Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis?

Question

which of the "Founding Brothers"do you think was the most important to the formation of the United States and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Why?

Answer 1

I would say Washington because he had the opportunity to become a king or emperor and was insulted at the suggestion, he wouldn't even accept an appointment to the presidency but insisted on being elected before he would accept it.  He could have been just a continuation of a monarchy but believed in the ideals for which he fought.  He also favored limiting the power of the government which is basically what The Constitution does.  

It's very unlikely the country would have been able to get on track as a free republic if Washington had accepted the power that others wanted to give to him.  He turned down much more power than he accepted and after two terms he gave the power back and became a private citizen, something unheard of in those days.  

Answer 2

George Washington.

Because I trust Joseph Ellis, and Joseph Ellis thinks Washington was the most important (he was my professor one year, and he talked about him all the time in class.) And he wrote a bio of him for his last book.