Words of the Founding Fathers

Steve Coffman has written several books about politics, and has previously taught at the University of Michigan and the University of Iowa. He lives in Bath, New York.

Table of Contents



Preface     



Part One—Independence     

1. Liberty     

2. Religion     



Part Two—A New Kind of Government     

3. Confederation to Republic     

4. The Constitution     

5. Government     

6. Education     

7. Property, Commerce, and Class     

8. War and Peace     

9. Political Parties     

10. “A Nation of Laws, Not Men”     



Part Three—The Unenfranchised     

11. Slavery     

12. “Forgotten Founders”—The Native Americans     

13. Women     



Part Four—The Founders on Each Other     

14. Founders on Each Other     

15. Jefferson and Hamilton     

16. Adams and Jefferson     



APPENDIX: IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

1. Albany Plan of Union—Benjamin Franklin 1754     

2. “A Dissertation of the Canon and Feudal Laws”—John Adams 1765     

3. “Thoughts on Government”—John Adams 1776     

4. Declaration of Independence—Thomas Jefferson 1776     

5. Articles of Confederation—1781     

6. “Notes on Articles of Confederation”—Thomas Jefferson 1821     

7. Letter from Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton (on the Right and Necessity of the Federal Government to Tax)—February 24, 1783     

8. “Vices of the Political System of the United States”—James Madison 1787     

9. Letter from James Madison to Edmund Randolph April 8, 1787     

10. Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan—March 14, 1785     

11. “Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments”—James Madison 1785     

12. Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom—Thomas Jefferson Adopted 1786