We spend a lot of time studying the founders. Or is it the framers? Well, we've come to use both terms to describe the same people, but really folks, there's a difference.
And no, this is not a semantic argument, this really matters. This is history, and it's important to get it right.
Of course it's important to clarify at the outset that we're discussing the people, almost all men, unfortunately, who created America. The "Founding" depending on how one views it, lasted for between 25 and 50 years. Without question, it began in 1765 when the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. When it ended is a matter for debate, but that's another story. This is about the people.
Now, who are the founders? Tough question. There are literally hundreds, even thousands of them. Anyone who contributed to the founding is a founder. Pretty simple right? Some examples:
Anyone who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Anyone who sighed the Constitution.
Most leaders of the Continental Army.
Most leaders of the resistance and insurgency effort in Boston from 1765 onward.
Thomas Paine
John Jay
Abigail Adams
Most members of the First Continental Congress
Most members of the Second Continental Congress
Some members of the Congress of the Confederation
Most members of the committees of the several states for ratification of the Constitution.
And so on...
BUT who are the framers. All of these people? NO!
The framers are an exclusive group. A few dozen at most. The Framers are those who were involved in framing our current government, that is to say, those men who created, or invented as it were, the Constitution of the United States. In broad terms the 39 delegates who signed the constitution could be considered Framers. However, I would narrow it farther. I would suggest that only those who were directly involved in the calling of the convention and those who directly influenced the final product should be considered.
Among them,
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Gouverneur Morris
James Wilson
Are there any Framers who did not sign the Constitution? Yes. BUT they must have been in some way directly or indirectly involved with the calling of the convention, or the ratification of the final document, or have in some way been involved in the theory behind the form of government created by the Constitution.
Among these,
John Adams
Robert Morris
John Jay
So Ok? Do we understand the difference now between a Founder and a Framer. I sure hope so!
And no, this is not a semantic argument, this really matters. This is history, and it's important to get it right.
Of course it's important to clarify at the outset that we're discussing the people, almost all men, unfortunately, who created America. The "Founding" depending on how one views it, lasted for between 25 and 50 years. Without question, it began in 1765 when the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act. When it ended is a matter for debate, but that's another story. This is about the people.
Now, who are the founders? Tough question. There are literally hundreds, even thousands of them. Anyone who contributed to the founding is a founder. Pretty simple right? Some examples:
Anyone who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Anyone who sighed the Constitution.
Most leaders of the Continental Army.
Most leaders of the resistance and insurgency effort in Boston from 1765 onward.
Thomas Paine
John Jay
Abigail Adams
Most members of the First Continental Congress
Most members of the Second Continental Congress
Some members of the Congress of the Confederation
Most members of the committees of the several states for ratification of the Constitution.
And so on...
BUT who are the framers. All of these people? NO!
The framers are an exclusive group. A few dozen at most. The Framers are those who were involved in framing our current government, that is to say, those men who created, or invented as it were, the Constitution of the United States. In broad terms the 39 delegates who signed the constitution could be considered Framers. However, I would narrow it farther. I would suggest that only those who were directly involved in the calling of the convention and those who directly influenced the final product should be considered.
Among them,
George Washington
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Gouverneur Morris
James Wilson
Are there any Framers who did not sign the Constitution? Yes. BUT they must have been in some way directly or indirectly involved with the calling of the convention, or the ratification of the final document, or have in some way been involved in the theory behind the form of government created by the Constitution.
Among these,
John Adams
Robert Morris
John Jay
So Ok? Do we understand the difference now between a Founder and a Framer. I sure hope so!
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