government_ch2_web-our-founding-fathers

=**Lessons on the Web - Our Founding Fathers**= Use this page to complete the daily lesson guide section on Our Founding Fathers

__Objective of the lesson__: To evaluate important lessons taught by our Founding Fathers.

__Faith, Hope, and Charity__: Our Founding Fathers showed examples of faith, hope, and charity in early America. They were examples of faith, since most were Christians who believed God gave natural rights and would therefore aid the new government in its quest to protect natural rights - or unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as stated in the Declaration of Independence. In addition, they were examples of hope since they risked their lives for a better life - a life of freedom and protection of natural rights in the new nation. Our Founders were also examples of charity since they lived the Christian ethic and offered to help those in need. They were also looking to help protect natural rights for everyone, not just themselves.

__Quotes of the Founders__: Analyze the following quotes
 * //But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations...This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution//. - John Adams, letter to H. Niles, February 13, 1818 --- What point do you think Adams was trying to make? Click here for help


 * //All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending Providence in our favor. To that kind Providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without His Aid//?" - Benjamin Franklin, To Colleagues at the Constitutional Convention --- What do you think Franklin was trying to get across in terms reliance on God? Click here for help


 * //A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.// – Thomas Jefferson --- Why is Jefferson's advice important for us today? What's his point? Click here for help


 * //I trust that the proposed Constitution affords a genuine specimen of representative government and republican government; and that it will answer, in an eminent degree, all the beneficial purposes of society//. - Alexander Hamilton, speech to the New York Ratifying Convention, June, 1788 --- Why do you think Hamilton likes the idea of a republic? Click here for help


 * //All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree//. - James Madison, speech at the Constitutional Convention, July 11, 1787 --- Do you agree with Madison? What point is he making? Click here for help


 * //'Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent Alliances, with any portion of the foreign world//. - George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796 --- What is Washington's position on foreign affairs? Click here for help


 * //Speak seldom, but to important subjects, except such as particularly relate to your constituents, and, in the former case, make yourself perfectly master of the subject//. - George Washington, Public Speaking, November 10, 1787 --- What advice does Washington give to future politicians? Click here for help


 * After the Constitutional Convention, a woman approached Benjamin Franklin and asked him what the delegates were forming. His response: "//A republic...if you can keep it."// At a separate time, Franklin also said "//If the people ever find out they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."// What do you think he meant? Click here for help

__Roles of Key Founding Fathers__:
 * __George Washington__: He was one of the most famous of our Founders. He led the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. He showed examples of good leadership by holding the army together at Valley Forge. While the British spent the winter in the luxury of Philadelphia, Washington's soldiers were freezing at Valley Forge. Washington could have gone home to Mount Vernon and left other generals in command of the soldiers, but instead he stayed with the troops, helped train them, kept them together, and came out of the winter stronger - afterall, he was a true leader. After the war, Washington could easily have been made king or could have taken power. But, as a true leader, he laid down his arms and went back home. However, the nation was falling apart under the Articles of Confederation, so he led the Constitutional Convention and helped establish a republic with the new Constitution. He would also serve as the nation's first president and set the standard for all future presidents. He led America through its founding. He truly is the "father of our country."
 * __James Madison__: He took a very active role in the Constitutional Convention. He was committed to the ideas of a republic in which the people have power in forming the government through elections. He was a leader in the ideas of separation of powers - putting the power to make laws, enforce laws, and judge laws in three separate branches of government instead of in one body. He also led the way to having checks and balances - the ideas of allowing each branch to have certain powers to make sure the other branches aren't abusing their power. He is called the "Father of the Constitution" due to his leadership at the Constitutional Convention. He was so committed to this new Constitution that he wrote many of the //Federalist Papers// articles supporting the Constitution.
 * __Thomas Jefferson__: He was the founder who wrote the Declaration of Independence. He acknowledged in the Declaration that our Creator (God) gives us rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) that government must protect. He was in France during the Constitutional Convention, but was a supporter of it although as he expressed to Madison he wanted to see a bill of rights to make sure the new government did take away power. Jefferson favored stronger states over a stronger federal government. He was also a supporter of agriculture as the main way to build the nation.
 * __Alexander Hamilton__: He was a major supporter of the republic and the new Constitution. Like Madison, he wrote many of the Federalist Papers articles supporting the new Constitution and looking to gain other supporters of it. He saw a stronger federal government as a good thing - it's important to keep in mind though a strong federal government is much different than today's version of a strong central government. During our nation's founding, the Constitution set up a federal system, which has a strong central government, but this central government was ONLY to have the power to do what the states were not competent enough to do on their own.
 * __Benjamin Franklin__: He was a supporter of the new Constitution and was the peacekeeper at the convention due to his wisdom and experience. He was well known and respected due to many years as a statesman. He helped build Philadelphia early in his life and urged the colonies to unite against the French in the French and Indian War. He spoke to the British king and parliament on the concerns of the colonies, but when the British grew hostile, he favored independence. At the Constitutional Convention he said that great empires cannot rise without God's guidance. As a result, the delegates opened discussions with prayer.
 * __John Adams__: He was also a major supporter of independence and the war. During the Constitutional Convention, he was the ambassdor to Britain. He supported the new Constitution and especially liked the principle of checks and balances. Adams was one of the early Founding Fathers (along with Franklin) who was against slavery.

It's important to recognize that the Founding Fathers never intended the American government to be as big or as powerful over the people as it is today. Remember, in 1913 America entered into a Force Shift. The events that took place in 1913 changed America from what the Founders intended into something that the Progressives intended - the belief that the government can solve all problems. The original intent of the Founding Fathers when they created the Constitution was that the new federal government was only to have powers in areas that the states were incompetent on their own.

__Faith of the Founding Fathers__: the following video gives some insight into the intentions of our Founders in what they felt was a very important realm of society. media type="youtube" key="q1-vpAqFjww" height="315" width="420"
 * Who was James Wilson and why is he important to know?
 * What did Founding Father James McHenry believe was the best tool to prevent crime and safeguard of civil government?
 * How has history changed in terms of what has been written about the morals and faith of our Founding Fathers?

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