Two Founding Fathers

Charles Pinckney

Who Was He? Representative in the SC General Assembly Fought in the American Revolution Delegate to the Constitutional Convention Founding Father Main author of the Constitution (31 ideas were his) Governor of SC four times Served as Ambassador to Spain under Jefferson

Details of Pinckney’s Life: Born in 1757 Active lawyer in Charleston from Lieutenant in the Continental Army 1780 Prisoner of War of the British until 1781 Delegate from South Carolina at Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776 Senator and Representative from SC Died in 1824

What Did He Do? Author of the Pinckney Draft 1787 which was the basis for the Constitution of the United States. As a leader in SC, he helped write a constitution for the state including a law for religious freedom. Became a supporter of Thomas Jefferson and supported Jefferson for President. This made his family angry because Jefferson ran against Charles Pinckney’s cousin Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Moved the capital from Charleston to Columbia so the common man could have the same access as the gentry. Helped with the Louisiana Purchase for the United States Ambassador to Spain under Thomas Jefferson.

What Were His Views? Government should have 3 parts: President, Congress and the Supreme Court. President should only serve 2 terms Favored individual religious freedom and protection from government authorities. Favored states' rights and a limited federal government The Federal Government should coin the money, establish the Post Office and the army and the navy.

What He thought about Slavery: He believed that every state should be able to write their own laws about slavery. (States Rights) He depended on his own slaves to support his households and plantations.

Thomas Jefferson

Who Was He? 3rd president of the United States Vice president under John Adams A Founding Father Main author of the Declaration of Independence Governor of Virginia Co-founder and leader of the Democratic- Republican Party, which dominated American politics for 25 years

Details of Jefferson’s Life: Born in 1743 Active lawyer in Virginia from 1768 to Delegate from Virginia at Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776 United States Secretary of State under George Washington from 1790 to 1793 President of the United States from 1801 to 1809 Died in 1826

What Did He Do? Author of the Declaration of Independence (1776) Author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779, 1786) As president he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase (1803), and sent the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) to explore the vast new territory and lands further west. Created the Jeffersonian Democracy, a political idea supporting a national government, but with greatly restricted powers. He advocated for a strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution so the national government couldn’t get too powerful. He wanted the states to be able to decide for their own people, not the federal government in Washington.

What Were His Views? Idealized Republican Virtues- all men have rights to the pursuit of happiness Saw America as an “Empire of Liberty” to spread freedom throughout the world Favored individual religious freedom and protection from government authorities. Favored states' rights and a limited federal government Supported the separation of church and state

What He thought about Slavery: Opposed slavery… However, he depended on his own slaves to support his households and plantations Opposition to slavery was still known in the Declaration of Independence Leader in the abolition of the slave trade Lack of action, though, to end slavery after he finished his term

PINCKNEYJEFFERSON Lawyer in South CarolinaLawyer in Virginia Delegate from SC to the Second Continental Congress. Delegate to the Second Continental Congress. Wrote a large part of the Constitution. Signed the Constitution. Wrote the Declaration of Independence. Signed the Declaration of Independence. Helped to write the Constitution of SC which included Religious Freedom. Wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.Negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. Governor of SC – 4 timesGovernor of Virginia Served in the House of Representatives and the Senate President of the United States

PINCKNEYJEFFERSON Fought in the American Revolution and was a prisoner of war. Fought in the American Revolution Had slaves. Opposed to slavery Had slaves. Opposed Slavery Limited Federal Government Founding Father Democratic/Republican Party Ambassador to Spain under Jefferson Secretary of State under George Washington. Believed in State’s Rights