The Founding Fathers of the United States were the key leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, led the American Revolution, and established the new nation and its government. The principal Founding Fathers widely recognized include:

• George Washington: Commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first U.S. president.
• Thomas Jefferson: Principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third president.
• John Adams: Second president and influential diplomat.
• Benjamin Franklin: Senior diplomat and statesman.
• Alexander Hamilton: First Secretary of the Treasury and author of many Federalist Papers.
• John Jay: First Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and diplomat.
• James Madison: "Father of the Constitution" and fourth president.

These seven men are often considered the core group due to their leadership, longevity, and statesmanship in founding the United States

. Beyond these, the term "Founding Fathers" can also include other signers of the Declaration of Independence, delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and influential figures in the Revolutionary War and early government, such as Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, George Mason, and John Marshall

. In summary, while many contributed, the most commonly cited Founding Fathers are Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Hamilton, Jay, and Madison, who played pivotal roles in securing independence and creating the U.S. government