Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States are the political leaders who signed the Declaration of Independence or participated in the American Revolution as leaders of the Patriots, or who participated in the writing of the United States Constitution eleven years older. afternoon. During the War of Independence, the Founding Fathers opposed the Loyalists, who supported the British monarchy and were against independence (most Loyalists remained in the US after 1783 and supported the new government). Some authors make a distinction between the Founders, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 or participated in the Revolution, and the Creators, who wrote the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation in 1787. This distinction is not made here.
The expression Founding Fathers is credited to Warren G. Harding, senator and 29th president of the United States.
Collective Biography of the Creators of the Constitution
74 delegates from 12 states (the Thirteen Colonies except Rhode Island) attended the Philadelphia Convention. They represented the American leadership of the 18th century. Almost all were well-educated men who were leaders in their communities. Some of them were also notorious in state affairs. Virtually each participated in the American Revolution; at least 29 served in the Continental Army, some of them in command posts.
Political experience
The signatories of the Constitution had many political experiences. In 1787, four-fifths (41 people) were or had been members of the Continental Congress. Approximately all 55 delegates had experience in colonial and state government, and most held positions in local offices.
Finance
Some of the delegates were wealthy, as they were slave owners and traders, but many of the country's greatest riches were Loyalists from the United Kingdom. Most of the others had reasonably large resources, but there were some with less wealth. On the whole, they were less wealthy than the Loyalists.
Demographics
Brown (1976) and Harris (1969) gave demographic information about each man. Most delegates were born in the Thirteen Colonies. Only eight were born elsewhere: four were Irish, two English, one Scottish and one Caribbean. Seventeen delegates lived or worked in more than one state or colony.
Religion
Some delegates had no religion. Three were Catholic, 28 from the Episcopal Church of the United States, eight Presbyterians, seven Congregationalists, two Lutherans, two Dutch Reformed and two Methodists.
Political Positioning of the Founding Fathers
Signatories of the Declaration of Independence
Delegates of the Constitutional Convention
Delegates who signed
Delegates who left the convention and did not sign
Delegates who refused to sign
George Mason
Edmund Randolph
Elbridge Gerry
Other founders
References
Sources
Jack P. Greene (1973). The Social Origins of the American Revolution. An Evaluation and an Interpretation. [S.l.: s.n.]
James Kirby Martin (1973). Men in rebellion: Higher governmental leaders and the coming of the American Revolution. [S.l.]: Rutgers University Press. 263 pages. ISBN 0-8135-0750-2
External links
Encyclopedia Britannica. «Entry on the Founding Fathers»
