Founding Father
Republic's original architect
A Founding Father is one of the men who helped establish the United States, particularly those who drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.
The term evokes figures like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and Hamilton.
Political rhetoric frequently invokes what the Founding Fathers intended: The Founding Fathers never envisioned automatic weapons. (Lowercase founding father applies to originators of any institution or field.)
Those who construct frames
- delegatesChosen representatives or assigns
- signatoriesThose who signed officially
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
Philadelphia · drafting · Bill of Rights · federalism · amendment · bicameral · compromise · separation of powers
U.S. seat of government
- JeffersonThird American president
- FranklinSurname or locality
- AdamsCommon presidential surname
- MadisonWisconsin's governmental seat
Hamilton · Jay · Hancock · Mason · Paine · Monroe · Mount Vernon · Monticello
Freedom from external control
- declarationFormal public announcement
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
patriots · Continental Congress · minutemen · boycott · taxation · tyranny · redcoats · militia
Loyalty owed to authority
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- independenceFreedom from external control
- nationSovereign political entity
civic duty · sacrifice · devotion · loyalty · unity · symbol · birthright · heritage
framers
Those who construct frames
- delegatesChosen representatives or assigns
- signatoriesThose who signed officially
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
ratification · Philadelphia · drafting · Bill of Rights · federalism · amendment · bicameral · compromise · separation of powers · checks and balances
Washington
U.S. seat of government
Madison · Hamilton · Jay · Hancock · Mason · Paine · Monroe · Mount Vernon · Monticello · Continental Army
independence
Freedom from external control
- declarationFormal public announcement
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- rebellionDefiance of established power
uprising · patriots · Continental Congress · minutemen · boycott · taxation · tyranny · redcoats · militia · sovereignty
allegiance
Loyalty owed to authority
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- freedomAbsence of constraint
- independenceFreedom from external control
nation · civic duty · sacrifice · devotion · loyalty · unity · symbol · birthright · heritage
- national symbolsnational emblem, national seal, national motto, national colors, national tree
Founding Fatherdescendant
Person from earlier generations
inheritor · successor · heir · latecomer · Johnny-come-lately
found, father, foundation, founder, fatherhood, founding, founded, fathered, fathering