Introduction:
Founding Fathers is a game of the early American republic. Play begins with George Washington in the presidential office, surrounded by his team of Vice President John Adams, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton. Each player controls one of these statesmen as well as several others who will appear, up through the arrival of Abraham Lincoln. Together the players try to solve the issues faced by the young republic – wars, debt, financial panics, the growth of the Union, north-south division, and more. Every four years the most popular politicians from each party square off to see who becomes the next president. Players look out for their own interests, but at the same time must not neglect the needs of the Union as it can falter altogether, from multiple causes. At the same time, players control statesmen from both parties and multiple states, providing ample opportunity for logrolling, mutual backscratching and strange bedfellows.

What's needed:

• 4 decks of ordinary playing cards
• 23 sheets of Avery 5395 (or equivalent) name badge stickers (184 in all – example at amazon.com)
• a number of cubes as detailed in the rules
• a six-sided die
• a couple dozen letter sized sheets of paper

Constructing the game:

1. Print the rules of play on letter size paper.
2. Print the components list on letter size paper.
3. Print 2 pages of boards in landscape mode (letter size).
4. Print the president's agenda aid on letter size paper (landscape) and cut in half.
5. Print the player aid on letter size paper and cut out the 5 sections (landscape).
6. Print 21 pages of cards in portrait mode.
7. Print 2 pages of cards in landscape mode.
8. Stick all of these name badge stickers onto playing cards.

Alternatively:

More attractive version of the statesmen cards (contributed by Thomas Heaney).

In addition:

There is also a special edition for classroom use.

Optional:

If making a box, you may wish to print this letter-sized cover on self-stick paper.

See also

Subsequent Updates (December 3, 2011)
Sample Playing