Founding Fathers
Revolutionary American statesmen
The Founding Fathers are the group of American statesmen who led the revolution against Britain and established the United States government in the late eighteenth century—figures like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, and Hamilton.
The term carries reverence, and appeals to what the Founding Fathers intended remain central to American political debate. (Lowercase founding fathers applies to originators of any institution.)
Those who construct frames
- ConstitutionGoverning principles document
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- amendmentsFormal changes to documents
Philadelphia · Articles of Confederation · Federalist Papers · Continental Congress · signatories · delegates · convention · preamble
- Thomas JeffersonThird American president
- Benjamin FranklinColonial American polymath statesman
- John AdamsSecond American chief executive
- Alexander HamiltonFounding father, financial architect
James Madison · John Jay · John Hancock · Patrick Henry · Samuel Adams · Thomas Paine
Freedom from external control
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
- tyrannyOppressive, absolute governance
taxation · resistance · redcoats · militia · minutemen · Continental Army · Sons of Liberty · Boston Tea Party
Absence of unjust constraint
- republicState with elected leaders
- democracyRule by the people
- natural rightsFreedoms inherent to personhood
- self-governanceIndependent management of affairs
equality · freedom · Enlightenment · social contract · popular sovereignty · civic virtue · common good
Structures commemorating notable achievements
- memorialsTributes to the departed
- currencyMedium of exchange
- Mount RushmoreCarved presidential memorial
- portraitsImages of specific people
heritage · tradition · precedent · institutions · influence · reverence · commemoration · patriotism
Negotiation between nations
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
- leadershipAbility to direct others
governance · public service · deliberation · legislation · treaty · ambassador · statecraft · political philosophy
framers
Those who construct frames
- ConstitutionGoverning principles document
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
amendments · Philadelphia · Articles of Confederation · Federalist Papers · Continental Congress · signatories · delegates · convention · preamble · separation of powers
George Washington
- Thomas JeffersonThird American president
- Benjamin FranklinColonial American polymath statesman
- John AdamsSecond American chief executive
James Madison · Alexander Hamilton · John Jay · John Hancock · Patrick Henry · Samuel Adams · Thomas Paine
independence
Freedom from external control
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- libertyAbsence of unjust constraint
tyranny · taxation · resistance · redcoats · militia · minutemen · Continental Army · Sons of Liberty · Boston Tea Party · Lexington
liberty
Absence of unjust constraint
- republicState with elected leaders
- democracyRule by the people
- natural rightsFreedoms inherent to personhood
self-governance · equality · freedom · Enlightenment · social contract · popular sovereignty · civic virtue · common good
monuments
Structures commemorating notable achievements
- memorialsTributes to the departed
- currencyMedium of exchange
- Mount RushmoreCarved presidential memorial
portraits · heritage · tradition · precedent · institutions · influence · reverence · commemoration · patriotism · national identity
diplomacy
Negotiation between nations
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
leadership · governance · public service · deliberation · legislation · treaty · ambassador · statecraft · political philosophy · civic duty
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- 18th Century GroupsContinental Congress, Sons of Liberty, Jacobins, Freemasons, Illuminati
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- Political HistoryAmerican Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution, British Empire, Roman Empire
- Revolutionary WarGeorge Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, Betsy Ross flag
- US HistoryAmerican Revolution, US history, Civil War, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln
Founding Fatherstraitors
Those who commit disloyalty
British Crown · King George III · secessionists · insurrectionists · enemies of the state
Founding FathersTories
British conservative faction
royalists · colonial governors · King George III · redcoats · British Parliament
Founding Fathersposterity
Future generations collectively
descendants · future generations · inheritors · successors · heirs
found, father, foundation, founder, fatherly, fatherhood, founding, founded, founders