Jason M. Davis
THE FOUNDINGTHE FATHERS AMERICAN of the United States Of America November 8th Issue No. 1 scienceleadership.org
The Founding Fathers refer to the political leaders who The Founding Fathers participated in the establishment of A BRIEF OVERVIEW The U.S.A.
THOMAS JEFFERSON Thomas Jefferson -- author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, third president of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia -- voiced the aspirations of a new America as no other individual of his era. As public official, historian, philosopher, and plantation owner, he served his country for over five decades. Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson JAMES MADISON James Madison came from a prosperous family of Virginia planters, received an excellent education, and quickly found himself drawn into the debates over independence. In 1776, he became a delegate to the revolutionary Virginia Convention, where he worked closely with Thomas Jefferson to push through religious freedom statutes, among other liberal measures. James Madison George Washington
GEORGE WASHINGTON BENJAMIN FRANKLIN The first president of the United States, George Washington, is often A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, referred to as the Father of Our Country. He was known for his love printer,political theorist, politician, postmaster, of the land and farming, and his dislike of war. He was a distinguished general and commander in chief of the colonial armies scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, in the American Revolution. He married a widow, Martha statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a Dandridge Custis, and they lived at Mount Vernon, Washington's major figure in the American Enlightenment and the plantation in Virginia on the Potomac River. history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass 'armonica'. 5 THE AMERICAN! PAGE2
The Declaration Of Independence
PHILOSOPHIES of the few glimpses historians have into the There are many arguments over the real thinking and processes going on behind the political philosophies of the Founding scenes during the convention. Later, Fathers. Most sources build around the Madison put aside his doubts about the Some refer to the representation proposal in the Senate to idea that the delegates of the first general work on the Federalist Papers with John Jay “Founding congress all fought for the same idea of and Alexander Hamilton. The Federalist Fathers” as all of freedom and liberty for all, as a mutual Papers, in addition to Madison’s own notes the political leaders are perhaps the most definitive commentary plan for America. However, most that took part in documents suggest that the founding on the creation of the Constitution of the United States of America. fathers had a mixture of many different establishing the Madison's notes suggest that he was constitution. In this views regarding freedom and democracy, one that stood strongly for the separation of some even showed ambivalence to the idea Church from state. He along with Jefferson article the focus is of a free world. The ultimate compromise believed that instead of outlawing religions on 4 of who are was to establish a government that would or factions of people, the freedom for people to form groups would balance the believed to be the have the checks in balances necessary to nation, ensuring that no one part of society most influential: establish equality amongst states and would overtake the other. James Madison, protect the nation from foreign threats. THOMAS JEFFERSON Thomas Jefferson, JAMES MADISON Having attended the College of William Benjamin Born in 1751, Madison was brought up in and Mary, Jefferson practiced law and Franklin, and served in local government as a magistrate, Orange County, Virginia, and attended George Princeton. After taking a break to county lieutenant, and member of the recuperate from the strain, he began being House of Burgesses in his early professional Washington mentored by Thomas Jefferson. Working life. As a member of the Continental alongside Jefferson, Madison became a Congress, he was chosen in 1776 to draft prominent political figure at the state level, the Declaration of Independence, which as well as by helping Jefferson draft several has been regarded ever since as a charter of papers including their declaration of American and universal liberties. The religious freedom.Madison’s notes are one document proclaims that all men are equal THE COLLECTOR! PAGE3
in rights, regardless of birth, wealth, or and involvement with the craft gave him the status, and that the government is the confidence that America's military secrets servant, not the master, of the people. were safe. His involvement in Freemasonry, as Master of the Lodge, provided him with After Jefferson left Congress in 1776, he more than confidence, because the lodge returned to Virginia and served in the ritual's function was to elevate legislature. Elected governor from 1779 to the participant's consciousness. 1781, he suffered an inquiry into his BENJAMIN FRANKLIN conduct during his last year in office that, although finally fully repudiated, left him Benjamin Franklin was not with a life-long pricklishness in the face of only one of the Founding criticism. Fathers of the United States. He was a leading writer, GEORGE WASHINGTON publisher, inventor, diplomat, scientist, and philosopher. He Many people view George Washington as is well-known for his being famous for being the first president of experiments with electricity the United States, or leading the calvary in and lightning, and for Symbol of Freemasonry the revolutionary war. However George publishing "Poor Richard's Washington’s influence on America is better Almanac" and the Pennsylvania Gazette. He served as Postmaster General expressed through his philosophies under the Continental Congress, and later regarding free thinking and the expectations became a prominent abolitionist. He is of man. Sources suggest that Washington credited with inventing the lightning rod, was a freemason, promoting the views and the Franklin Stove, and bifocals. morals that he believed America should In addition to promoting his Although the stand by. Quaker morals and science throughout the Evidence of While he was commander in chief of the growing American society, Franklin traveled Freemason American armies during the Revolutionary to France to try and gain the support from War, Washington frequently attended the the French in the American Revolution. connections meetings of military lodges. He presided Many historians support the theory that like amongst the original over Masonic ceremonies initiating his Washington, Franklin was a freemason, that congress is officers and frequently attended the was able to use his connections in France to Communications of the Brethren (lodge gain allies in the war. In 1789, at the age of convincing, there meetings). Washington was nominated for 81, Franklin signed as a delegate to the first are no documents Grand Mastership of the Independent Constitution of The United States and the Grand Lodge, an office he declined. Bill Of Rights. written or signed by The underlying philosophy of the fathers that Freemasonry ("The brotherhood of man prove these theories. and the Fatherhood of God") was the foundation of political, religious, social, and educational reform, which was opposed by the monarchies of Europe and ecclesiastical authorities as well. Washington's leadership THE AMERICAN! PAGE4
Sources
James Madison/View On Religion & 26 Oct. 2011.
Founding Fathers Of America/ A detailed biography of Benjamin Religious Beliefs: Franklin/His views and achievements
"Our Founding Fathers Were "The Autobiography of NOT Christians." The Bible, Benjamin Franklin." Archiving Christianity, God, Jesus, Trash. Web. Early America: Primary Source
Flag of The United States of America The Seven Founding Fathers