Last week I wrote an article “Know the Constitution,” explaining some of the basics of the U.S. Constitution and why it is important to know it. This week I want to talk about the men who signed the Constitution. I think it’s just as important to know who was behind the signing of the Constitution.

Did you know that 39 men signed it? How many of them do you think you could rattle off? I don’t want to admit how little I have known about the signers. Let’s just say that I am learning all of this right along with you.

These were the 39 men who signed it:

Washington, George, VA
Franklin, Benjamin, PA
Madison, James, VA
Hamilton, Alexander, NY
Morris, Gouverneur, PA
Morris, Robert, PA
Wilson, James, PA
Pinckney, Chas. Cotesworth, SC
Pinckney, Chas, SC
Rutledge, John, SC
Butler, Pierce, SC
Sherman, Roger, CT
Johnson, William Samuel, CT
McHenry, James, MD
Read, George, DE
Bassett, Richard, DE
Spaight, Richard Dobbs, NC
Blount, William, NC
Williamson, Hugh, NC
Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, MD
King, Rufus, MA
Gorham, Nathaniel, MA
Dayton, Jonathan, NJ
Carroll, Daniel, MD
Few, William, GA
Baldwin, Abraham, GA
Langdon, John, NH
Gilman, Nicholas, NH
Livingston, William, NJ
Paterson, William, NJ
Mifflin, Thomas, PA
Clymer, George, PA
FitzSimons, Thomas, PA
Ingersoll, Jared, PA
Bedford, Gunning, Jr., DE
Brearley, David, NJ
Dickinson, John, DE
Blair, John, VA
Broom, Jacob, DE

How many names do you recognize? I recognized five names and two of them I only recognized because of high schools in my city that are named after them.

Now I am on a mission to get to know these signers. I want to know more about the men behind the signing of the Constitution. What is it about their lives, their beliefs and their principles that led them to sign the Constitution?

I anticipate that next week I will be learning some of this. My family is taking a 14 hour drive to Washington D.C. We have plans to visit many historical sites and learn everything that we can. I am sure that from this memorable trip I will have much to share on the Independent Parties site.

I am especially thankful that my children will be able to get a wonderful history lesson. My hope is that they do not grow up ignorant about this country and what it was founded on. This might sound harsh but I do believe that there are too many dumb Americans. I can say that because I can also admit that for many years I was a dumb American. I have only recently begun this quest to really understand my country.

Now it’s your turn. Do everything you can to learn about the Constitution. Read up on the men who signed it. Until next time, remember to enjoy the freedoms that we have been blessed with.