When someone mentions the "Founding Fathers- of the United States, one easily remembers George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Their accomplishments are well known by many. But do they know the men behind the achievements. John Ferling helps us better understand the lives that these men led when they weren't fighting for independence or working hard to establish a lasting government. He also helps us become more aware of the problems, like the countrymen of their time, faced and had to overcome.
George Washington as General Henry Lee stated was, " first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."" Later generations have crowned him with the simple title "Father of His Country."" George Washington was born in 1732 in the small town of Pope's Creek, Virginia. Unlike Adams and Jefferson, Washington lacked a formal education, for he received most of his schooling from his father and, after his father's death in 1743, from his elder half-brother Lawrence. Washington's political and military career began as early as 1754 when he participated in the French and Indian War as a leader of a Virginia regiment. .
During his service under the British army, Washington started developing revolutionary concepts. It was during this time that, "Washington understood that colonists were second-class citizens within the British Empire."" (p. 65) To add to his anger of Britain, the mother country began to tax her across the ocean citizens by the passing of such taxes as the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and the Townshend Duties. This not only caused unrest for Washington, but for all colonists, who were now thinking of breaking away from King George III and England. Washington was named head of the Continental Army for he " was wealthy, relatively young-he was forty-three in 1775-and in good health. Here was a man accustomed to leading others, a man who could make life-and-death decisions, who could move men to follow his orders.
Thomas Jefferson was a man of many abilities. ... Thomas Jefferson was elected to the Second Continental Congress. ... When Jefferson returned he became Secretary of State in the first administration of George Washington. ... Thomas Jefferson welcomed Washington's decision to not run for a third term and became Vice President when John Adams took the place of Washington. Jefferson became President when John Adams completed his term. ...
John Adams (1735-1826) Birthday: October 30, 1735 State Represented: Massachusetts Presidential Number: 2nd Years he was President: 1797-1801 Party Affiliation: Federalist His Vice President: Thomas Jefferson Number of Terms: 1 Why Presidency Ended: Defeated Vice President For: George Washington (1789-1797) Colonial Government: Mass. Legislature (1768-1774), Continental Congress (1774-1777) Other Offices: Diplomat to France; Diplomat to the Netherlands; Diplomat to Great Britain Public Opinion: 1796 Presidential Election Results Candidate Party Electoral Votes ...
John Adams married Abigail Smith, and together they had five kids; Abigail, Susanna, John Quincy (6th president), Charles, and Thomas. He was one of the men who nominated George Washington as the 1st President of the United States of America. ... He was an inspiration to George Washington himself. His dedication to his country's independence was part of the backbone of the Revolution, along with all the other great leaders including Thomas Jefferson. ... John Adams died on July 4, 1826; his last words were " Jefferson survives," but Jefferson died a few hours earlier....
For John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson independence brought a kind of personal fulfillment. John Adams, a lawyer-farmer turned world statesman, was known for his vanity and gloating over his earthly riches (Morgan 6). ... John Adams also had a positive obsession with his farm, in which he loved to brag about. ... Our second architect of independence, George Washington, was more focused on self interest and honor. ... By looking at the three men who were placed in charge of securing these standards (and may fairly be called the architects of independence): John Adams, George Wa...
(Encyclopedia) At this time during his college years attending William and Mary "Thomas read law with George Wythe, the greatest law teacher of his generation in Virginia." ... (Biography, p.2) "Jefferson's reputation as a writer preceded him to Philadelphia where he was a delegate to the second continental congress and on June 11, 1776 he was appointed to join Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston in drafting a declaration of Independence." ... Jefferson went against Adams, which they were both republicans and he lost therefore took the title as vice-pres...
George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were all crucial characters during the war. ... John Adams also played a major role during the revolution. ... Washington, Adams, and Jefferson all had very distinct ways of viewing the federal government at the time. ... Thomas Jefferson wrote the declaration of independence. ... George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were incredible founding fathers. ...
Besides being well born, Thomas Jefferson, was well educated. ... Small introduced Jefferson to two of his closest associates, George Wythe and Governor Francis Fauquier. ... Adams, asking them for their corrections. ... Appointed secretary of state in President Washington's Cabinet in 1790, Jefferson defended local interests against Alexander Hamilton's policies and led a group called the Republicans. ... Federalists had nominated John Adams for president and Charles Pinckney for vice-president. ...
Thomas Jefferson held many government positions. ... When George Washington became the first American President, Jefferson was his Secretary of State. Then, when John Adams was President, Thomas Jefferson was the Vice President. ... When he turned nineteen he studied law under George Wythe. ... He was the primary author, although his initial draft was amended after consultation with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams and altered both stylistically and 4. ...
Two of the nation's first three presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, provided invaluable contributions towards the creation of a stable government - one that has lasted for over two and a quarter centuries. ... Both Washington and Adams established democratic precedents and set forth new ideas that added to the stability of an already stable constitutional government. ... Further, Judicial Review was established under Thomas Jefferson in 1798 as a result of the case of Marbury v. ... Further, when Washington sent an envoy to Britain to seek peace, he sent an overt Federa...