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John Trumbell Sr.
Trumbull was a Colonial Governor who sided with the Colonists against the British. -
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John (Knox) Witherspoon
Witherspoon was a Scottish immigrant and became a member of Continental Congress. After signing the Declaration, he responded to a person who argued that America wasn't ready for independence. He was a presbyterian clergyman, and he became president of the college of New Jersey later of Princeton University. -
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John Hancock
Hancock was the president of the Second Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. -
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Charles Carroll
Signer of the Declaration of Independence. -
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Benjamin Rush
Rush was a signer of the Declaration. He was also a physician, teacher and humanitarian. He favored the education of women and helped finance an African American church. His son later became the U.S Ambassador to England. -
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John Jay
Jay was the first chief of justice of the U.S supreme court. -
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John Muhlenberg
Muhlenberg was born in Pennsylvania, studied in Germany and America, and became a protestant minister. He became a part of a group known as the "Black Regiment" which where ministers who wore black robes while preaching. During the war, he served as U.S senator and congressman. He was a clergyman who recruited soldiers to fight the British. -
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The Declaration on Independence
The United States Independence became a discussion in 1776 between representatives of the Second Continental Congress. The "Committee of Five" was charged with the task of writing a draft for this independence. The final copy was issued on July 4th, 1776 and it explains the reasons for separating from Britain. -
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The U.S Constitution
The United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, established a new national government (provided for three branches, executive, legislative and judicial), provided a set of principles to ensure the federal government would not be too powerful (federalism, limited government, checks and balances, popular sovereignty). -
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Fifth Amendment
The Fifth Amendment states that the same procedures must be handled accorded to established rules before a person can be punished. A person cannot be tried for a serious crime without indictment. No person can be subject to double Jeopardy. An accused person cannot be forced to say things that can be used against them in court. -
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Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was written in 1791, for individual unalienable rights. It contains many amendments, which have the rights listed in them. (Such as the first amendment "Freedom of Religion, speech, etc" Each amendment covers different laws and rights. -
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Alex de Tocqueville and his five principles
In 183, Alexis was sent to America by the French government to study prisons in order to help to reform it's own prison system. Tocqueville noticed that America was quite different from Europe. He wrote a book about America and how it has changed over the years. It is titled "Democracy in America" and was published in 1835. -
"E Pluribus Unum"
E Pluribus Unum is the motto of the United States, and it means "Out of many, one." In Latin. -
Liberty
Protection against Tyrannical government according to Tocqueville. -
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism refers to a society where everyone is equal, such as separating nobles from middle class and peasants. -
Individualism
Individualism is Directing individual activity to the same extent as other activities. -
Populism
Populism refers to the participation of the common people in politics -
Laissez Faire
The Laissez Faire is the role of Government in America was limited compared to Europe, so they took a "Laissez Faire" or "Hands off" approach to the economy. Basically, the government should not be so protective.