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John Trumbull Sr.
He was considered by Washington to be "the first of the patriots." He was a merchant, Speaker of the House, and Lieutenant Colonel of Connecticut's Militia (all in separate times). He graduated from Harvard. He had six children. He became the Continental army's Paymaster General. -
John Witherspoon
He was a Scottish presbyterian and a Founding Father. He taught at Princeton. He signed the Declaration of Independence. He signed the Articles of Confederation. He helped ratify the Constitution. -
John Hancock
He was one of the most prominent patriots of the American Revolution. He became the second president of the Continental Congress. His signature on the Declaration of Independence is the biggest and most stylish. He helped ratify the Constitution. He used his wealth to help the colonies beat the British. -
Charles Carroll
He was a delegate of the Continental Congress. He became the first U.S. senator for Maryland. He was the only catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence. He lived longer than anyone else who signed it too. He was a powerful voice for independence through his newspaper articles about taxation. -
John Jay
John Jay was a Founding Father. He signed the Treaty of Paris. He was Minister to Spain. He helped ratify the Constitution. He also wrote the five of the Federalist Papers. -
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father. He founded Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. He signed the Declaration of Independence. He was Surgeon General of the Continental Army. He taught Chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania. -
John Peter Muhlenberg
Muhlenberg was a soldier in the Continental Army. He served in the House of Representatives and Senate for Pennsylvania. He was a clergyman. He headed the Lutheran church in New Jersey. He was leter elected to the 1st Congress. -
Declaration of Independence
It was signed on July 4th, 1776. It was signed by 56 delegates. It was written by Thomas Jefferson. It told King George that the colonies had become their own nation. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress. -
E Pluribus Unum
It means "Out of many, one." It is on the Seal of the United States. It was the motto of the U.S. until 1956. It was used to describe that out of all the states, there is one nation. It is stamped on all U.S. coins. -
U. S. Constitution
The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the United States of America. It has been amended twenty-seven times. The first ten are called the Bill of Rights. It has seven articles. The articles outline the government type, what federalism is, and how the people can ratify it. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It places limits on the governments power over the people. It was written to please the Anti-Federalists so they would ratify the Constitution. It also guarantees personal rights to the people. It is based off of earlier documents like the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Magna Carta. -
Fifth Amendment
It states that a person doesn't have to be a witness against themselves in a criminal case. That is why in crime solving TV shows we hear 'Plead the Fifth." It has a Double Jeopardy Clause. This states that you can't be tried for the same crime twice. It also requires just compensation for eminent domain. -
Eminent Domain
It is the right of the government to take private property for public use, with just compensation. Appropriation is another term for it. The property owners can sue the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for compensation. The power to take property can be given to private things like public utilities, railroads, or individuals. Also, the states can make the decision of what "public use" is. -
Alex de Tocqueville and his Five Principles
Alex de Tocqueville wrote "Democracy in America." His five principles are Liberty, Egalitarianism, Individualism, Populism, and Laissez-faire. He thought that it was strange that a country so strong in the belief that all men are created equal should treat the Native Americans with such little equality. He learned the Democracy in America in order to figure out how it would affect the future. He was surprised that money did not shape the American way. -
In God We Trust
This is the official motto of the United States. It was adopted in 1956 to replace E Pluribus Unum. It first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864. It appeared on paper currency in 1957. Many have tried to remove it because it supposedly violates the First amendment. It is also the motto of Florida.