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Founding Fathers Facts & Worksheets

The Founding Fathers of the United States are the group of men who played a critical role in the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States of America as an independent nation

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Many notable figures contributed to the founding of the United States, but most consider seven men to be the Founding Fathers. They all played crucial roles in securing American independence from Great Britain and establishing the government of the United States of America.

See the fact file below for more information on the Founding Fathers, or you can download our 26-page Founding Fathers worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE AMERICAS BEFORE FOUNDING

  • The arrival of the first people in the Americas around 15,000 BCE marked the beginning of the history of the lands that became the United States.
  • Indigenous people (commonly known as Indians) had spread and occupied the New World when the first Europeans arrived.
  • European colonization of the Americas began in the late 15th century, but most colonies in what later became the United States were established after 1600. 
  • England (the British Empire), the Kingdom of France, the Spanish Empire, and the Dutch Republic all launched major colonization programs in North America in the late 16th century.
  • By the 1760s, the thirteen British colonies along the Atlantic Coast found to the east of the Appalachian Mountains had a population of 2.5 million people.
  • The colonial period lasted from 1607–1765 before the residents of the colonies decided to rebel against the British.

ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE

  • A territorial dispute began when colonizing territories grew interested in taking over the rest of the American colonies. 
  • The French and Indian War lasted from 1754–1763 and was a part of the Seven Years’ War. It pitted the British Empire’s North American colonies against those of the French, with various Native American tribes supporting each side. The British troops won and gained more territories.
  • The colonists’ relationships with the Crown became strained over the next few years.
  • Going through the legislature of the colonies was necessary for the British Parliament to pass the Stamp Act of 1765, which imposed a tax on those colonies.
  • Disgruntled by the law, the colonists popularized “No taxation without representation,” which represents a denial of the colonists’ rights as Englishmen.
  • In 1773, activists in the town of Boston organized the Boston Tea Party as a direct protest against the new tax. The Parliament’s response was the Intolerable Acts law, stripping Massachusetts of its right to self-government and placing it under military rule, which provoked outrage and resistance across all thirteen colonies.
  • The Congress published a list of rights and grievances and petitioned the king to address those grievances. However, this appeal to the Crown was unsuccessful, and the Second Continental Congress in 1775 planned the colonies’ defense against the British Army.
  • The American Revolutionary War erupted in 1775, and the thirteen colonies served as the pillars of rebellion against the British forces. It lasted from April 19, 1775, until September 3, 1783, with the American victory.
  • The total casualty throughout the conflict is largely unknown, but the British finally conceded all their hold in the American territories.

THE FOUNDING FATHERS

  • The United States Constitution adopts ideas from intellectuals and several documents, including the Articles of Confederation and Declaration of Independence, into one remarkable document. The “Founding Fathers” of the US made significant intellectual contributions to the Constitution.
  • Many United States Founding Fathers were present at the Constitutional Convention, where the Constitution was determined and ratified. The Founding Fathers contributed to the development of independence and nationhood.
  • George Washington (1732-1799)
    • Highest Political Office: US President (1789–1797)
    • Significant Accomplishments: He led the colonial forces in the Revolutionary War, freed all 300 of his slaves permanently, campaigned for a strong national defense, and kept the country out of the tension between England and France.
  • James Madison (1751-1836)
    • Highest Political Office: US President (1809–1817)
    • Major Accomplishments: “The Father of the Constitution,” “Father of the Bill of Rights,” and founded the Virginia Plan creating the House of Representatives and the Senate.
  • Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
    • Highest Political Office: US President (1801–1809)
    • Major Accomplishments: Drafted the Declaration of Independence, served as Minister to France as the Constitution was being drafted, and paid $15 million for the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, effectively doubling the size of the United States.
  • John Adams (1735-1826)
    • Highest Political Office: US President (1797–1801)
    • Major Accomplishments: First vice president, helped draft the Declaration of Independence and negotiate the peace agreement with Great Britain to end the Revolutionary War and built the US Navy.
  • Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
    • Highest Political Office: Minister to France
    • Major Accomplishments: One of the three Americans to sign the peace treaty with England ending the Revolutionary War, helped write the Declaration of Independence, and was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention.
  • Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)
    • Highest Political Office: Treasury Secretary
    • Major Accomplishments: Assisted in the defeat of the British in the Revolutionary War, in the passage of the US Constitution, becoming the country’s first Secretary of the Treasury, and revolutionizing the financial system.
  • John Jay (1745-1829)
    • Highest Political Office: First Chief Justice (1789–1795)
    • Major Accomplishments: One of the Constitution’s framers, the author of five of The Federalist Papers, and the first Chief Justice of the United States.
    • While books most recognize these seven men, the other founding fathers took part in framing the Constitution and made significant contributions in other ways.
  • Gouverneur Morris (1725-1816)
    • Highest Political Office: United States Senator (1800–1803)
    • Major Accomplishments: Signatory of the Articles of Confederation; Member of Continental Congress; Assistant Minister of Finance; Member of the Constitutional Convention; Chairman of the Erie Canal Commission. 
  • Roger Sherman (1721-1793)
    • Highest Political Office: Member House of Representatives (1788–1791); US Senator (1791–1793)
    • Major Accomplishments: Helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation; was responsible for the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention.
  • Edmund Randolph (1753-1813)
    • Highest Political Office: US Secretary of State and US Attorney General 
    • Major Accomplishments: Helped in drafting the Constitution for the state of Virginia, introduced the Virginia Plan to the Constitutional Convention, proposing a legislative branch consisting of two chambers.
  • George Mason (1725-1792)
    • Highest Political Office: Member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1776 and Delegate of Constitutional Convention in 1787.
    • Major Accomplishments: Mason’s work on the Virginia bill of rights greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, and Mason’s ideas also influenced the development of the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution.
  • Many other people are regarded as founding fathers. While these seven men significantly contributed to the founding, dozens of others played more minor but important roles. 
  • To name a few, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, John Marshall, and Samuel Adams are among them. The Declaration of Independence had 56 signatories, while the United States Constitution had 39. Women such as Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren played important roles alongside men.

Founding Fathers Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Founding Fathers of the United States across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching students about the Founding Fathers, the group of men who played a critical role in the American Revolution and the establishment of the United States of America as an independent nation.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Founding Fathers Facts
  • Crossword Review
  • Declaration of Independence
  • The American Constitution
  • Presidential Caricature
  • Our Head of State
  • Independent Minds
  • Founders’ Vision
  • Managing a Country
  • Celebrating the Foundation
  • How Our Country was Founded

Frequently Asked Questions

What motivated the Founding Fathers to declare independence from Great Britain?

The Founding Fathers were motivated by various factors, including political, economic, and social grievances against Great Britain. Many colonists felt their rights as British subjects were being violated, as they had no representation in the British government and were subject to taxation without their consent. The American Revolution was also influenced by Enlightenment ideas, which emphasized individual rights and the importance of self-government. The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, outlines the specific grievances of the colonies and argues that the British government had forfeited its right to govern the American colonies.

How did the Founding Fathers ensure power was distributed in the new American government?

The Founding Fathers designed a system of government that sought to distribute power among different branches and levels of government. The U.S. Constitution established a federal system of government, with power divided between the national and state governments. The Constitution also created three branches of government – the legislative, executive, and judicial – with distinct powers and responsibilities. Additionally, the Constitution includes a system of checks and balances, with each branch of government having the ability to limit the power of the other branches.

What was the impact of the Founding Fathers on the development of American democracy?

The Founding Fathers played a critical role in the development of American democracy, as they established the foundational principles and structures of the American system of government. Their vision of a government based on the rule of law, individual rights, and popular sovereignty has been a model for democracies worldwide. The Founding Fathers also established the principle of limited government, which restricts the power of the government and protects individual liberties.

How do the Founding Fathers continue to influence American politics today?

The ideas and principles of the Founding Fathers continue to influence American politics and society today. The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, both drafted by the Founding Fathers, continue to serve as the foundational documents of the American system of government. The Founding Fathers’ vision of individual rights, limited government, and popular sovereignty also continue to shape the political discourse in the United States. Additionally, many politicians and political movements in the United States today invoke the Founding Fathers’ legacy and seek to uphold their principles and values.

What were the most significant achievements of the Founding Fathers?

The Founding Fathers accomplished many significant achievements shaping the United States today. Some of the most notable achievements include:

  • Declaration of Independence: The Founding Fathers drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence, which declared the thirteen American colonies free and independent.
  • U.S. Constitution: The Founding Fathers drafted the U.S. Constitution, which established the framework for the American system of government and remains the oldest written national Constitution still in use.
  • Bill of Rights: The Founding Fathers drafted the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution and guarantees individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
  • American Revolution: The Founding Fathers played a critical role in the American Revolution, which resulted in the United States becoming an independent nation.
  • Separation of Powers: The Founding Fathers established a system of government with a separation of powers, which ensures that no one branch of government has too much power.

These achievements, among others, have had a profound and lasting impact on American society and continue to influence American politics and government today.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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