Lucas Fowler

3/17/2016
Dr.Hebertson
American Civilizations
The Founding Fathers
On May 15, 1776 the Second Continental Congress met at Independence hall in
Philadelphia. The goal of the meeting was to, as John Adams said, Adopt such a
government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to
the safety and happiness of their constituents in particular and America in general. Some
of the great men that attended includes, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe and, Benjamin Franklin.
Though they were just seven of the many men that attended this meeting but they were
the key players. Most of these men were not politicians, but instead, printers, brewers,
generals, accountants and even lawyers. Most of these men were just ordinary men, that
rose the occasion to make there lives better. They believed in a free country, where not
just one person rules. Where there are checks and balances and everyone is governed
fairly.

The first, and maybe most important Founding Father was born in February 22nd,
1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. George Washington, a son to English
Immigrants, Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington. Augustine was an
ambitious man who acquired land and slaves, built mills, and grew tobacco
(biography.com). George took after his father in many ways. Not much is known about
his early childhood from lack of records. We do know, however, all he accomplished in
his teen years. In his early life he acquired many skills. He was a schoolmaster in
practical math, geography, Latin, and the English classics. He was a backwoodsmen and
a plantation foramen. He mastered growing tobacco and raising stock and was also a
surveyor. While a surveyor he acquired many of his resourcefulness; from knowing how
to survive in the woods to being a leader. Being a leader seemed to be very natural to the
young George Washington. He was appointed rank of Commander in the Virginia militia
at the age of 23, by the governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie. On October 31, 1753
Dinwiddie sent Washington a squadron of troops to remove French from the British
claimed, Ohio valley. This was the first time Washington experienced battle. According to
biography.com, during the battle, the French commander Coulon de Jumonville was
killed along with nine other. After the battle Washington retreated to Fort Necessity.
Where he was surrounded and forced to surrender. This was the beginning of the French
and Indian war. After commanding the Virginia Militia for 6 years, Washington retired

from the militia and returned to his land in Virginia. After a few years of tending to his
land of fruit orchards and cattle he got involved in Virginias House of Burgesses in 1758.
After the revolution started, against the Crown, Washington was named the commanderin-chief of the rebellion. Soon after winning the war he was highly involved in the
creation of this country.

The next Founding Father was born in October 30, 1735. John Adams was
a son of John Adams Senior and Susanna Boylston Adams. Both were very prominent
people in the colonies and known to be part of the upper class. Adams attended Harvard
University where he earned his masters degree. He practiced law under John Putman
against his dads wishes, of joining the ministry. Adams gained great popularity with the
Patriots, because of his public opposition of the Stamp Act of 1765. He was one of the
first five men that attended the First Continental Congress in 1774. There he wrote many
of the first compromises that started to make the colonies into one. He was one of the
main authors of the constitution and for this reason one of the most important Founding
Fathers.

The next founding father is Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was born on April 13,
1743 in Shadwell Virginia. Jefferson was born to one of the most prominent families in

America at the time. His father, Peter Jefferson, was one on the most prestigious planters
in the Virginia. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, was from one of the most elite
families in Europe. Thomas was a very intelligent young man and studied Greek and
Latin at a young age. He attended William and Mary, where he studied with the older
scholars. After Williams and Mary he went to study law. He studied law very extensively
for five years. After those five years he was admitted into the Virginia bar and became
one of the prestigious lawyers in the colonies. After many years of being one of the best
lawyers in the colonies he started to focus on political problems. He was one of the first
to appose the Tea Act and, he supported the independence of the colonies. He was elected
into the House of Burgesses in 1768, where he got his first political standing. This was
his first taste of the political word, that he excelled at and was very accomplished at for
the rest of his life.

The next Founding father is know as the Father of the Constitution He wrote the
first draft of the constitution and also assembled the first Constitutional Convention.
James Madison was born on March 16, 1751 in Port Conway Virginia. He was the oldest
of 12 children. He attended Princeton University. After that, he was highly involved in
the politics of the colonies. He Put his talents to work when he wrote the first draft of the
Constitution, the foundation of the Bill of Rights, and co-wrote the Federalist papers. He

was one of the most important Founding Fathers as he essentially invented our
government and also many of the foundations that this country is run off of even today.

The next man is Alexander Hamilton. He was born on the island of Nevis,
British West Indies. He was born to a Frenchwoman named Rachel Fawcett Lavine. She
cheated on her husband, with Hamiltons father. After a very hard upbringing, Alexander
worked very hard and impressed his employer at a very young age. His boss, Nicolas
Cruger used his recourses to send Hamilton to America for his education. After arriving
to America he enrolled in Columbia University. While there, he was drawn more to
politics then his schoolwork. He quickly sided with the patriots and took his stance
against the Crown. He became a lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army and fought
in many battles against the British. He caught the attention of George Washington and
became his assistant and advisor. He led a victorious charge at the battle of Yorktown.
After the war, he was heavily involved in politics. He believed in the article of
Confederation but did see its flaws. He worked very hard to make a very strong federal
government because he felt it was the only way to the success of this nation.

James Monroe was the born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County,
Virginia. His Parents, Spence Monroe and Elizabeth Jones Monroe were Immigrants of

Scotland. His father was a moderately rich planter and carpenter. In Jamess early life he
was homeschooled by his mother, then later attended Campbelltown Academy where he
was an excellent student. Soon after he joined the continental army and fought under
George Washington at the Battle of Trenton. After the war he studied law under Thomas
Jefferson. In 1782, he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, and from 1783 to
1786, he served in the Continental Congress, then meeting in New York. He supported
the bill of rights and fought for in with many others.

Last, but certainly not least, is Benjamin Franklin. Born in Boston on

January 17, 1706. He is most known for his involvement in writing the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Benjamins father was a soap and
candle maker that emigrated from England. At a young age, Franklin apprenticed his
brother in his print shop. Though his brother treated him poorly he learned a great deal
and used these skills for the rest of his life. After fleeing his brothers contract he went to
Philadelphia where his home remained for the rest of his life. He remained a printer for
most of his life. He printed many cartoons and pamphlets about political problems that he
noticed. In 1748 he got his fist taste of politics when he was elected into Philadelphias
city council. After that, he became a very important in the government. He traveled to

London to smooth relations with Britain and during the Revolution swayed France into
allying with the Patriots.
The Founding Fathers were some of the most important men in United States
history. They fought for our freedom in more ways than one. They were on the front lines
with musket balls flying over their heads. They commanded troops to fight the British
and they also made allies for the patriots. These men were the men that wrote the
documents that will still live by today. They wrote the Articles of the Confederation, Bill
of Rights, and even the Constitution. All of these documents effect the way we live our
lives, even to this day. They came up with the type of government we enjoy to day as
well. They created the three branches of government and the system of check and
balances where not one person has all power. Many of these men came to be big political
leaders in our country. The first seven president of the United States were all Founding
Fathers. These men could see the potential for this great nation and fought for what they
believed in. We owe many things to them.

Work Cited
"Presidents & Vice Presidents." Http://www.presidentsusa.net.
Http://www.presidentsusa.net. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

"George Washington Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed.

Biography.com Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

"John Adams Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed. Biography.com

Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

"Thomas Jefferson Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed. Biography.com

Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

"James Madison Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed. Biography.com

Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

"Alexander Hamilton Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed.

Biography.com Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

"James Monroe Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed. Biography.com

Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.

"Benjamin Franklin Biography." The Biography.com Website. Ed. Biography.com

Editors. Web. 2 Apr. 2016.