutional convention by convincing delegates to alter the Virginia Declaration of Rights to provide for "equal entitlement" in the exercise of religion.
Dissatisfied with the weak national government established by the Articles of Confederation, Madison helped organize the Constitutional Convention, which produced the new Constitution of the United States. His Virginia Plan, presented at the convention, served as the basic framework and guiding principles of the Constitution. Madison believed in the value of a strong government with well-balanced powers and sought to prevent the rise of factions through a Constitutional Republic. He was one of the most influential individuals at the convention, speaking over 200 times and keeping detailed notes that serve as a historical record.
Following the Constitutional Convention, Madison played a crucial role in promoting the ratification of the Constitution. He joined Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in writing The Federalist Papers, a series of pro-ratification essays that became one of the most influential works of political science in American history. Madison's leadership and persuasive abilities were instrumental in securing Virginia's ratification of the Constitution. He implored his fellow delegates to ratify the Constitution as it was written, arguing that amendments could endanger the unity and effectiveness of the government. Madison also introduced a series of Constitutional amendments, including the Bill of Rights, which guaranteed freedom of religion, speech, and press.
In summary, James Madison's pivotal role in drafting the Constitution, his influential ideas and principles, and his efforts to promote and secure the ratification of this document, have earned him the title of "Father of the Constitution." His contributions were shaped by his legal knowledge, political experience, and belief in a strong and balanced government.
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Frequently asked questions
The framers of the US Constitution, also known as the Founding Fathers, were a group of 55 delegates with extensive political experience who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The Founding Fathers were political leaders who participated in the American Revolution. They signed the Declaration of Independence, took part in the Revolutionary War, and established the US Constitution.
Notable Founding Fathers include George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams.
James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" for his role in drafting the document and promoting the Bill of Rights. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate, was known for his wisdom and diplomacy. Alexander Hamilton advocated for a strong central government and co-authored the Federalist Papers. John Adams and John Jay drafted influential state constitutions for New York and Massachusetts.
Some scholars regard all 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention as Founding Fathers, whether they approved the Constitution or not. However, only 39 of the delegates signed the Constitution.
