This article analyzes the views of the Founding Fathers of the United States — Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton — on human rights. It compares their theoretical concepts and practical efforts, with a focus on their attitudes toward the Bill of Rights and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of the press, religious liberty, and property rights. The article also examines their contributions to the evolution of constitutional law, the structure of government, and modern democratic ideals.
Man, Right, And Government: The Nature Of The State In The Thought Of Jefferson, Madison, And Hamilton
DOI:
Keywords:
Human rights
U.S. Founding Fathers
Jefferson
Abstract
References
T. Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, Verso Books, London, 2019, p. 32.
T. Jefferson, Declaration of Independence, Verso Books, London, 2019, p. 32.
Alexander Hamilton, Letters, 1780.
James Madison, National Archives. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, p. 690, p. 155. https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llscd/llfr003/llfr003.pdf
T. Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia (1785). https://web.archive.org/web/20090422153209/http://frank.mtsu.edu/~lnelson/Jefferson-Slavery.html
T. Jefferson, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786), p. 5, p. 2. https://cas.umw.edu/cprd/files/2011/09/Jefferson-Statute-2-versions.pdf
J. Madison, Bill of Rights (1789), p. 2, p. 1. https://www.constitutionfacts.com/content/constitution/files/Constitution_BillOfRights.pdf
T. Jefferson, Letter to the Danbury Baptist Association (1802). https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danbury.html
J. Madison, Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, 15 articles. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-08-02-0163
The Federalist Papers No. 1 (1788), p. 297, p. 10. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/125481/5008_Federalist%20Papers.pdf
J. Madison, National Archives. The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, p. 690, p. 155. https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llscd/llfr003/llfr003.pdf
James Madison, Letter to Robert Walsh, November 27, 1819.
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, April 25, 1784.
T. Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia (1785). https://web.archive.org/web/20090422153209/http://frank.mtsu.edu/~lnelson/Jefferson-Slavery.html
T. Jefferson, Letter to John Holmes, April 22, 1820. https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/letter-to-john-holmes-2/
T. Jefferson, Plan for the Temporary Government of the Western Territory, Article 4.
Stephen E. Lucas, The Stylistic Artistry of the Declaration of Independence. https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/stylistic-artistry-of-the-declaration
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to James Madison, December 20, 1787. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0210
James Madison, Letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1788.
James Madison, Letter to Richard Peters, August 19, 1789.
The Magna Carta (1215), one of the most significant legal documents signed in England.
Petition of Right (1628), a fundamental constitutional document in England, providing specific individual protections against the state, on par with the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights (1689).
Declaration of Right (1688), a constitutional document drafted by the English Parliament following the Glorious Revolution.
A. Hamilton, The Federalist Papers No. 84 (1788), p. 297, p. 287. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/125481/5008_Federalist%20Papers.pdf
A. Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted, New York, February 23, 1775, p. 5, p. 1. https://static.heritage.org/CPP/FP_PS06.pdf
A. Hamilton, Speech on the Constitutionality of the Bank of the United States, New York, 1788.
T. Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington, January 16, 1787, Paris.
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 9 – Table of Contents.
Amendments to the Constitution Proposed by James Madison, June 8, 1789.
T. Jefferson, Letter to Isaac H. Tiffany, April 4, 1819. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-14-02-0191
A. Hamilton, The Federalist Papers No. 7 (1788), p. 297,