The Significance of Our Founding Fathers

Significance of Founding Fathers for Constitutional Law

In the context of American Constitutional law, the Founding Fathers can be noted as comprising of delegates to the Constitutional Convention, the meeting held in Philadelphia in 1787 with the effect of drawing up the U.S. Constitution. In the larger context of U.S. history, the Founding Fathers might be noted as the specific individuals who took part in this and in other essential points for the creation of the nation, including both its liberation from the control of the British Empire and the further consolidation of the 13 colonies into a nation unified under the Federal Government.

Other Historical Settings for Founding Fathers

Along with the list of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, the other main listing of Founding Fathers maintained as to specific and historically significant individuals can be noted as comprising of the 56 signers of the U.S. Constitution.

Larger Context for Founding Fathers in U.S. History

The “Founding Fathers” terminology might further be applied to the large group of men who contributed to the early history of the United States, without necessarily holding high office at the time or finding individual fame in the long term. Moreover, a category similar to that of the Founding Fathers might also be proposed using gender-neutral language in order to account for the role played by women in the nation’s early history.

Historians believe that U.S. President Warren G. Harding first introduced the “Founding Father” terminology, prior to his assuming the Presidency, as keynote speaker to the 1916 Republican National Convention.

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