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Signing of the Declaration of Independence Painting by John Trumbull
In 1787, delegates from12 states (Rhode Island did not participate) met in Philadelphia to make changes to the Articles of Confederation. They wrote a new document to govern all of the states called the Constitution of the United States. It stated the basic laws of the new government of the United States and how they would work. George Washington served as the chairman of these meetings.
George Washington
The new Constitution called for a President of the United States to be elected by the people. George Washington was chosen as the first president in 1789, and was sworn in in New York City. At that time, New York City was the capital of the United States. Washington felt that his country once again needed him to lead and help organize the new government. Getting the individual states to work together to become a strong nation was one of his goals.
George Washington was nicknamed the "Father of the Nation." He earned the respect and confidence of the United States' first citizens for his hard work as president.
For more information on George Washington, see "Leaders of the Revolution: Patriots and Loyalists at http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/revleadl.cfm
Alexander Hamilton was a lawyer from New York. He wanted a strong central government for the new nation. Hamilton represented New York as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Some delegates, including the other two from New York, did not want the national government to be too strong. They were afraid that it might be so powerful that it would no longer represent the rights of the majority of the people. Hamilton argued that it must be strong if it was going to work.
In 1789, when the new national government got under way, Alexander Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury, under President Washington. He helped make decisions about managing the nation's money, its budgets, and tax laws. Hamilton's strong will helped the United States become a powerful nation. A national bank was established while Hamilton was in office.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson had become well known when the American colonies decided to break away from England. As the author of the Declaration of Independence, he had written, "all men are created equal" and have the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Like George Clinton, he belonged to a group of Americans, known as Anti-Federalists, who were against adopting the United States Constitution. They were worried that a strong national government might take away the rights of individual citizens. Jefferson and the Anti-Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution to help protect the rights of the common people.
Jefferson also fought for religious freedom and believed in the importance of education. He said that people should be free to worship in the church of their choice. He helped build schools and a university in his home state of Virginia.
The fight to protect freedom and democracy for the citizens of the United States helped to make Thomas Jefferson a great leader in the new nation. He became he Vice-President of the United States under John Adams in 1796. Four years later he became president and served two terms. For more information on Thomas Jefferson, see "Leaders of the Revolution: Patriots and Loyalists at http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/revleadl.cfm
George Clinton
George Clinton was New York's first governor in 1777. He was a very popular governor and was elected to serve seven terms as governor of New York. He became known as the "Father of New York State." Clinton favored strong rights for the individual states, and was against the federal Constitution. He did not want the state of New York to have to give up the power to make its own decisions. Only after nine other states approved the signing of the Constitution, did Clinton finally agree that it would be in the best interest of the country to sign.
Clinton's leadership in New York State helped him get elected Vice President of the United States in 1804 under Thomas Jefferson. In 1808 he ran for President of the United States, but lost and became Vice President under James Madison.
John Jay was one of our nation's founding fathers. As a lawyer from New York, he helped write the New York State Constitution in 1777. It was the first written plan of government for New York. He was elected governor of New York in 1795. He worked hard and was a popular governor.
Jay helped to strengthen the national government by writing letters and articles to persuade Americans to accept the United States Constitution. By doing this he helped to make the new nation strong. George Washington appointed Jay as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States where he was highly respected for his fairness.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin, was a courageous patriot leader during the American Revolution. He continued to serve the new nation until his death in 1790, at the age of eighty-four. After signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, he sailed to France as an ambassador, or representative, of the United States.
The French loved Franklin. He charmed them, as he had won the hearts of Americans, with his personality, quick wit and humor. He was chosen to be one of five American representatives at the peace conference in 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the American Revolutionary War with England.
Franklin returned to America in 1785. He was honored by being chosen to be a member of the Constitutional Convention. In 1787, as a delegate from Pennsylvania, Franklin signed the Constitution of the United States of America. His support of the constitution helped influence other members to sign the document. He was the oldest member in attendance.
For more information on Benjamin Franklin, see "Leaders of the Revolution: Patriots and Loyalists at http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ss5/b/revleadl.cfm
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