Founding Fathers | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/founding-fathers/RSS feed for Founding FathersenTue, 21 Jul 2026 19:23:31 +0000A Volunteer Stumbled Upon a Strange Document in the U.K. National Archives. It Turned Out to Be a Rare Copy of the Declaration of Independence Printed in July 1776https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-volunteer-stumbled-upon-a-strange-document-in-the-uk-national-archives-it-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-printed-in-july-1776-180989169/Michael Scurr, a retired insurance broker, found the text while cataloging boxes of 18th-century correspondence housed at the London archives. It's the only known copy of its kind outside the United StatesTue, 21 Jul 2026 19:23:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-volunteer-stumbled-upon-a-strange-document-in-the-uk-national-archives-it-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-printed-in-july-1776-180989169/Thomas Jefferson’s Original Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence Can Now Be Seen at the Library of Congresshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thomas-jeffersons-original-rough-draft-of-the-declaration-of-independence-can-be-seen-at-library-of-congress-180989113/The new exhibition, which shows how the document was edited, also features an early copy of the Gettysburg AddressTue, 14 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thomas-jeffersons-original-rough-draft-of-the-declaration-of-independence-can-be-seen-at-library-of-congress-180989113/Alexander Hamilton's First National Bank Revolutionized the U.S. Economy. After Sitting Shuttered for Years, the Philadelphia Landmark Reopened as a Museumhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alexander-hamiltons-first-national-bank-revolutionized-the-us-economy-after-sitting-shuttered-for-years-the-philadelphia-landmark-reopened-as-a-museum-180989056/A controversial idea right after the American Revolution, the First Bank of the United States proved prescient. Visitors can now check out its historic home after a $43 million makeoverWed, 01 Jul 2026 21:30:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/alexander-hamiltons-first-national-bank-revolutionized-the-us-economy-after-sitting-shuttered-for-years-the-philadelphia-landmark-reopened-as-a-museum-180989056/After the Founders Declared Independence, Printers Quickly Translated the Text for German-Speaking Americanshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-the-founders-declared-independence-printers-quickly-translated-the-text-for-german-speaking-americans-180989039/The document, printed in a gothic typeface, was translated in Philadelphia. One of two surviving copies is going on display in Berlin ahead of America's 250th birthdayMon, 29 Jun 2026 22:19:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-the-founders-declared-independence-printers-quickly-translated-the-text-for-german-speaking-americans-180989039/Among All the Great Things Benjamin Franklin Invented or Discovered, His Alter Egos Gave Him the Most Freedomhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/among-all-great-things-benjamin-franklin-invented-discovered-alter-egos-gave-him-most-freedom-180988824/Silence Dogood. Richard Saunders. Benevolus. Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim. All were pen names that allowed Franklin to say things he couldn’t have otherwise saidMon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/among-all-great-things-benjamin-franklin-invented-discovered-alter-egos-gave-him-most-freedom-180988824/When George Washington Decided It Was Time to Leave Office, He Inadvertently Set a Lasting Precedenthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-george-washington-decided-it-was-time-to-leave-office-he-inadvertently-set-a-lasting-precedent-180988871/While history recorded his refusal to seek a third term as a legendary act of statesmanship, the opinions of the day were actually quite mixed on the issueFri, 05 Jun 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-george-washington-decided-it-was-time-to-leave-office-he-inadvertently-set-a-lasting-precedent-180988871/George Washington Recorded a Recipe for Beer While Leading a Militia. Thanks to the New York Public Library, You Can Imbibe That History This Summerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/george-washington-recorded-a-recipe-for-beer-while-leading-a-militia-thanks-to-the-new-york-public-library-you-can-imbibe-that-history-this-summer-180988896/To celebrate America's 250th birthday, the library partnered with a brewery to produce the founding father's beer — and an updated version more pleasing to modern palatesThu, 04 Jun 2026 17:20:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/george-washington-recorded-a-recipe-for-beer-while-leading-a-militia-thanks-to-the-new-york-public-library-you-can-imbibe-that-history-this-summer-180988896/The American Revolution’s Overlooked Influence? Physics. How 'Common Sense' Spelled Out Astronomical Expectations for a New Nationhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/american-revolution-overlooked-influence-physics-thomas-paine-common-sense-spelled-out-astronomical-expectations-new-nation-180988795/The manifesto leaned heavily on Isaac Newton’s theories in making a case for independence, and fellow founders drew on the notion to build a new system of governmentWed, 03 Jun 2026 14:05:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/american-revolution-overlooked-influence-physics-thomas-paine-common-sense-spelled-out-astronomical-expectations-new-nation-180988795/See the New Quarter Honoring Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence That Enters Circulation Next Week, Ahead of America’s 250th Birthdayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-new-quarter-honoring-thomas-jefferson-and-the-declaration-of-independence-that-enters-circulation-next-week-ahead-of-americas-250th-birthday-180988843/The design is one of several coin denominations, and the third of five new quarters, made specially for the country’s semiquincentennialFri, 29 May 2026 15:46:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-new-quarter-honoring-thomas-jefferson-and-the-declaration-of-independence-that-enters-circulation-next-week-ahead-of-americas-250th-birthday-180988843/