Founding Fathers of the United States

Founding Fathers of the United States

• John Adams:
  • Harvard graduate, lawyer
  • Served as the second U.S. President (1797-1801)
  • Represented Massachusetts in the First and Second Continental Congresses
  • Co-authored and signed the Declaration of Independence and Treaty of Paris
• Benjamin Franklin:
  • Prolific in science, writing, music, politics, and diplomacy
  • Invented the lightning rod and bifocals
  • Edited the Pennsylvania Gazette
  • Represented the colonies against the Stamp Act
  • Pennsylvania delegate to the Second Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention
  • Co-authored the Declaration of Independence
  • Negotiated alliances with France and co-negotiated the Treaty of Paris
• Thomas Jefferson:
  • Wealthy Virginia landowner, William & Mary graduate, lawyer
  • Served as the third U.S. President (1801-1809)
  • Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress
  • Co-authored the Declaration of Independence
  • Purchased Louisiana from Napoleon
  • Led the country during the Louisiana Purchase
• George Washington:
  • Military leader and statesman, fought in the French and Indian War
  • Served as the first U.S. President (1789-1797)
  • Virginia delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses and Constitutional Convention
  • Led the Continental Army to victory, setting precedents for the presidency
• James Madison:
  • Served as the fourth U.S. President (1809-1817)
  • Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention
  • Co-authored the Federalist Papers
  • Played a key role in drafting the U.S. Constitution
• Alexander Hamilton:
  • Born in the British West Indies, studied law at Columbia University
  • New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention
  • Co-authored the Federalist Papers
  • First U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
  • Developed financial systems and advocated for a strong central government
• John Jay:
  • New York graduate of Columbia Law School
  • New York delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses
  • Co-authored the Federalist Papers
  • First Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
  • Contributed to the Treaty of Paris and the creation of a constitutional framework

Founding Fathers' Contributions

• Played crucial roles in the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, and U.S. Constitution creation
• Established policies for the nascent U.S. government
• Created a vision for a democratic republic
• Laid the foundation for the U.S. government and constitutional framework