--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I define the terms \"founding fathers\" and…" description: "\"I define the terms \"founding fathers\" and \"founders\" broadly to include an entire generation or two of Americans from many walks of life who, in the la..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_18th-century_i-define-the-terms-founding-fathers-and_2236732.jpg" --- # I define the terms "founding fathers" and "founders"… ![“I define the terms "founding fathers" and "founders" broadly to include an entire generation or two of Americans from many walks of life who, in the last half of the 18th century and early 19th century, articulated the rights of colonists, secured independence from Great Britain, and established…” quote by Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_18th-century_i-define-the-terms-founding-fathers-and_2236732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_18th-century_i-define-the-terms-founding-fathers-and_2236732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f19/daniel-l-dreisbach-37877_18th-century_i-define-the-terms-founding-fathers-and_2236732.jpg) > “I define the terms "founding fathers" and "founders" broadly to include an entire generation or two of Americans from many walks of life who, in the last half of the 18th century and early 19th century, articulated the rights of colonists, secured independence from Great Britain, and established new constitutional republics at both the national and state levels. This definition includes a cast of thousands who played their patriotic part at the local, state, and/or national levels. Among them were citizen soldiers, elected representatives, polemicists, and patriot preachers.” [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expands “founding fathers” to a broad, multi‑generational group of Americans who secured independence and built republican governments. **In simple terms:** Founding fathers include many people beyond the famous leaders. Key Takeaway Recognize the diverse contributors to nation‑building. Themes history politics citizenship leadership nation‑building Mood reflective analytical Type historical educational. When to use this quote - education - public policy - community organizing - historical research Key Concepts Republicanism collective action civic duty Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance recognizing many contributors with honoring pivotal leaders? - What criteria should define a “founder” in modern contexts? A Different Perspective The broad definition may dilute the impact of key individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [18th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18th-century/) [19th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/19th-century/) [Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/britain/) [Casts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/casts/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Colonists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colonists/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Founders Broadly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders-broadly-5053378/) [Founding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Great britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-britain/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Locals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locals/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Patriotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotic/) [Preacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Colonists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-colonists-1938301/) [Secured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secured/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Walks of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks-of-life/) ## Related quotes > [Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/among-the-natural-rights-of-the-colonists-are-these-first-a-right-to-3/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second, to liberty; third, to property; together with the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/among-the-natural-rights-of-the-colonists-are-these-first-a-right-to/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [The right to freedom is the gift of God Almighty…The rights of the Colonists as Christians may be best understood by reading, and carefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/the-right-to-freedom-is-the-gift-of-god-almighty-the-rights-of-the/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [“The natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second to liberty; third to property; together with the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-natural-rights-of-the-colonists-are-these-first-a-right-to-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At one level Great Britain at the beginning of the 18th century was like the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, both three and one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-colley/at-one-level-great-britain-at-the-beginning-of-the-18th-century-was/) [Linda Colley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-colley/) > [ By 18th century standards, they \[Great Britain\] were the freest, most dynamic, most willing to challenge tradition and authority. They had the highest wages… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-morris/by-18th-century-standards-they-great-britain-were-the-freest-most/) [Charles R. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-morris/) > [“Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/among-the-natural-rights-of-the-colonists-are-these-first-a-right-to-2/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [Just as the children of Israel were directed by God to depart from the land of their oppression with its tyrannical monarch, cross a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/just-as-the-children-of-israel-were-directed-by-god-to-depart-from/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [I'm deeply interested in the photograph as a record of an encounter and enjoy putting myself in a timeline of image-makers, alongside other travelers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meiselas/i-m-deeply-interested-in-the-photograph-as-a-record-of-an-encounter/) [Susan Meiselas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meiselas/) > [ \[Albert\] Camus' was born in Algeria of French nationality, and was assimilated into the French colony, although the French colonists rejected him absolutely because… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/albert-camus-was-born-in-algeria-of-french-nationality-and-was/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) > [All men have a right to remain in a state of nature as long as they please; and in case of intolerable oppression, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/all-men-have-a-right-to-remain-in-a-state-of-nature-as-long-as-they/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [In my last I contended that none of those ties which are necessary to bind a people together and make them one, existed between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-wharton/in-my-last-i-contended-that-none-of-those-ties-which-are-necessary-to/) [William H. Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-wharton/) > [The right of ordinary citizens to possess weapons is the most extraordinary, most controversial, and least understood of those liberties secured by Englishmen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-lee-malcolm/the-right-of-ordinary-citizens-to-possess-weapons-is-the-most/) [Joyce Lee Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-lee-malcolm/) > [I have experience and I am employing it in the service of a Chilean road for Chile's problems. We always take advantage of experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-allende/i-have-experience-and-i-am-employing-it-in-the-service-of-a-chilean/) [Salvador Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-allende/) > [Film is like a colony and there are very few colonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/film-is-like-a-colony-and-there-are-very-few-colonists/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) ## More by Daniel L Dreisbach > [God ordained and established civil government, but only to serve the common good. A civil government that oppresses its people and acts contrary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/god-ordained-and-established-civil-government-but-only-to-serve-the/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [I contend that no book figured more prominently than the Bible in the political thought of these patriots we call the founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/i-contend-that-no-book-figured-more-prominently-than-the-bible-in-the/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [Nations, as well as individuals, must be virtuous and righteous if they desire to be stable, prosperous, and tranquil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/nations-as-well-as-individuals-must-be-virtuous-and-righteous-if-they/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [The republican model described in the Hebrew Scriptures reassured pious Americans that republicanism was a political system favored by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/the-republican-model-described-in-the-hebrew-scriptures-reassured/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [Most of what the founders knew about the Hebraic republic, it must be emphasized, they learned from the Bible. These Americans were well aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/most-of-what-the-founders-knew-about-the-hebraic-republic-it-must-be/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [Just as the children of Israel were directed by God to depart from the land of their oppression with its tyrannical monarch, cross a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/just-as-the-children-of-israel-were-directed-by-god-to-depart-from/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [The true greatness of a nation lies in its character, not in its economic or military power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/the-true-greatness-of-a-nation-lies-in-its-character-not-in-its/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [God elevates nations that behave in conformity with God's standards but he withdraws his blessings from a people who disregard those standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/god-elevates-nations-that-behave-in-conformity-with-god-s-standards/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [One should study the Bible alongside other intellectual traditions - such as British constitutionalism, Enlightenment liberalism, and classical republicanism - in order to truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/one-should-study-the-bible-alongside-other-intellectual-traditions/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [The American founders, when framing their governments, looked to the Bible for insights into human nature, civic virtue, social order, political authority and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/the-american-founders-when-framing-their-governments-looked-to-the/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) > [There were many Americans in the Revolutionary era who believed that they, like the children of Israel, were oppressed by their colonial rulers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-l-dreisbach/there-were-many-americans-in-the-revolutionary-era-who-believed-that/) [Daniel L Dreisbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) [Explore all 12 Daniel L Dreisbach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-l-dreisbach/) ## More 18th century quotes > [ “And the differences thence arising \[between the constitution of men and women\] are no ways sufficient to argue more natural strength in the one… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/and-the-differences-thence-arising-between-the-constitution-of-men/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [The lessons of the First Amendment are as urgent in the modern world as the 18th Century when it was written. 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Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-morris/) > [“If from immemorable time, the Men had been so little envious, and so very impartial, as to do justice to our talents, by admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/if-from-immemorable-time-the-men-had-been-so-little-envious-and-so/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [Compare the scale and magnifcence of Versailles with St James's - the brick-built hovel in which the 18th-century kings of England lived. What was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/compare-the-scale-and-magnifcence-of-versailles-with-st-james-s-the/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [Newt Gingrich wants to repeal child labor laws. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the man that we need to lead us into the 18th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/newt-gingrich-wants-to-repeal-child-labor-laws-ladies-and-gentlemen/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [ “I shou'd not myself have thought \[Cato\] worth so much notice as I have here taken of him; but that the Men are weak… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-sophia-fermor/i-shou-d-not-myself-have-thought-cato-worth-so-much-notice-as-i-have/) [Lady Sophia Fermor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-sophia-fermor/) > [The theory of social contracts extends as far back as Plato. However, it was the great 18th century social philosophers John Locke, Thomas Hobbes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/the-theory-of-social-contracts-extends-as-far-back-as-plato-however/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [To my three sons, Peter, Scott, and Alexander who pulled me from the 18th Century and back into the present on a regular basis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/to-my-three-sons-peter-scott-and-alexander-who-pulled-me-from-the/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > ["The Constitution" has something called The Emoluments Clause. That's just a fancy, 18th century word for no foreign government payments. And Donald Trump is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-l-eisen/the-constitution-has-something-called-the-emoluments-clause-that-s/) [Norman L. Eisen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-l-eisen/) > [The word 'America' probably didn't appear in the Persian language until the end of the 18th century - but then with a documented past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bettany-hughes/the-word-america-probably-didn-t-appear-in-the-persian-language-until/) [Bettany Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bettany-hughes/) > [The United States may have retained more of the intellectual imprint of the British 18th century than Britain itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rees-mogg/the-united-states-may-have-retained-more-of-the-intellectual-imprint/) [William Rees-Mogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rees-mogg/) > [I think I'm from the 18th century, not even the 19th. I don't even use a typewriter. I prefer longhand, and that's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/i-think-i-m-from-the-18th-century-not-even-the-19th-i-don-t-even-use/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [You need some reason why Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn in the 18th century all flocked to Vienna. What was it about Vienna? They must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/you-need-some-reason-why-beethoven-mozart-and-haydn-in-the-18th/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) [Browse all 180 18th century quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/18th-century/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I define the terms \"founding fathers\" and \"founders\" broadly to include an entire generation or two of Americans from many walks of life who, in the last half of the 18th century and early 19th century, articulated the rights of colonists, secured independence from Great Britain, and established new constitutional republics at both the national and state levels. This definition includes a cast of thousands who played their patriotic part at the local, state, and/or national levels. 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