Difference between revisions of "Founding Fathers"

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[[File:Gilbert Stuart Portrait of George Washington.jpg|thumb|Portrait of George Washington by [[Gilbert Stuart]].]]
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'''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 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]].  Washington 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 for his egalitarianism.
 
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The 55 initial participants—all of whom would be considered "Founders" in the broad sense of the term—wrote 15,000 articles, books and other materials.  A study found that the [[Bible]] comprised 34% of their direct quotations.  They particularly liked quoting the [[Book of Deuteronomy]].
 
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The last surviving member of the signers of the Declaration was [[Charles Carroll of Carrollton]], and the last surviving Founding Father was [[James Madison]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HGkXMM-CXxMC&pg=PA87 Virginia's Historic Homes and Gardens]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MlNWU1e9ppUC&pg=PA181 The American Presidents, Washington to Tyler]</ref>
 
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==Views==
 
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===Freedom and natural law===
 
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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>
 
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===Views on Slavery===
 
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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.
 
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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>
 
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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.
 
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The famous [[Northwest Ordinance]] specifically forbid slavery.
 
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===Republicanism===
 
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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.
 
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[[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.
 
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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 was killed in one, as was Hamilton's son.
 
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===Sovereignty===
 
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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>
 
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===Federalism and separation of powers===
 
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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>
 
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===Religion===
 
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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"/>
 
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==religious affiliations of founding fathers==
 
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==List of presidents by religious affiliation==
 
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
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|-
 
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! Name
 
−
! Religion
 
−
! Branch
 
−
! Further branch
 
−
! Specific denomination
 
−
! Years in office
 
−
! Notes
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Harding|[[Warren G. Harding]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Baptist]]
 
−
| [[American Baptist Churches USA|Northern Baptist]]
 
−
| 1921–1923
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Truman|[[Harry S. Truman]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Baptist]]
 
−
| [[American Baptist Churches USA|Northern Baptist]]
 
−
| 1945–1953
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Carter|[[Jimmy Carter]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Baptist]]
 
−
| [[Southern Baptist Convention]], [[New Baptist Covenant]]
 
−
| 1977–1981
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Clinton|[[Bill Clinton]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Baptist]]
 
−
| [[Southern Baptist]]
 
−
| 1993–2001
 
−
| Later left the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Coolidge|[[Calvin Coolidge]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States|Congregationalist]]
 
−
| 1923–1929
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Garfield|[[James A. Garfield]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Restoration Movement|Restorationist]]
 
−
| [[Churches of Christ]]
 
−
| 1881–1881
 
−
| Formerly a member of the [[Disciples of Christ]] before it split into the Disciples of Christ and the [[Churches of Christ]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Johnson L|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Restoration Movement|Restorationist]]
 
−
| [[Disciples of Christ]]
 
−
| 1963–1969
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Van|[[Martin Van Buren]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Reformed Church in America]]
 
−
| 1837–1841
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Roosevelt T|[[Theodore Roosevelt]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Reformed Church in America]]
 
−
| 1901–1909
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Jackson|[[Andrew Jackson]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]
 
−
| 1829–1837
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Buchanan|[[James Buchanan]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]
 
−
| 1857–1861
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Cleveland|[[Grover Cleveland]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]
 
−
| 1885–1889
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Harrison B|[[Benjamin Harrison]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]
 
−
| 1889–1893
 
−
| [[Ruling elder]] of First Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Wilson|[[Woodrow Wilson]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]
 
−
| 1913–1921
 
−
| Became a [[ruling elder]] of Second Presbyterian Church in [[Princeton, New Jersey]] in 1897
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Eisenhower|[[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America]]
 
−
| 1953–1961
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Reagan|[[Ronald Reagan]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]]
 
−
| 1981–1989
 
−
| Baptized into the [[Disciples of Christ]] but disaffiliated and became a member of [[Bel Air Presbyterian Church]] in his later years
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Trump|[[Donald Trump]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Reformed]]
 
−
| [[Presbyterian]]<ref name = unplugged>{{cite web |url=http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=42268 |title=Trump Unplugged |last=Mattera |first=Jason |date=March 14, 2011 |work=[[Human Events]] |accessdate=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316171032/http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=42268 |archive-date=March 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
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|style="white-space: nowrap;"| 2017–present
 
−
| Was married to his wife Melania in the Episcopal church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida.  Their son Barron was baptized there.  They attend that church regularly when they are in Florida. <ref>https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/new-the-palm-beach-church-where-trump-could-attend-easter-service/26I1Yi18vf08Tte6x0QSJI/</ref>  <ref>https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/photos-trump-church-crossing-boundary-capturing-history/6b5Vz6pdSFiT5BN4gTlSIK/</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Washington|[[George Washington]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1789–1797
 
−
| Baptized into the [[Church of England]]. It was reorganized as the Episcopal Church after the [[American Revolution]].
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Madison|[[James Madison]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1809–1817
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Monroe|[[James Monroe]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1817–1825
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
|style="white-space: nowrap;"| {{sort|Harrison W|[[William Henry Harrison]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1841–1841
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Tyler|[[John Tyler]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1841–1845
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Taylor|[[Zachary Taylor]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1849–1850
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Pierce|[[Franklin Pierce]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1853–1857
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Arthur|[[Chester A. Arthur]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1881–1885
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Roosevelt F|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1933–1945
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Ford|[[Gerald Ford|Gerald R. Ford]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1974–1977
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Bush GH|[[George H. W. Bush]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Anglican]]
 
−
| [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]
 
−
| 1989–1993
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Polk|[[James K. Polk]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Methodism|Methodist]]
 
−
| [[Methodist]]
 
−
| 1845–1849
 
−
| Never baptized until on his deathbed. Formerly more or less affiliated with [[Presbyterian]] churches. He eventually received a deathbed Methodist baptism by Methodist preacher [[John Berry McFerrin]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mayo|first1=Louise|title=President James K. Polk : the dark horse president|date=2006|publisher=Nova History Publications|location=New York|isbn=1594547181|page=8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PYSs5yfHZCIC&pg=PA8|accessdate=19 September 2016}}</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Grant|[[Ulysses Grant]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]<ref name=adherents1>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/pg/Ulysses_Grant.html|title=Religion of Ulysses S Grant, U.S. President|publisher=}}</ref>
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Methodist]]<ref name=adherents1/>
 
−
| [[Methodist]]
 
−
| 1869–1877
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|McKinley|[[William McKinley]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Methodism|Methodist]]
 
−
| [[Methodist Episcopal Church]]
 
−
| 1897–1901
 
−
| Member of [[First Methodist Episcopal Church (Canton, Ohio)|First Methodist Episcopal Church]] in [[Canton, Ohio]]
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Bush GW|[[George W. Bush]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Methodist]]
 
−
| [[United Methodist]]
 
−
| 2001–2009
 
−
| Former Episcopalian. Bush left his family's Episcopal church to join his wife's United Methodist church.<ref name=um>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/etc/script.html |title=The Jesus Factor |accessdate=September 1, 2008 |publisher=[[PBS]]}}</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Hoover|[[Herbert Hoover]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]]
 
−
| N/A<ref name="ReferenceA">There are no Quaker denominations ''as such'' to be compared with, for example, the United Methodist Church or the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]] and there never were. Quakers are independent of being affiliated with a specific denomination and Quaker membership can only be more or less estimated on their yearly meetings which provides a contentious image of how many Quakers there really are.</ref>
 
−
| 1929–1933
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Nixon|[[Richard M. Nixon]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]]
 
−
| N/A<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
 
−
| 1969–1974
 
−
| Raised in an [[Evangelical Friends Church International|Evangelical Friends]] affiliated church.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dockhorn |first1=Robert |title=''Nixon's First Cover-Up: The Religious Life of a Quaker President'' — reviewed |url=https://www.friendsjournal.org/nixons-first-cover-up-the-religious-life-of-a-quaker-president/ |website=[[Friends Journal]] |accessdate=8 March 2019 |date=1 November 2015}}</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Adams J|[[John Adams]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Nontrinitarian]]
 
−
| [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]
 
−
| N/A
 
−
| 1797–1801
 
−
| Former [[Congregationalism in the United States|Congregationalist]]. He later became a Unitarian, and dropped belief in predestination, eternal damnation, the divinity of Christ, and most other Calvinist beliefs of his Puritan ancestors.
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Adams JQ|[[John Quincy Adams]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Nontrinitarian]]
 
−
| [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]
 
−
| N/A
 
−
| 1825–1829
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Fillmore|[[Millard Fillmore]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Nontrinitarian]]
 
−
| [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]
 
−
| N/A
 
−
| 1850–1853
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Taft|[[William Howard Taft]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Nontrinitarian]]
 
−
| [[Unitarianism|Unitarian]]
 
−
| N/A
 
−
| 1909–1913
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Obama|[[Barack Obama]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| Unspecified [[Protestant]]<ref name="Obama religion">* {{cite web|year=2009 |title=American President: Barack Obama |location=Charlottesville, VA |publisher=Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia |url=http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/obama |accessdate=January 23, 2009 |quote=Religion: Christian |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123091100/http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/obama |archivedate=January 23, 2009 |url-status=dead }}
 
−
* {{cite web|title=The Truth about Barack's Faith |publisher=Obama for America |url=http://www.fightthesmears.com/file_download/2/baracksfaith.pdf |accessdate=July 1, 2012 |archivedate=January 5, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110105040018/http://www.fightthesmears.com/file_download/2/baracksfaith.pdf }}
 
−
* {{cite news|author=Miller, Lisa |date=July 18, 2008 |title=Finding his faith |work=Newsweek |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/145971 |accessdate=February 4, 2010 |quote=He is now a Christian, having been baptized in the early 1990s at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206163704/http://www.newsweek.com/id/145971 |archivedate=February 6, 2010 |url-status=live }}
 
−
* {{cite news|author=Barakat, Matthew |agency=Associated Press |date=November 17, 2008 |title=Obama's church choice likely to be scrutinized; D.C. churches have started extending invitations to Obama and his family |publisher=NBC News |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27775757 |accessdate=January 20, 2009 |quote=The United Church of Christ, the denomination from which Obama resigned when he left Wright's church, issued a written invitation to join a UCC denomination in Washington and resume his connections to the church. }}
 
−
* {{cite web|date=January 20, 2009 |title=Barack Obama, long time UCC member, inaugurated forty-fourth U.S. President |publisher=United Church of Christ |url=http://www.ucc.org/news/obama-inauguration.html |accessdate=January 21, 2009 |quote=Barack Obama, who spent more than 20 years as a UCC member, is the forty-fourth President of the United States. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125002304/http://www.ucc.org/news/obama-inauguration.html |archivedate=January 25, 2009 |url-status=live }}
 
−
* {{cite news|author=Sullivan, Amy |date=June 29, 2009 |title=The Obama's find a church home&nbsp;– away from home |work=Time |location=New York |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1907610,00.html |accessdate=February 5, 2010 |quote=instead of joining a congregation in Washington, D.C., he will follow in George W. Bush's footsteps and make his primary place of worship Evergreen Chapel, the nondenominational church at Camp David.}}
 
−
* {{cite news|author=Kornblut, Anne E. |date=February 4, 2010 |title=Obama's spirituality is largely private, but it's influential, advisers say |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A6 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303619.html |accessdate=February 5, 2010 |quote=Obama prays privately&nbsp;... And when he takes his family to Camp David on the weekends, a Navy chaplain ministers to them, with the daughters attending a form of Sunday school there.}}</ref>
 
−
| Various, including Episcopalian, Baptist and Methodist churches
 
−
| 2009–2017
 
−
| Former [[United Church of Christ]] member.<ref name="Obama religion" /> He left it as a presidential candidate during the [[Jeremiah Wright controversy]] in 2008.
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Hayes|[[Rutherford B. Hayes]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]<ref name=adherents2>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/ph/Rutherford_B_Hayes.html|title=The religion of Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th U.S. President|publisher=}}</ref>
 
−
| [[Protestant]]
 
−
| Unspecified [[Protestant]]<ref name=adherents2/>
 
−
| Presbyterian and Methodist churches
 
−
| 1877–1881
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Kennedy|[[John F. Kennedy]]}}
 
−
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
 
−
| [[Catholic]]
 
−
| [[Roman Catholic]]
 
−
| [[Catholic Church in the United States]]
 
−
| 1961–1963
 
−
| Only [[Roman Catholic]] president to date.
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Johnson A|[[Andrew Johnson]]}}
 
−
|[[Christianity|Christian]] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/pj/Andrew_Johnson.html|title=Religion of Andrew Johnson, U.S. President|publisher=}}</ref>
 
−
|No formal affiliation<ref name="PewResearch2017">{{Cite news|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/01/20/almost-all-presidents-have-been-christians/|title=Almost all U.S. presidents, including Trump, have been Christians|date=2017-01-20|newspaper=Pew Research Center|access-date=2017-02-04|language=en-US}}</ref>
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
| 1865–1869
 
−
| Johnson self-identified as a Christian, but he is not known to have been a member of any church. He sometimes attended Methodist services with his wife, and he also attended Catholic services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adherents.com/people/pj/Andrew_Johnson.html|title=Religion of Andrew Johnson, U.S. President|publisher=}}</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Lincoln|[[Abraham Lincoln]]}}
 
−
| [[Religious views of Abraham Lincoln|None specified]]
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
| 1861–1865
 
−
|
 
−
*Abraham Lincoln was raised in a [[Reformed Baptist]] family.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association|title=Abraham Lincoln and the Doctrine of Necessity|url=https://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jala/2629860.0018.105/--abraham-lincoln-and-the-doctrine-of-necessity?rgn=main;view=fulltext}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Indiana Magazine of History|title=The Religious Environment of Lincoln's Youth|url=https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/imh/article/view/7278/8269}}</ref>
 
−
*Scholars and various sources have contradicting opinions as to whether or not Lincoln was a Christian.
 
−
*Although Lincoln never made an unambiguous public profession of Christian belief, several people who knew him personally, such as [[Chaplain of the United States Senate|Chaplain of the Senate]] [[Phineas Densmore Gurley|Phineas Gurley]] and his wife [[Mary Todd Lincoln]], claimed that he believed in Christ in the religious sense.<ref name="online">Mary T. Lincoln to James Smith, June 8, 1870, in Robert J. Havlik, "Abraham Lincoln and the Reverend Dr. James Smith: Lincoln's Presbyterian experience of Springfield," ''Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society'' (Autumn, 1999) [https://web.archive.org/web/20090127011750/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3945/is_199910/ai_n8861124/pg_8 online]</ref><ref name="Reed 339">{{cite journal |first=James A. |last=Reed |title=The Later Life and Religious Sentiments of Abraham Lincoln |journal=Scribner's Monthly |volume=6| issue =  3 |date=July 1873 |page=339 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=KOYGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA333&dq=%22Scribner%27s+Monthly%22+%2B1873+%2B%22The+Later+Life+and+Religious+Sentiments+of+Abraham+Lincoln%22 |accessdate=2010-02-20}} quoting Phineas Gurley</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/?id=KOYGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA333&dq=%22Scribner%27s+Monthly%22+%2B1873+%2B%22The+Later+Life+and+Religious+Sentiments+of+Abraham+Lincoln%22 |title=The Later Life and Religious Sentiments of Abraham Lincoln |publisher=Scribner's Monthly |volume=6| issue =  3 |first=James A. |last=Reed |date=July 1873 |page=340 |accessdate=2010-02-20}} Noah Brooks to J.A. Reed, December 31, 1872 <!-- also available at |url=http://www.infidelsorg/library/historical/john_remsburg/six_historic_americans/chapter_5.html#1.7 -->
 
−
</ref>
 
−
*However, close friends who knew Lincoln for years, such as [[Ward Hill Lamon]] and [[William Herndon (lawyer)|William Herndon]], rejected the idea that he was a believing Christian.<ref name=Steiner1936>
 
−
{{cite book|url=http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/steinlinc.htm |title=Religious Beliefs of Our Presidents |first=Franklin |last=Steiner |year=1936 |chapter=Abraham Lincoln, Deist, and Admirer of Thomas Paine |accessdate=2010-05-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613034008/http://positiveatheism.org/hist/steinlinc.htm |archivedate=2010-06-13 }}</ref>
 
−
|-
 
−
| {{sort|Jefferson|[[Thomas Jefferson]]}}
 
−
| [[Thomas Jefferson and religion|None specified]]<!--Discuss on talk page before removing!--><ref>https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/thomas-jefferson.html</ref>
 
−
| 
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
| 1801–1809
 
−
| Although raised as an [[Anglican]], Jefferson later in life rejected the idea of the [[divinity of Jesus]] and became a [[Deism|deist]].<ref>https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/jeffersons-religious-beliefs</ref>
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
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"/>
 
−
 
 
−
== Signatories of the [[Declaration of Independence]] ==
 
−
[[File:Declaration of Independence by Trumbull.jpg|thumb|300px|Signing of the Declaration of Independence, by [[John Trumbull]] in 1817–1819]]
 
−
{|
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[John Adams]]
 
−
*[[Samuel Adams]]
 
−
*[[Josiah Bartlett]]
 
−
*[[Carter Braxton]]
 
−
*[[Charles Carroll of Carrollton|Charles Carroll]]
 
−
*[[Samuel Chase]]
 
−
*[[Abraham Clark]]
 
−
*[[George Clymer]]
 
−
*[[William Ellery]]
 
−
*[[William Floyd]]
 
−
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
 
−
*[[Elbridge Gerry]]
 
−
*[[Button Gwinnett]]
 
−
*[[Lyman Hall]]
 
−
*[[John Hancock]]
 
−
*[[Benjamin Harrison V|Benjamin Harrison]]
 
−
*[[John Hart]]
 
−
*[[Joseph Hewes]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Heyward]]
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[William Hooper]]
 
−
*[[Stephen Hopkins]]
 
−
*[[Francis Hopkinson]]
 
−
*[[Samuel Huntington (signer)|Samuel Huntington]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Jefferson]]
 
−
*[[Francis Lightfoot Lee]]
 
−
*[[Richard Henry Lee]]
 
−
*[[Francis Lewis]]
 
−
*[[Philip Livingston]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Lynch, Jr.]]
 
−
*[[Thomas McKean]]
 
−
*[[Arthur Middleton]]
 
−
*[[Lewis Morris]]
 
−
*[[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]
 
−
*[[John Morton]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Nelson, Jr.]]
 
−
*[[William Paca]]
 
−
*[[John Penn]]
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[Robert Treat Paine]]
 
−
*[[George Read]]
 
−
*[[Caesar Rodney]]
 
−
*[[George Ross]]
 
−
*[[Benjamin Rush]]
 
−
*[[Edward Rutledge]]
 
−
*[[Roger Sherman]]
 
−
*[[James Smith (signer)|James Smith]]
 
−
*[[Richard Stockton]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Stone]]
 
−
*[[George Taylor]]
 
−
*[[Matthew Thornton]]
 
−
*[[George Walton]]
 
−
*[[William Whipple]]
 
−
*[[William Williams]]
 
−
*[[James Wilson]]
 
−
*[[John Witherspoon]]
 
−
*[[Oliver Wolcott]]
 
−
*[[George Wythe]]
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
== Signatories of the [[Articles of Confederation]] ==
 
−
{|
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[Andrew Adams]]
 
−
*[[Samuel Adams]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Adams]]
 
−
*[[John Banister]]
 
−
*[[Josiah Bartlett]]
 
−
*[[Daniel Carroll]]
 
−
*[[William Clingan]]
 
−
*[[John Collins]]
 
−
*[[Francis Dana]]
 
−
*[[John Dickinson]]
 
−
*[[William Henry Drayton]]
 
−
*[[James Duane]]
 
−
*[[William Duer]]
 
−
*[[William Ellery]]
 
−
*[[Elbridge Gerry]]
 
−
*[[John Hancock]]
 
−
*[[John Hanson]]
 
−
*[[Cornelius Harnett]]
 
−
*[[John Harvie]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Heyward Jr.]]
 
−
*[[Samuel Holten]]
 
−
*[[Titus Hosmer]]
 
−
*[[Samuel Huntington]]
 
−
*[[Richard Hutson]]
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[Edward Langworthy]]
 
−
*[[Henry Laurens]]
 
−
*[[Francis Lightfoot Lee]]
 
−
*[[Richard Henry Lee]]
 
−
*[[Francis Lewis]]
 
−
*[[James Lovell]]
 
−
*[[Henry Marchant]]
 
−
*[[John Mathews]]
 
−
*[[Thomas McKean]]
 
−
*[[Gouverneur Morris]]
 
−
*[[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]
 
−
*[[John Penn]]
 
−
*[[Joseph Reed]]
 
−
*[[Daniel Roberdeau]]
 
−
*[[Nathaniel Scudder]]
 
−
*[[Roger Sherman]]
 
−
*[[Jonathan Bayard Smith]]
 
−
*[[Edward Telfair]]
 
−
*[[Nicholas Van Dyke]]
 
−
*[[John Walton]]
 
−
*[[John Wentworth Jr.]]
 
−
*[[John Williams]]
 
−
*[[John Witherspoon]]
 
−
*[[Oliver Wolcott]]
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
== Signatories of the [[United States Constitution]] ==
 
−
[[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]]
 
−
{|
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[Abraham Baldwin]] 
 
−
*[[Richard Bassett]]
 
−
*[[Gunning Bedford, Jr.]]
 
−
*[[John Blair]]
 
−
*[[William Blount]]
 
−
*[[David Brearly]]
 
−
*[[Jacob Broom]]
 
−
*[[Pierce Butler (Founding Father)|Pierce Butler]]
 
−
*[[Daniel Carroll]]
 
−
*[[George Clymer]]
 
−
*[[Jonathan Dayton]]
 
−
*[[John Dickinson]]
 
−
*[[William Few]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Fitzsimons]]
 
−
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
 
−
*[[Nicholas Gilman]]
 
−
*[[Nathaniel Gorham]]
 
−
*[[Alexander Hamilton]]
 
−
*[[Jared Ingersoll]]
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer]]
 
−
*[[William Samuel Johnson]]
 
−
*[[Rufus King]]
 
−
*[[John Langdon]]
 
−
*[[William Livingston]]
 
−
*[[James Madison]]
 
−
*[[James McHenry]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Mifflin]]
 
−
*[[Gouverneur Morris]]                   
 
−
*[[Robert Morris (financier)|Robert Morris]]
 
−
*[[William Paterson (jurist)|William Paterson]]
 
−
*[[Charles Cotesworth Pinckney]]
 
−
*[[Governor Charles Pinckney|Charles Pinckney]]
 
−
*[[George Read (signer)|George Read]]
 
−
*[[John Rutledge]]
 
−
*[[Roger Sherman]]
 
−
*[[Richard Dobbs Spaight]]
 
−
*[[George Washington]] (president of the Convention)
 
−
*[[Hugh Williamson]]
 
−
*[[James Wilson]]
 
−
*[[William Jackson (secretary)|William Jackson]] (Secretary)
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
== Other Founding Fathers ==
 
−
{|
 
−
| valign="top" |
 
−
*[[Oliver Ellsworth]]
 
−
*[[Patrick Henry]]
 
−
*[[John Jay]]
 
−
*[[George Mason]]
 
−
*[[Thomas Paine]]
 
−
|}
 
−
 
 
−
==Further reading==
 
−
* Ellis, Joseph J. ''Founding Brothers: The 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 Founding 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]
 
−
 
 
−
== See also ==
 
−
* [[Founding Fathers quotes that mention God]]
 
−
* [[Gallery of American Heroes]]
 
−
* [[David Ramsay]]
 
−
* [[Hero]]: [[Gallery of American Heroes]]
 
−
* [[Memorial Day]], [[Veterans Day]], [[Remembrance Day]]
 
−
* [[Vow]]
 
−
 
 
−
== References ==
 
−
{{reflist|1}}
 
−
 
 
−
== External links ==
 
−
* [https://www.archives.gov/ The National Archives]
 
−
* [https://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/ The National Archives - Historical Documents]
 
−
* [http://patriotpost.us/histdocs/ The Patriot Post - Historical Documents]
 
−
* [https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/charters.html The Constitution from the National Archives]
 
−
* [http://www.foundingfathers.info/documents/constitution.html The Constitution of the United States of America]
 
−
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=iKrsV46o00AC Anti-slavery in America from the Introduction of African Slaves to the Prohibition of the Slave Trade (1619-1808)], by Mary Stoughton Locke, 1901
 
−
 
 
−
== Founding Fathers Quotes ==
 
−
* [http://www.marksquotes.com/Founding-Fathers/ Mark's Quotes: Founding Fathers Quotes]
 
−
* [http://www.dojgov.net/Liberty_Watch.htm USDOJ & Government Watch: Spirit of America Liberty Quotes]
 
−
* [http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm Eads Home Ministries: Founding Fathers Quotes]
 
−
 
 
−
{{Conservatism}}
 
−
{{Nationalism}}
 
−
{{Greatest Thinkers}}
 
−
 
 
−
[[Category:Founding Fathers]]
 
−
[[Category:Republicanism]]
 
−
[[Category:Conservatives]]
 
−
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
 
−
[[Category:People Associated with Firearms]]
 
−
[[Category:American Gun Rights Advocates]]
 
−
[[Category:United States History Figures]]
 
−
[[Category:Patriots]]
 

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