How did the founding fathers have an influence on the history of the United States?

Answer 1

The founding fathers were afraid of a direct democracy because people in masses are generally stupid. The Electoral College was established to create a republic based of this mistrust of �mobocracy� or the theory that ignorant people would decide an election and the newly elected president would run the country into the ground.

The construction of our government fortifies this theory. The judicial branch consists of nine members who retain their positions for life (or good behavior), placed in their office for such a long tenure to counter-act the whims of a current fad in politics. For example, right now conservatism is the driving force in politics, but there are justices in the Supreme Court who are liberal, and these justices will be there for the rest of their lives. Even though the populous advocates the recantation of cases such as Roe v. Wade, this repeal will probably not occur any time soon.

The founding fathers, as the intellectual elite of their time, had every right to fear the impulses of those for whom they were creating the constitution. To protect themselves and those like them who would follow, they ensured that there was not only a check on the government itself, but on the governed as well.

Answer 2

It is simple. They created an oligarchy via the constitution. Popular vote elected represenatives to the house. The state legislatures oringinally elected senators. The electoral college even today elects the president and the Supreme Court is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate (notice the House has no say!)So power is taken farther and farther from the people. Keep in mind, universal sufferage was not a concept they embraced. Not only did you have to own property to vote, but there was a minimum to the amount of property you had to own. They saw the legislative process as the House would propose legislation (not the President as happens now) the Senate had to approve and the President sign it. The Supreme Court had final say what could become law and what could not. Add that to how each body was chosen and the oligarchy is obvious.

This is a simple response to the previous answer, correcting a minor discrepency.

Suffrage is not determined by the national government, ie each state decided who had the right to vote. While some states required their voters to be white, male landowners, not all voters were required to be so.

Also, the President does not propose legislation. He can be a proponent of certain idea, but legislation is written, revised, and passed (or not) in committe be it in the House or the Senate.

Answer 3

The Founding Fathers participated in the American Revolution, which made the U.S. possible in the first place. They also created the country's founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson is a example of a Founding Father.

Answer 4

English colonists arrived in America and settled the colonies and brought with them the ideas of government that had been developing in England for many centuries. Some of those ideas included limited government, the idea of representative government, philosophical and political ideas of men like john Locke, and the practice of government that had been developing in the colonies for almost 200 years prior to the writing of the Constitution of the United States. The men who helped write the Constitution were well educated in political and governmental ideas. They were practical as well as intellectual and through much compromise, helped develop a form of government that has withstood the test of time.

Answer 5

Jefferson's original rough draft was first submitted to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams for their thoughts and changes.

The entire committee reviewed after Franklin and Adams's changes. After much discussion 26 changes were made from Jefferson's original draft. The Committee presented it to Congress on Friday June 28th which ordered it to lie on the table.

Answer 6

An incommon of troubles, past experiences, and their present situations. I think they were faced with an inevitable condition that required a quick and immediate response, and that drove them to find rock solid conclusions for the struggles they faced.

Answer 7

They met several times (mainly at Independence Hall in Philadelphia) and debated what should be added. Largely controversial issues like slavery were left out, and popular ideas were implemented into the US Constitution.

Answer 8

They revolted against the king of England and fought the war for independence.

Answer 9

The founding fathers viewed the government as limited. The government served at the bequest of the people.