Interesting Facts About Our Founding Fathers
John AdamsJohn Adams was a Massachusetts born Federalist. He began his career as a lawyer and went to Harvard to receive his education. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in the 1770s, and served as a diplomat in Europe to help negotiate the Treaty of Paris (1783) in the 1780s. Adams was America's first vice president, and then served a term as America's second president.
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Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton, born in the British West Indies, arrived in the colonies as a teenager. He wrote for the Federalist Paper, was a member of the Continental Congress, and the first secretary of Treasury. His Federalist views lead to many argument between him and Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, and Aaron Burr. His disagreements with Burr resulted in a duel between the two with an ending outcome of Hamilton's death.
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James MonroeJames Madison was born in Virginia. He fought with the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, served as U.S. senator, governor of Virginia, and helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase. He was the Democratic-Republican choice for 1816, and with his enthusiasm, President Madison's backing, and little Federalist opposition, he easily won the re-election. Within his second term, he created the Monroe Doctrine, a very successful political principal uniting the America's and the land in between.
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James Madison |
Thomas Jefferson |
George Washington |
Virginia-born Democratic-Republican, James Madison, served two terms as the fourth president of the US. He got his college education from Princeton, and later became interested the American colonies and Britain's relationship. He was appointed colonel of Orange County in the Revolutionary War, but quickly gave it up for a political career. Madison was a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress and was later called to help make a new constitution. His friendship with Thomas Jefferson lead to him being secretary of state while Jefferson was in office. James beat the Federalist candidate, Charles Cotesworth, in the 1808 election and served two terms as president.
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Thomas Jefferson was born in Virginia, and lived in is home called Monticello, he also owned slaves to work for him. Jefferson is the author of the Decoration of Independence which declared America its own country. When Washington was elected president and offered Jefferson secretary of state, he could not refuse. While in this position, his Democratic-Republican view clashed with the first secretary of treasury, Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson was elected president, and his biggest accomplishment while in office was the Louisiana Purchase. This purchase doubled the size of America and was a significant investment in our economy.
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The Virginia born and raised George Washington was the first president of the United States. George grew up on a plantation of Pope's Creek. He is thought to have been mostly taught by tutors and private schools, as his family was very prosperous. Washington was made commander of the Virginia militia and saw battle in the French and Indian War. He made his way up the ranks until he was made Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary war and a great one at that! Washington resigned from the military after the war and went back to his home. His retirement was short-lived and he was asked to come back to office to be the first president of the United States. He was weary at first but eventually gave in, but decided not to take sides of a party, and therefore was an Independent candidate. The vote for him was unanimous! He served two terms and was a great mold for our future leaders.
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