The founding fathers were: Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.
When the Articles of the Confederation presented itself inadequate to the tasks of unifying the newly-independent colonies the founding fathers divided themselves into a Federalist side - led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison - and an Anti-Federalist side - led by Thomas Jefferson -.
The problem was how much power a central government should have so the states could still be independent. Hamilton argued that a central government was essential and the Anti-Federalists defended that the nation’s powers should lay within the state and local governments.
It was only 1787 that a compromise worked and the new Constitution and the Bill of Rights were set. The Bill of Rights was a way to stop a strong and central government to enter people’s lives.
