Foundations of American Government

By zanchildress@leisdstudent.ws

  • Declaration of Independence

    The 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The Declaration summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence

  • John Trumbull Sr.

    American Revolutionary leader who provided supplies for the Continental Army

  • U.S Constitution

    the supreme law of the United States and the national frame of government

  • Fifth Amendment

    The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights and protects individuals from being compelled to be witnesses against themselves in criminal cases

  • Bill of Rights

    The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing such rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship

  • John Hancock

    First signer of the Declaration of Independence and a American Revolutionary patriot who was president of the Continental Congress

  • John Witherspoon

    Was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and a Founding Father of the United States. Witherspoon was a delegate from New Jersey and a signatory to the July 4, 1776, Declaration of Independence.

  • "E Pluribus Unum"

    A motto of the United States; Latin for “Out of many, one.” It refers to the Union formed by the separate states. E pluribus unum was adopted as a national motto in 1776 and is now found on the Great Seal of the United States and on United States currency.

  • John Peter Muhlenberg

    John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, and political figure in the newly independent United States.

  • Benjamin Rush

    Was a civic leader Philadelphia and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence

  • John Jay

    was an American statesman, patriot, diplomat, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, negotiator and signatory of the Treaty of Paris of 1783, second Governor of New York, and the first Chief Justice of the United States

  • Charles Carroll

    serveed in the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence

  • Alexis de Tocqueville and his 5 principles

    Liberty- freedom from arbitrary
    Egalitarianism- society of equals
    Individualism- people of equals
    Populism- participation of common people in political life
    Laissez-Faire- government has "hands off" approach to the economy

  • Eminent Domain

    the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation

  • "In God We Trust"

    official motto of the United States