Difference between revisions of "Founding Fathers"

From Conservapedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(251 intermediate revisions by 43 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
The Founding Fathers are the leaders who founded the United States, and especially those who were at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to draft the U.S. Constitution.
+
[[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 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]]. 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.  
  
−
The following persons are commonly included as Founding Fathers, roughly in order of significance:
+
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]].<ref>https://juicyecumenism.com/2017/05/26/bibles-significance-american-founders/</ref>
  
−
George Washington
+
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>
−
<br>Alexander Hamilton
 
−
<br>Thomas Jefferson
 
−
<br>James Madison
 
−
<br>Benjamin Franklin
 
−
<br>John Jay
 
−
<br>Gouverneur Morris
 
−
<br>John Witherspoon
 
−
<br>George Mason
 
−
<br>John Adams
 
−
<br>Roger Sherman
 
−
<br>Charles C. Pinckney
 
−
<br>Patrick Henry
 
−
<br>Samuel Adams
 
  
−
There is much contention over the religious beliefs of the Founding Fathers, re: whether or not America was intended to be a Christian nation. Atheists will claim that countless letters exchanged between the founding fathers in which religion on the whole (and sometimes Christianity in particular) is declared false prove that they were atheists. This is probably not the case.  
+
==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]]."
  
−
America is demographically Christian but governmentally secular because the founding fathers were deistic Freemasons who founded America on secular principles inspired by the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. In order to be a Freemason one must profess belief in some sort of God, so while the founding fathers appeared to be secular thinkers intent on separating church and state in order to protect religion from government interference, they certainly held some sort of belief (no matter how mild) in the general idea of God.......Except for Benjamin Franklin, he said outright that he was an atheist. The rest were deists.
+
===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>
  
−
Here you will find a number of quotes illustrating the distaste for organized religion shared by the founding fathers, as well as their intention that America be governed in a secular manner:
+
===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.
  
−
  “The government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion”
+
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>
−
-John Adams
 
  
−
  “Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man”
+
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.
−
  -Thomas Jefferson
 
  
−
"The Bible is not my book, and Christianity is not my religion. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma."
+
The famous [[Northwest Ordinance]] specifically forbid slavery.
−
-Abraham Lincoln
 
  
−
“Religions are all alike -- founded upon fables and mythologies”
+
===Republicanism===
−
-Thomas Jefferson
+
[[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.  
−
"Twenty times in the course of my late reading, have I been upon the point of breaking out, 'This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!'"
 
−
  -John Adams
 
−
 
−
“The purpose of separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.”
 
−
-James Madison
 
  
−
  "Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise."
+
[[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.  
−
-James Madison
 
  
−
"Strongly guarded as is the separation between Religion and Government in the Constitution of the United States, the danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies, may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their short history."
+
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.
−
-James Madison
 
  
−
"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved -- the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!"
+
===Sovereignty===
−
-John Adams
+
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>
  
−
"And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together."
+
===Federalism and separation of powers===
−
-James Madison
+
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>
  
−
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
+
===Religion===
−
-James Madison
+
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"/>
  
−
"As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and his religion... has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the present dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble."
+
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"/>
−
-Benjamin Franklin
 
  
−
"The Christian priesthood, finding the doctrines of Christ leveled to every understanding and too plain to need explanation, saw, in the mysticisms of Plato, materials with which they might build up an artificial system which might, from its indistinctness, admit everlasting controversy, give employment for their order, and introduce it to profit, power, and pre-eminence. The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them: and for this obvious reason that nonsense can never be explained."
+
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:
−
-Thomas Jefferson
+
: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>
  
−
"What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not."
+
==== A Table of the Religious Affiliations of American Founders ====
−
-James Madison
 
  
−
"No man on Earth has less taste or talent for criticism than myself, and the least and last of all should I undertake to criticize works on the Apocalypse (Revelations). It was between fifty and sixty years since I read it and then I considered it as merely the ravings of a maniac, no more worthy, nor capable of explanation than the incoherence of our own nightly dreams."
+
*[https://candst.tripod.com/tnppage/qtable.htm A Table of the Religious Affiliations of American Founders]
−
-Thomas Jefferson
 
  
−
"The Christian god can be easily pictured as virtually the same as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of the people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites."
+
== Signatories of the [[Declaration of Independence]] ==
−
-Thomas Jefferson
+
[[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]]
 +
|}
  
−
"I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded upon fables and mythologies."
+
== Signatories of the [[Articles of Confederation]] ==
−
-Thomas Jefferson
+
{|
 +
| 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]]
 +
|}
 +
== Genius of the founding fathers ==
 +
 
 +
*[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=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.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]
 +
 
 +
==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]]
 +
== 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
 +
* [https://librivox.org/author/4127 Works by the Founding Fathers of the United States  - text and free audio] - [[LibriVox]]
 +
* [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35742/35742-h/35742-h.htm AMERICAN LEADERS AND HEROES], A PRELIMINARY TEXT-BOOK IN UNITED STATES HISTORY BY WILBUR F. GORDY, [[Project Gutenberg]]
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
{{reflist|1}}
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
{{Conservatism}}
 +
{{Greatest Thinkers}}{{Nationalism}}
 +
{{Constitutional Convention}}
 +
[[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]]

Latest revision as of 23:20, March 7, 2024

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 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. 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.

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.[1]

The last surviving member of the signers of the Declaration was Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and the last surviving Founding Father was James Madison.[2][3]

Views

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.[4][5] The founding fathers themselves strongly supported these principles.[6][7] 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.[8] 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.[8][9][10][11][12][13] The founders also emphasized the importance of property rights.[6][14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17] 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",[18] 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,[19] and several founders such as Thomas Paine and Benjamin Rush published pamphlets decrying the practice.[20]

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

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 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.[21] In fact, they chose to declare independence because Britain was not respecting their right to self-government.[21] For example, in 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.[22][23] 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.[24]

Federalism and separation of powers

The founding fathers strongly supported the principles of federalism and the separation of powers to ensure a limited government.[10][25][26]

Religion

The founding fathers did not discuss or advocate for a "separation of church and state."[27] They were religiously and theologically diverse, coming from several denominational backgrounds.[28] Their actual beliefs and practices are debated, but here too, they were diverse and must not be generalized.[29] Some argue that the majority of the founding fathers were deists,[28] while others argue that the most important fathers were "theistic rationalists," meaning they were not deists, but not necessarily Christians either.[29] Despite this, scholars agree that some founding fathers were orthodox Christians.[28][29] The founding fathers that were not Christians were influenced by Christianity in a culture where publicly being a Christian was normal.[29]

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.[29] However, they believed this to be true for all religions, rather than just Christianity.[29] They opposed the establishment of an official religion but supported religion in public life.[29]

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.[30]

A Table of the Religious Affiliations of American Founders

Signatories of the Declaration of Independence

Signing of the Declaration of Independence, by John Trumbull in 1817–1819

Signatories of the Articles of Confederation

Signatories of the United States Constitution

Signing of the United States Constitution, by Howard Chandler Christy in 1940


Other Founding Fathers

Genius of the founding fathers

Founding Fathers Quotes

Further reading

  • Ellis, Joseph J. Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation (2002), good overview of leading figures by top scholar excerpt and text search
  • McClanahan, Brion. The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Founding Fathers (2009), popular book by conservative writer. excerpt and text search
  • Wood, Gordon. Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different (2007), very good overview by leading conservative scholar excerpt and text search

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ https://juicyecumenism.com/2017/05/26/bibles-significance-american-founders/
  2. ↑ Virginia's Historic Homes and Gardens
  3. ↑ The American Presidents, Washington to Tyler
  4. ↑ 2. Foundations of American Government. USHistory.org. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  5. ↑ The Declaration of Independence and Natural Rights. Constitutional Rights Foundation. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Founders’ Quotes on Founding Principles. Bill of Rights Institute. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  7. ↑ Bleau, Hannah (July 4, 2019). 13 Patriotic Quotes from America’s Founding Fathers. Breitbart News. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Best, James D. The Founders Believed in Limited Government. What Would the Founders Think. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  9. ↑ Pilon, Roger (July 21, 1995). Founders Intended Only Limited Powers. CATO Institute (from USA Today). Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 3a. The Founders and Federalism. USHistory.org. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  11. ↑ Beeman, Richard R. The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Revolution in Government. Constitution Center. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  12. ↑ 2c. Creating the Constitution. USHistory.org. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ 2d. The Bill of Rights. USHistory.org. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  14. ↑ Snowball, Timothy (July 11, 2019). The Founding Fathers of our limited government: George Washington and the importance of property rights. Pacific Legal Foundation. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  15. ↑ Strong Warnings from the Founders. National Center for Constitutional Studies. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  16. ↑ Madden, Nate (December 31, 2019). 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.
  17. ↑ "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately", Benjamin Franklin
  18. ↑ Madison Debates - August 23
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ An Address to the inhabitants of the British Settlements on the Slavery of the Negroes in America, by Benjamin Rush
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Groves, Steven (December 3, 2010). Why Does Sovereignty Matter to America? The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  22. ↑ Washington's Farewell Address 1796. The Avalon Project -- Yale Law School. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  23. ↑ Washington's Farewell Address. Government Publishing Office. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  24. ↑ Madison Debates – Tuesday August 9, 1787. The Avalon Project. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  25. ↑ Byas, Steve (December 10, 2019). What Happened to Federalism? The New American. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  26. ↑ Green, Mark (December 29, 2019). Rep. Mark Green: Want to save America? Embracing this gift from the Founders is the only way. Fox News. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  27. ↑ Dinan, Stephen; Swoyer, Alex (January 2, 2020). Founding fathers never discussed wall of separation between church and state. The Washington Times. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 David L. Holmes. The Founding Fathers, Deism, and Christianity. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 Dr. Greg Frazer. The Faith of the Founding Fathers. The Master's University. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  30. ↑ Reports of Committees - 16th Congress, 1st Session - 49th Congress, 1st Session, 1854, H. Rep. 124, 33rd Congress, 1st Session



v • d • e
Conservatism
Ideology
Leaders and Thinkers
Organizations
Other
v • d • e
Greatest Thinkers
Individuals
Ancient: Aristotle • Augustine • Boethius • Cicero • Jesus • Plato | Apostles (esp. Paul)
Medieval: Anselm • Aquinas • R. Bacon • Duns • Ockham
Modern: F. Bacon • Boyle • Burke • Cantor • Hobbes • Locke • de Maistre • Montesquieu • Newton • Pasteur • Riemann | Founding Fathers (esp. J. Adams • Franklin • Hamilton • Jay • Jefferson • Madison)
20th century: Gödel • von Neumann • Orwell • Schaeffer
Contemporary: Bork • Hanson • Peterson • Scruton • Sowell • Thomas
Concepts
Writings
v • d • e
Nationalism
Individuals
Entries
Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Founding_Fathers&oldid=2031964"