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[[File:Gilbert Stuart Portrait of George Washington.jpg|thumb|Portrait of George Washington by [[Gilbert Stuart]].]]'''The Founding Fathers ''' are the leaders who founded the [[United States]], especially the 40 dignitaries who signed the U.S. Constitution at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and the 56 57 signers of the Declaration of Independence. Historians consider the most important founders to include [[John Adams]], [[Samuel Adams]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[James Madison]], and [[George Washington]]. Each has been studied in depth. Historians speak of Franklin's wide-ranging genius, Washington's charismatic is known for his leadership, and honesty; Hamilton for his brilliance; John Adams for his morality; Franklin for his inventiveness; Madison for his scholarship; and Jefferson's paradoxical for his egalitarianism, Madison's brilliant constitutionalism Hamilton's ambitious state-building, and Adams's quirkiness.

==Republicanism==The Founding Fathers sought 55 initial participants—all of whom would be considered "HonorFounders" --freedom from corruptionin the broad sense of the term—wrote 15,000 articles, books and a positive devotion to civic virtueother materials. These were key elements of A study found that the [[RepublicanismBible]], and the Founding Fathers made republicanism the core values comprised 34% of their direct quotations. They particularly liked quoting the American system [[Book of governmentDeuteronomy]]. <ref>https://juicyecumenism.com/2017/05/26/bibles-significance-american-founders/</ref>

The last surviving member of the signers of the Declaration was [[CorruptionCharles Carroll of Carrollton]] was the great evil , and the last surviving Founding Fathers confronted. When Britain showed too much corruption, it Father was time to break free with the [[American RevolutionJames Madison]]. To overcome the temptations of corruption<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HGkXMM--such as luxury CXxMC&pg=PA87 Virginia's Historic Homes and bribery--in their own lives, the Founding Fathers cultivated the virtue of disinterestednessGardens]</ref><ref>[https://books. That is, the made a conscious effort to not be the creature of his financial interests, and not give any sign to the public that they sought luxury or bribesgoogle. com/books?id=MlNWU1e9ppUC&pg=PA181 The goal was American Presidents, Washington to be impartial, concerned only for the public good, not the advancement of friends or, still less, of party. Tyler]</ref>

==Views==[[Image:Writing the Declaration.jpg|right|thumb|230px|[[Benjamin Franklin]], [[John Adams]], and [[Thomas Jefferson]] drafting the [[Declaration of Independence]]. ]]The overall philosophy of the founding fathers can be summarized as "[[Americanism]]." ===Freedom and natural law===The founding fathers were heavily influenced by [[John Locke]], who promoted the principles of [[individual freedom]] and a [[limited government]] based on [[natural law]] and [[unalienable rights]], as advocated by [[John Locke]].<ref name="USHistory.org">[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2.asp 2. Foundations of American Government]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="CRF-USA.org">[https://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/natural-rights.html The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights]. ''Constitutional Rights Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The founding fathers themselves strongly supported these principles.<ref name="BoRI">[https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/founders-quotes/ Founders’ Quotes on Founding Principles]. ''Bill of Rights Institute''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Bleau, Hannah (July 4, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/07/04/13-patriotic-quotes-from-americas-founding-fathers/ 13 Patriotic Quotes from America’s Founding Fathers]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 4, 2019.</ref> Their experience with the tyrannical British government made them distrustful of a powerful government, and their resolve to not repeat this experience is reflected in the U.S. Constitution and [[Bill of Rights]].<ref name="Best">Best, James D. [http://www.whatwouldthefoundersthink.com/the-founders-believed-in-limited-government The Founders Believed in Limited Government]. ''What Would the Founders Think''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> For example, the Constitution goes to great lengths to mandate the [[separation of powers]], and the Bill of Rights further limits government power to protect individual rights.<ref name="Best"/><ref>Pilon, Roger (July 21, 1995). [https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/founders-intended-only-limited-powers Founders Intended Only Limited Powers]. ''CATO Institute'' (from ''USA Today''). Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref name="Federalism">[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/3a.asp 3a. The Founders and Federalism]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>Beeman, Richard R. [https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/white-pages/the-constitutional-convention-of-1787-a-revolution-in-government The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Revolution in Government]. ''Constitution Center''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2c.asp 2c. Creating the Constitution]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[http://www.ushistory.org/gov/2d.asp 2d. The Bill of Rights]. ''USHistory.org''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> The founders also emphasized the importance of property rights.<ref name="BoRI"/><ref>Snowball, Timothy (July 11, 2019). [https://pacificlegal.org/the-founding-fathers-of-our-limited-government-george-washington-and-the-importance-of-property-rights/ The Founding Fathers of our limited government: George Washington and the importance of property rights]. ''Pacific Legal Foundation''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> Many of the founding fathers warned Americans to stay vigilant against trends that erode individual freedom, including the growth of bureaucracy, violation of the separation of powers, and judicial supremacy.<ref>[https://nccs.net/blogs/articles/strong-warnings-from-the-founders Strong Warnings from the Founders]. ''National Center for Constitutional Studies''. Retrieved August 24, 2019.</ref> ===Views on Slavery===With the understanding that Liberty is the gift of God, the Founding Fathers well understood that [[slavery]] was morally wrong despite facing the question of what could practically be done against it.<ref>Madden, Nate (December 31, 2019). [https://www.conservativereview.com/news/pete-buttigieg-said-framers-constitution-not-understand-slavery-bad-thing-heres-reality-check/ Pete Buttigieg once said that the framers of the Constitution ‘did not understand that slavery was a bad thing.’ Here’s a reality check]. ''Conservative Review''. Retrieved December 31, 2019.</ref> In many instances however, the Founders recognized that slavery which was brought here by the British Empire could not be eliminated immediately without risking the cohesion between the [[Thirteen Colonies]]. Without this cohesion, the Founders feared, all would be hung.<ref>"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately", Benjamin Franklin</ref> When America declared Independence, Franklin's ''Join or Die'' captured this sentiment in a very powerful way. Thirteen years later at the [[Constitutional Convention]], James Madison expressed his concern that "the greatest danger is that of disunion of the States",<ref>[https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_823.asp Madison Debates - August 23]</ref> making it clear that for more than a decade nothing scared the Founding generation more than the might of a known superpower where the sun never set. In private correspondence as well as major acts or events, the Founders wrote of Britain's role, such as in the Original "rough draught" of the Declaration of Independence; the topic of the British government's role in slavery came up in discussion at the [[Constitutional Convention]],<ref>[https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_822.asp Madison Debates - August 22], Col. Mason: This infernal traffic originated in the avarice of British Merchants. ''The British Govt constantly checked the attempts of Virginia to put a stop to it.''</ref> and several founders such as Thomas Paine and Benjamin Rush published pamphlets decrying the practice.<ref>An Address to the inhabitants of the British Settlements on the Slavery of the Negroes in America, by Benjamin Rush</ref> Not wanting to build a government with a single figure as powerful as a king, the Founders sought a Republican form. As a republican form, all domestic issues are decided on a state level, which included the issue of slavery. As early as 1780, the Founding generation succeeded in abolishing slavery. Pennsylvania was the first state to abolish it, followed by Massachusetts in 1783 and Rhode Island and Connecticut in 1784. Other states would continue to follow suit in years to come. The famous [[Northwest Ordinance]] specifically forbid slavery. ===Republicanism===[[File:Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States.jpg|thumb|300px|Signing of the United States Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy in 1940]]The Founding Fathers sought "Honor"—freedom from corruption, and a positive devotion to civic virtue. These were key elements of [[Republicanism]], and the Founding Fathers made republicanism the core values of the American system of government.  [[Corruption]] was the great evil the Founding Fathers confronted. When Britain showed too much corruption, it was time to break free with the [[American Revolution]]. To overcome the temptations of corruption—such as luxury and bribery—in their own lives, the Founding Fathers cultivated the virtue of disinterestedness. That is, the made a conscious effort to not be the creature of his financial interests, and not give any sign to the public that they sought luxury or bribes. The goal was to be impartial, concerned only for the public good, not the advancement of friends or, still less, of party.  Even personal shame and humiliation was preferable to a tarnished honor or the hint of corruption. When Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton was accused of corruption for making secret payments to a man named James Reynolds, Hamilton revealed he had been set up and was paying blackmail to Reynolds following an affair with Mrs. Reynolds. Duels over honor were common in the era--Hamilton era—Hamilton was killed in one, as was Hamilton's son. ===Sovereignty===The Founding Fathers cared deeply about preserving [[national sovereignty]], since a sovereign U.S. government would serve the American people alone and protect their unalienable rights, and let them govern themselves.<ref name="Groves2010">Groves, Steven (December 3, 2010). [https://www.heritage.org/american-founders/report/why-does-sovereignty-matter-america Why Does Sovereignty Matter to America?] ''The Heritage Foundation''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref> In fact, they chose to declare independence because [[United Kingdom|Britain]] was not respecting their right to self-government.<ref name="Groves2010"/> For example, in [[George Washington's Farewell Address|his farewell address]] in September 1796, [[George Washington]] warned his fellow Americans against becoming entangled in international treaties and alliances, as he knew it would end American freedom.<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp Washington's Farewell Address 1796]. ''The Avalon Project -- Yale Law School''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21/pdf/GPO-CDOC-106sdoc21.pdf Washington's Farewell Address]. ''Government Publishing Office''. Retrieved November 27, 2017.</ref> In addition to Washington, [[Gouverneur Morris]] criticized "Citizens of the World" at the [[Constitutional Convention]] in 1787 and called for constitutional restrictions on foreigners such as a ban on holding office.<ref>[http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/debates_809.asp Madison Debates – Tuesday August 9, 1787]. ''The Avalon Project''. Retrieved December 8, 2018.</ref> ===Federalism and separation of powers===The founding fathers strongly supported the principles of [[federalism]] and the [[separation of powers]] to ensure a limited government.<ref name="Federalism"/><ref>Byas, Steve (December 10, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/30746-what-happened-to-federalism What Happened to Federalism?] ''The New American''. Retrieved December 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Green, Mark (December 29, 2019). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rep-mark-green-want-to-save-america-this-gift-from-the-founders-is-the-only-way Rep. Mark Green: Want to save America? Embracing this gift from the Founders is the only way]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 30, 2019.</ref> ===Religion===The [[founding fathers]] did not discuss or advocate for a "[[separation of church and state]]."<ref>Dinan, Stephen; Swoyer, Alex (January 2, 2020). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jan/2/founding-fathers-never-discussed-separation-betwee/ Founding fathers never discussed wall of separation between church and state]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 4, 2020.</ref> They were religiously and theologically diverse, coming from several denominational backgrounds.<ref name="Holmes">David L. Holmes. [https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Founding-Fathers-Deism-and-Christianity-1272214 The Founding Fathers, Deism, and Christianity]. ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref> Their actual beliefs and practices are debated, but here too, they were diverse and must not be generalized.<ref name="Frazer"/> Some argue that the majority of the founding fathers were deists,<ref name="Holmes"/> while others argue that the most important fathers were "theistic rationalists," meaning they were not deists, but not necessarily Christians either.<ref name="Frazer">Dr. Greg Frazer. [http://masters.edu/the-faith-of-the-founding-fathers/ The Faith of the Founding Fathers]. ''The Master's University''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref> Despite this, scholars agree that some founding fathers were orthodox Christians.<ref name="Holmes"/><ref name="Frazer"/> The founding fathers that were not Christians were influenced by Christianity in a culture where publicly being a Christian was normal.<ref name="Frazer"/> The founding fathers considered to be "theistic rationalists" did believe God was active in earthly affairs and that religion was essentially important to society because it brought [[morality]].<ref name="Frazer"/> However, they believed this to be true for all religions, rather than just Christianity.<ref name="Frazer"/> They opposed the establishment of an official religion but supported religion in public life.<ref name="Frazer"/> In a Judiciary Committee report published by the House of Representatives in 1854 titled "''Chaplains in Congress and in the Army and Navy''" it was noted that::In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity; that, in its general principles, is the great conservative element on which we must rely for the purity and permanence of free institutions. That was the religion of the founders of the republic, and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Reports_of_Committees/zaoFAAAAQAAJ Reports of Committees - 16th Congress, 1st Session - 49th Congress, 1st Session], 1854, H. Rep. 124, 33rd Congress, 1st Session</ref> ==== A Table of the Religious Affiliations of American Founders ==== *[https://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/qtable.htm A Table of the Religious Affiliations of American Founders]

*[[Samuel Huntington (signer)|Samuel Huntington]]

*[[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]

*[[James Smith (signer)| James Smith]]

*[[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]

*[[Pierce Butler (Founding Father)|Pierce Butler]]

*[[John Dickinson (congressman)|John Dickinson]]

*[[Robert Morris (merchantfinancier)|Robert Morris]]

==Further reading==* Ellis, Joseph J. ''Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation'' (2002), good overview Genius of leading figures by top scholar [http://www.amazon.com/Founding-Brothers-Revolutionary-Joseph-Ellis/dp/0375705244/ref=cm_lmf_img_5_rdssss0 excerpt and text search]* McClanahan, Brion. ''The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers'' (2009), popular book by conservative writer. [http://www.amazon.com/Politically-Incorrect-Founding-Fathers-Guides/dp/1596980923/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251266508&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]* Wood, Gordon. ''Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different'' (2007), very good overview by leading conservative scholar [http://books.google.com/books?id=uOovRxek5AIC&dq=intitle:Revolutionary+intitle:Characters+inauthor:wood&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&numfounding fathers =30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]

*[https://www.heritage.org/the-essential-constitution/the-genius-the-constitution The Genius of the Constitution], Heritage Foundation*[https://www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/first-principles-the-genius-of-the-constitution/article_d2c7ae87-dc04-59f1-8cb6-f287bd701312.html First Principles: The genius of the Constitution], ''The Daily Star''*[https://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/faculty_scholarship/454/ Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved Our Country and Why it Can Again], abstract. Hofstra Law Faculty Scholarship *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v== References ==B_QMHo-Keac Why the Founding Fathers Were Probably Smarter Than Us], CBN News (Video)*[https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2006/01/15/ben-franklin-was-a-genius/31470688007/ Ben Franklin was a genius], ''The Gainsville Sun'' *[https://washingtonpapers.org/resources/articles/george-washington-genius-in-leadership/ George Washington, Genius in Leadership], Washington Papers website

== Founding Fathers Quotes ==* [http://www.archivesmarksquotes.govcom/exhibitsFounding-Fathers/chartersMark's Quotes: Founding Fathers Quotes]* [http:/charters/www.html The Constitution from the National Archivesdojgov.net/Liberty_Watch.htm USDOJ & Government Watch: Spirit of America Liberty Quotes]* [http://www.foundingfatherseadshome.infocom/documents/constitutionQuotesoftheFounders.html htm Eads Home Ministries: Founding Fathers Quotes] ==Further reading==* Ellis, Joseph J. ''Founding Brothers: The Constitution Revolutionary Generation'' (2002), good overview of leading figures by top scholar [https://www.amazon.com/Founding-Brothers-Revolutionary-Joseph-Ellis/dp/0375705244/ref=cm_lmf_img_5_rdssss0 excerpt and text search]* McClanahan, Brion. ''The Politically Incorrect Guide to the United States of AmericaFounding Fathers'' (2009), popular book by conservative writer. [https://www.amazon.com/Politically-Incorrect-Founding-Fathers-Guides/dp/1596980923/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251266508&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]* Wood, Gordon. ''Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different'' (2007), very good overview by leading conservative scholar [https://books.google.com/books?id=uOovRxek5AIC&dq=intitle:Revolutionary+intitle:Characters+inauthor:wood&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]

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