Would the Founding Fathers Be Republicans Today? A Look at the Constitution's Signers and Modern Conservatism

If you took the signers of the U.S. Constitution and transported them to today's political climate, very few—if any—would identify as modern Republican conservatives. The ideological landscape has shifted dramatically since 1787, and many of their views would not align neatly with today's political parties. However, let's break it down:

1. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

   • The Federalists (e.g., Alexander Hamilton, James Madison—though he later became a Democratic-Republican) favored a strong central government, a national bank, and policies that resemble modern liberal governance in some respects. They would likely clash with today's small-government conservative philosophy.

   • The Anti-Federalists (e.g., George Mason, Patrick Henry—though he didn’t sign) were more skeptical of federal power and leaned toward state sovereignty, something that modern conservatives often champion.

2. Views on Government and Economy

   • Many of the Founders supported protective tariffs and infrastructure spending (like Hamilton), which resemble modern Democratic policies more than Republican free-market conservatism.

   • Most were pro-property rights and wary of too much democracy (e.g., the Electoral College was created partly to curb direct democratic impulses). That aspect might appeal to some modern conservatives.

3. Religion and Social Issues

   • Many Founders were deists or held Enlightenment views that leaned secular. While some modern conservatives emphasize Christianity in government, most Founders would likely reject that as inconsistent with their views on religious freedom.

   • Slavery was a major issue among the Founders, with many signers owning enslaved people. A few, like Gouverneur Morris, were abolitionists, but a strong percentage would be at odds with modern conservative rhetoric on equality and civil rights.

Bottom Line

If forced to choose, some Anti-Federalists and states' rights advocates might align with the Republican Party’s small-government wing, but many Federalists and early nationalists would likely reject modern conservatism's stance on government, economy, and religion.

A rough estimate? Perhaps 10-20% of the Constitution's signers would identify as Republican conservatives today, but even they would likely struggle to fit in perfectly.

 Compiled with aid of ChatGPT