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"In God We Trust"
Is the official motto of the United States of America and of the U.S. state of Florida. President Eisenhower on July 30, 1956, signed declaring the phrase to be the national motto. -
John Trumbull Sr.
Was the only man who served as governor in both an English colony and an American state and was the only governor at the start of the American Revolutionary War to take up the Patriot cause. -
Charles Carroll
Carroll was an early advocate for armed resistance with the object of separation from Great Britain, also a signer of the Declaration of Independence. -
John Peter Muhlenberg
Continental Army Soldier during the American Revolutionary War (Colonel/Major-General). Also known for being a pastor in the Continental Army -
Benjamin Rush
Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Was a physician, politician, social reformer, and a civic leader in Philadelphia. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence. By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress, the 13 colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. -
John Witherspoon
Signer of the Declaration of Independence. In November, 1776, he shut down and then evacuated the College of New Jersey at the approach of British forces. The British occupied the area and did much damage to the college, nearly destroyed it. -
"E Pluribus Unum"
It is the motto of the U.S. suggested by the committee Congress appointed on July 4th, 1776 -
John Jay
One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, negotiator and signatory of the Treaty of Paris of 1837 -
U.S. Constitution
It established America's national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. -
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments, which lists specific prohibitions on governmental power. -
Fifth Amendment
The government can't jail us without a Grand Jury and we shall not be sentenced twice for the same crime -
Alex de Tocqueville and his Five Principles
Liberty - freedom from tyrannical government control
Egalitarianism - society of equals
Individualism - people are free to pursue own goals
Populism - Participation of common people in politics
Laissez-faire - Government has "hands off" approach to the economy -
Eminent Domain
The power of the government to take property and convert it into public use. The Fifth Amendment provides that the government may only exercise this power if the provide just compensation to the property owners.
