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John Hancock
The most recognizable signature on the Declaration of Independence was that of John Hancock. A prosperous merchant from Boston and the president of the continental congress. Hancock made his signature so big that King George the third could read it without his glasses. When the first version of the declaration was printed and sent to the colony, it only carried John Hancock's signature. Nice the document hadn't been drawn up the the others to sign. -
Charles Carroll
One of the wealthiest men in the colonies. Carroll help finance the revolution with his own money.Carroll was the first to recognize the necessity for independence.From Maryland, Carroll was Catholic. Carrol helped in the struggle for the acceptance of the roman Catholic religion in America. -
John Jay
John Jay was a member of the continental congress who favored independence. He was absent at the time when the declaration of independence was signed. In 1789, Washington appointed Jay as the first chief Justice of the Sepreme Court. Five years later, he was appointed as envoy to Great Britain to resolve the conflicts over certain territories. Jay also undertook extensive road and canal project . -
Benjamin Rush
He was one of the signers of the declaration. Rush was a physician, educator, and humanitarian. Dr. Rush is sometimes known as the "Father of American Medicine".He was a pioneer in the fields of physiology and psychiatry. Rush is also known for his proposal to establish a national public university to train public servants. -
John Peter Muhlenberg
Strong support for independence came from several colonial religious leaders. In colonial times, these religious leaders held great influence. Many colonist attended church on Sundays.Ministers made their views known in weekly sermons. John peter Muhlenberg was born in pennylvania. -
John Trumbull Sr.
John Trumbull is the brother of Jonathan Trumbal. He was an american artist during the time period of the Revolutionary War.His declaration of independence as used on the reverse two dollar bill.Colonial governor. Sided with with he colonists against the british. -
Declaration of Independence
stated the colonists' decision to separate from Britain. The declaration listed colonial grievances against Britain, provided a theory of government's purpose is to protect individuals unalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". One of the most important formative events in america history,american revolution.Declaration of independence issued on july4,1776. Signers of the declaration of independence included John Hancock,Benjamin Rush,Charles Carrol and John Witherspoon. -
E Pluribus Unum
"Out of many [comes] one" several states have united to form one nation. The motto of the U.S. -
U.S. Constitution
The constitution created a national executive, a two-house legislature known as congress, and a national judiciary. The Declaration of Independence only set up a series of aspirations, or goals, for Americans. The constitution was not the first central government that the colonies established after independence. They decided to meet again and invited delegates to philadelphia -
Eminent domain
Eminent domain refers to the power of a government over property in its territory. Sometimes the government needs to take over private property for public use.The government might need to build schools where private schools are located.The government has the right to do so under the power of eminent domain. "private property" should not be taken for public use just without compensation. -
The Fifth Amendment
A citizen cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property without "due to process of law". This mean that certain legal procedures must be carried out according to established rules before a person can be punished. No person can be subject to double jeopardy -being tried twice for the same crime. A grand jury is a group of citizens that meet to review if there is enough evidence available to even hold a trial . It must provide the owner with" just compensation". -
Bill of Rights
the original constitution continued few specific guarantees of individual rights. The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in form of the first ten amendments to further protect individual rights from governments abuse. A list of possible rights was reduced to ten, which were approved by the other members of congress. They were sent to the states for approval. Two-thirds of the state legislatures approved theses amendments by 1791, when they came into effect. -
Alex de Tocqueville
In 1831, Alex de Tocqueville was sent to America. He was sent by the French Government to study prisons in order to help the French government reformist own prison system. It was at a time when Andrew jackson sat in the White House and reform was in the air.Tocquevilllw noticed that America was quite different from Europe.Tocqueville asked how it was that the America system of democracy had survived so well. -
John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon was a Scottish immigrant. He argued that the colonies were not ready for independence. He became president of the college of New Jersey. Under his leadership, the college rose to become a leading institution of learning in America. Witherspoon became a leading member of the Continental Congress and took part in over a hundred of its committees. -
"In God We Trust"
Adopted "In God We Trust" as our national motto. Found in the words of Spangled Banner it has been used on icons since 1782. Became official in 1956. On 1864 the Spangled Baner had been used on a coin
