The Founding Fathers of the United States (known simply as the Founding Fathers, Founders, or Framers) were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation. Historians are in general agreement that six of the most prominent leaders of the Revolutionary Era of 1765–1791 are Founding Fathers: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. The list of Founders is often expanded to include the signers of the Declaration of Independence and individuals who later ratified the U.S. Constitution. Meanwhile, some scholars regard all delegates to the Constitutional Convention as Founding Fathers whether they approved the Constitution or not. In addition, some historians include signers of the Articles of Confederation, which was adopted in 1781 as the nation's first constitution.Beyond this, the criteria for inclusion vary. Historians with an expanded view of the list of Founding...