About Ask The Founders

Non-partisan education through primary sources

Our Mission

Ask The Founders is a non-partisan, educational project dedicated to helping Americans understand the original writings, debates, and intent behind the United States Constitution — in the Founders' own words.

In an era of polarized political discourse, it's easy to lose sight of what the Constitution actually says and what its framers meant. Our mission is simple: go to the sources. We believe that an informed citizenry is the foundation of a free republic.

This project is not about pushing any political agenda. It's about making primary sources accessible, understandable, and relevant to today's questions. Whether you lean left, right, or nowhere at all — the Founders' words belong to all Americans.

"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people." — Attributed to Thomas Jefferson

What We Do

We research and compile answers to questions about constitutional topics, using only primary source documents — the letters, essays, speeches, and debates of the Founding Fathers themselves. Our goal is to present what was actually written and let you draw your own conclusions.

Every answer we provide includes:

  • Direct quotations from Founders' writings
  • Proper attribution and source citations
  • Historical context to help you understand the debate at the time
  • Links to the original documents so you can read them yourself

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Accuracy is paramount to our mission. We take great care to:

  • Verify every quotation against original source documents
  • Note when a quote's authorship is disputed by historians
  • Provide context that reflects the complexity of historical debates
  • Clearly distinguish between what a Founder wrote and how that writing has been interpreted over time
  • Correct errors promptly when they are brought to our attention

If you spot an error or have concerns about our sourcing, please contact us — we take accuracy seriously.

Our Values

📘

Source-First

Every answer is grounded in primary sources — the Founders' own writings, not modern commentary or partisan interpretation.

⚖

Non-Partisan

We don't take sides. We present what was written and let you draw your own conclusions, regardless of political leanings.

🎓

Educational

Our goal is understanding, not persuasion. We want to empower citizens with knowledge, not tell them what to think.

🗣

Citizen-Empowering

An informed citizenry is the best check on government overreach — then and now. Knowledge is power in a constitutional republic.

Disclaimer

The content on Ask The Founders is presented for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, political endorsement, or professional counsel. Historical interpretation is subject to scholarly debate, and we encourage all visitors to consult original sources and form their own opinions.

We do not endorse any political candidate, party, or modern policy position. The presence of advertisements on this Site does not influence our editorial content or sourcing decisions.

Explore What The Founders Said

Dive deeper into the Founders' own words on the topics that shaped America.

Browse Q&A Source Library Then vs. Now Ask a Question