Who Were the Founding Fathers?

There were over 50 men who could be considered our "Founding Fathers". Historians might argue over which four Founding Fathers could be considered the "most important"... some would say "George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams", others would say "George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison". However, all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence could be considered our "Founding Fathers".

The term "Founding Fathers" was first used in a speech by Warren G. Harding (then Senator) in 1916, and then again when he was President.

Below are some fun facts about our Founding Fathers, from the book Founding Fathers Fun Facts: And Other U.S. Trivia

John Adams was the first President to live in the White House, when he moved to Washington D.C. in November of 1800. He only lived there for four months, after losing the election to his friend and foe, Thomas Jefferson.

George Washington could have celebrated his birthday twice every year, as he was born on February 11, 1732 according to the Julian Calendar that was used by Great Britain at the time. However, in 1751, England changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, and they had to add eleven days to the calendar to make the adjusment. So in 1752, Washington celebrated his birthday on February 22nd.

George Washington was the only Founding Father who became President that did not attend college. John Adams went to Harvard, James Madison went to Princeton, and Thomas Jefferson went to the College of William and Mary.

George Washington did not like to shake hands. He would instead bow to guests, to avoid physical contact. The tradition of bowing continued through the Presidency of John Adams, but stopped with Thomas Jefferson, who preferred to shake hands.

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the two Founding Fathers who died on the same day. The long time friends (and political foes) both died on July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson is considered the author of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote the first draft of that historical document.

James Madison is considered the "Father of the Constitution". He was the principal author of that document.

Like father, like son? Alexander Hamilton was killed in a pistol duel with Aaron Burr in July of 1804. Hamilton's son, Philip, had died in a duel at the same location (Weehawken, New Jersey), three years earlier.

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Founding Fathers Quotes

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?" - Thomas Jefferson

"A people... who are possessed of the spirit of commerce, who see and who will pursue their advantages may achieve almost anything." - George Washington

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin

"Give me liberty or give me death." - Patrick Henry

"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever." - John Adams

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." - John Adams

"A Spoonful of Honey will catch more Flies than a Gallon of Vinegar." - Benjamin Franklin

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?" - Benjamin Franklin

"Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." - Benjamin Franklin

"A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired." - Alexander Hamilton

"Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience." - Alexander Hamilton

"A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." - James Madison

"All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree." - James Madison

"A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate." - Thomas Jefferson

"A morsel of genuine history is a thing so rare as to be always valuable." - Thomas Jefferson

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." - Thomas Jefferson

"Born in other countries, yet believing you could be happy in this, our laws acknowledge, as they should do, your right to join us in society, conforming, as I doubt not you will do, to our established rules." - Thomas Jefferson

"I think we have more machinery of government than is necessary, too many parasites living on the labor of the industrious." - Thomas Jefferson

"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson

"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." - Thomas Jefferson

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson

"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder." - George Washington

"Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." - George Washington

"Citizens by birth or choice of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations." - George Washington

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

""Precedents are dangerous things; let the reins of government then be braced and held with a steady hand, and every violation of the Constitution be reprehended: If defective let it be amended, but not suffered to be trampled upon whilst it has an existence." - George Washington

For more Founding Fathers quotes, you might enjoy this book...

The Quotable Founding Fathers: A Treasury of 2,500 Wise and Witty Quotations from the Men and Women Who Created America

Quote of the Week

What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?" - Thomas Jefferson

"What country can preserve its liberties" Quote by americanhistory
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