Recognizing America’s Founding Father’s

The term “Founding Fathers” was first coined in Chicago in 1915 at the Republican National Convention. Warren G. Harding used the phrase in his keynote address. The phrase took hold and now serves as a clearly defining representation of who our founding fathers were and what they believed.

Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States

Just like our dads, these men were ordinary human beings who rose up to do extraordinary things. They used their wits and talents, their skills and their beliefs to meet many challenges. Our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and so on have answered the call time and again to keep this nation vital and free.

John Adams: “Our Constitution was made only for moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Ben Franklin: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As people and nations become vicious and corrupt, they have more need of masters.”

Gouverneur Morris: “Religion is the only solid base of morals and morals are the only supports of free governments.”

William Paterson: “When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

George Washington: “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil authority.”

Sam Adams: “It is in the interests of tyrants to reduce the people to ignorance and vice. For they (the tyrants) cannot live in a country where virtue and knowledge prevail.”

James Madison: “The future and success of America is not in the Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which it is founded.”

Thomas Jefferson: “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are of a gift of God?”

Let’s hear it for our dear old founding dads this Father’s Day and heed founding mother, Mercy Warren’s advice: “Ne’er forget the man behind the hero.” And, for goodness sake, listen to their advice.

Author Linda Turner
Vacation Liberty School of Georgetown