1. United States constitution
History: Lesson 2: the founders

2. Glimpse into the lives of 5 men who were the most important founders
What were they up to in the years leading up to the constitutional convention?
What was the campaign that followed to ratify the constitution?

3. Who attended the constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787?
55 men
Average age 44 year old
All white, and nearly all well-educated
More than half had college degrees-unusual for the time, since less than one-tenth of one percent of the population had attended college
22 of the 55 delegates had served in the continental army during the revolution
So ….the men were intellects and soldiers

4. George washington First president of the United states
Born in 1732, to a wealthy Virginia family
lieutenant colonel in the military at 22 years old
Served as Virginia's colonial government before the revolutionary war
1787 constitutional convention-moderator for the debates
Elected to be our first president, and took office in 1789
Served two terms

5. George washington
During the American Revolution, he led the colonial forces to victory over the British and became a national hero.
George Washington ( ) was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War ( ) and served two terms as the first U.S. president, from to 1797.
Helped author the United states constitution at the constitutional convention in 1787
washington

6. Thomas jefferson Born in 1743 married in 1772
lived in Monticello, Virginia
Wonderful writer, terrible public speaker
Member of Virginia’s colonial government and the continental congress
1776, drafted the declaration of independence

7. Thomas jefferson
Wasn’t present at the constitutional convention of 1787, serving as minister to France
Believed in strong state governments and separation between church and state
Served as secretary of state under George Washington
1801 became third president of the united states
thomas-jefferson

8. Benjamin franklin Born in 1706
Oldest delegate at the constitutional convention
Apprenticed as a printer, made printing his career
Inventor, a writer, a scientist, a swimmer (International Swimming hall of fame)
Loved to learn-age of 60 elected member of the Royal society
the Royal Society, is a learned society for science and is possibly the oldest such society still in existence. (London, England)

9. Benjamin franklin
Like Jefferson, was a diplomatic representative to France
At the constitutional convention, urged the delegates to sign the document
Believed slavery was wrong-president of the society for promoting the abolition of slavery and the relief of negroes unlawfully held in bondage
Died in 1790-not long after the constitution was ratified

10. James madison One of the youngest delegates at the convention-age 36
Very outspoken, and his ideas were probably the most influential
Raised in Virginia, attended Princeton university
1776, helped write Virginia’s state constitution
Served in the continental congress and the Virginian general assembly

11. James madison
Believed in a strong central government and in state’s rights
Co-wrote the federalist papers with alexander Hamilton and john jay-written to convince New Yorkers to ratify the constitution
Interesting fact: the federalist papers were circulated among the colonies, not just New York-this helped convince people that ratification was necessary
Madison served as Thomas Jefferson’s secretary of state and became the united states 4th president in 1809

12. Alexander hamilton Rags to riches story
Born 1757 on the island of nevis in the Caribbean
Father left when he was 8, and his mother died when he was 11
Age 16, someone sponsored him to travel to new York to attend king’s college (which is now Columbia university)
Became a lawyer, founded new York’s first bank, and joined the military in 1775

13. Alexander hamilton
At the constitutional convention, he argued for a strong central government, even admitting that he would prefer a monarchy!
Co-authored the federalist papers with james Madison and john jay
In 1789, appointed secretary of the treasury in George Washington’s administrations
1804-killed at the age of 47 by vice president aaron burr in a duel

14. Alexander hamilton

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