The term
Founding Fathers refers to those figures instrumental in the founding of a political entity, and in adopting its constitution. The term is undoubtedly somewhat
sexist, though that is largely because the reality it refers to was sexist -- all the groups of people it has been used to refer to have been all male. The term is most commonly used to refer to the
United States, in which case it refers to such individuals as
George Washington,
James Madison,
Thomas Jefferson and
Benjamin Franklin. But the term can apply be applied to other countries as well.
The ideas of the Founders (AKA "Founding Fathers") of the United States were heavily influenced by the European Enlightenment.
[Robert Schumann]?, [Jean Monnet]?, Konrad Adenauer, [Alcide De Gasperi]?, [Paul-Henri Spaak]? and [Altiero Spinelli]? are refered to as the founding fathers of the European Union.