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Listen and Follow Along: The Founding Fathers

Grade 3 · Cluster 4 · Low Stamina. Press play, and the gold box moves word by word as the passage is read aloud, so students hear and see it at the same time.
Read in Randi Whitney's voice.

The Founding Fathers

The Founding Fathers were a group of leaders who helped create the United States of America. They believed the American colonies should be free from British rule and wanted people to have a government that protected their rights.

During the late 1700s, the American colonies were controlled by Great Britain. Many colonists felt the British government was unfair because it made laws and taxes without asking the colonists for their opinions. Leaders such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and James Madison worked together to help solve this problem.

In 1776, some of these leaders helped write an important document called the Declaration of Independence. This document explained why the colonies wanted to become a free nation. It also said that people have certain rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

After the colonies won the American Revolution, the new country needed a strong government. Some of the Founding Fathers met together in 1787 to write the Constitution, which explained how the government of the United States would work. They wanted to create laws that were fair and protect the freedoms of the people.

The Founding Fathers showed leadership, courage, and determination as they helped form a new nation. Their ideas and hard work helped build the foundation of the United States, and their influence is still important in American government today.