Who were the Founding Fathers of America? These are the men who created our government and forged our new Nation. Their names are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison. Many events lead up to the Revolutionary War, you will learn about some of them here.
Founding Fathers:
The History of the United States - The Founding Fathers of the US
Liberty & Slavery: The Paradox of America's Founding Fathers
George Washington:
George Washington: Founding Father
George Washington: The First American
George Washington: Loyal Subject
George Washington: Rebel Commander
George Washington: Father of his Country
Benjamin Franklin:
Benjamin Franklin: Join or Die (1706-1774)
Benjamin Franklin: An American (1775-1790)
Thomas Jefferson:
Ken Burns: Thomas Jefferson, Pt. 1
Ken Burns: Thomas Jefferson, Pt. 2
Thomas Jefferson: Monument Men
Documents and Early American Events:
The Words That Built America: The Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, and The Bill of Rights
The History of the United States - Pre-History through 1699, Pt. 1
The History of the United States - 1700-1849, Pt. 2
The French and Indian War began in 1754 and ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The war provided Great Britain enormous territorial gains in North America, but disputes over subsequent frontier policy and paying the war's expenses led to colonial discontent, and ultimately to the American Revolution.
It upholds freedom of speech and religion, guarantees a free press, grants the right to keep and bear arms, preserves the right of trial by jury, establishes states’ rights, and more. It’s the Bill of Rights. This program presents the ten key constitutional amendments that have defined the fundamental liberties that are the American birthright—and examines the controversies and challenges they have withstood. A Cambridge Educational Production
This program is an indispensable tool for helping students to understand the constitutional amendment process and to see its importance in their own lives. It defines what an amendment is, explains why amendments have been needed down through the centuries, and describes the process for proposing and ratifying an amendment. Amendments used as illustrations of the process of changing the Constitution have been carefully selected for their interest value to today’s students.
Articles of Confederation, 1777–1781
Confounding Father - Episode 1
Description:
The Articles of Confederation was an alliance, not a government. Frightened with how democratic the state legislatures had become, a group of elites gather in Philadelphia to create a powerful government to protect their interests. The Virginia Plan seeks a President elected for life and veto power over state laws. Maryland delegate Luther Martin and a few others counter with the New Jersey Plan.
Confounding Father - Episode 2
Description:
Arriving late to Philadelphia, Luther Martin makes a two day speech against the Virginia Plan; he has been vilified ever since. Who were the "Anti-federalists" and what were their objections? Textbooks and many historians celebrate the compromises that created our structure of government. But many compromises were ugly and unfortunate - the multiple protections for slavery are highlighted here.
Confounding Father - Episode 3
Description:
Many framers wanted to give congress nearly unlimited taxing authority. The powers of the executive branch are left surprisingly vague. Many antifederalists opposed a peacetime army. "Ensure domestic tranquility" is a euphemism for putting down rebellions. Many Americans were shocked by the power of the new national government; they had expected only a revised Articles of Confederation.