Download Founding Fathers Contributions

Founding Fathers Contributions
In 1774, John Adams served on the First Continental Congress and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. Adams
became the first vice president of the United States and the second president.
A strong opponent of British taxation, Samuel Adams helped formulate resistance to the Stamp Act and played a vital role
in organizing the Boston Tea Party. He was a second cousin of U.S. President John Adams, with whom he urged a final
break from Great Britain, and a signee of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of U.S. who had a significant and profound influence in the early development
of his nation. He was a prodigious inventor and his numerous inventions include the lightning rod, bifocals, and the
Franklin stove. In 1776, he was part of the five-member committee that helped draft the Declaration of Independence, in
which the 13 American colonies declared their freedom from British rule. That same year, Congress sent Franklin to France
to enlist that nation's help with the Revolutionary War. He created the first published political cartoon in U.S., authored
the famous Poor Richard’s Almanac, and was the first United States Postmaster General.
John Hancock was a merchant, smuggler, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as
president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Only two men signed the document that day—John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental
Congress and the congressional secretary, Charles Thomson.
In 1777, Alexander Hamilton became General George Washington's assistant. In 1788, he convinced New Yorkers to agree
to ratify the U.S Constitution. He then served as the nation's first secretary of the treasury, from 1789 to 1795.Alexander
Hamilton, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and was the United States' first secretary of the treasury. Hamilton
co-wrote the famous 'Federalist' Papers with John Jay and James Madison, which served as a primary source for
Constitutional interpretation. Hamilton signed his essays as 'Publius'.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, served as the third president of the United States, oversaw the
Louisiana Purchase, supported the American Revolution, and served as governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War.
When James Madison and the other 56 delegates to the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in May 1787, they
intended to amend the Articles of Confederation. They ended up creating a new constitution, and Madison, representing
Virginia, became the chief recorder of information (he took a lot of notes). Madison wrote the first drafts of the U.S.
Constitution, co-wrote the Federalist Papers and sponsored the Bill of Rights. He established the Democrat-Republican
Party with President Thomas Jefferson, and became president himself in 1808. Madison's important contribution to the
overall creation of the Constitution earned him the nickname "Father of the Constitution".
George Mason was a Virginia planter, politician, and a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, one of
three men who refused to sign. In the end, George Mason did not believe the Constitution established a wise and just
government. Despite his ongoing poor health, he proved to be vastly influential in the composition of the Constitution. He
led Virginia patriots during the American Revolution, and his concept of inalienable rights influenced Thomas Jefferson's
Declaration of Independence.
George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and served
two terms as the first U.S. president, from 1789 to 1797. The son of a prosperous planter, Washington was raised in
colonial Virginia. George Washington is often referred to as the father of the United States, for the role he played in the
founding of the country. Under his able leadership, the Continental Army won against Great Britain. Reiterating his
greatest accomplishment, George Washington became the first President of the United States of America. He assumed
office in 1789. He was the only president to obtain 100% electoral votes.