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John Hancock
John Hancock was the first president of the Second Continental Congress(1775) . He is most well known for his huge signature on the Declaration of Independence. -
Benjamin Rush
He was a key member of the US Mint from 1797- 1813. -
Constitutional Republic
A government in which the power comes from a body of citizens is called a constitutional republic. They are permitted to vote and choose elected representatives to govern them according to law. This government is based on the principles of the constitution. -
Unalienable Rights
These are rights people are entitled to and the government can not take them away. They are life. liberty, and the persuit of happiness. -
E Pluribus Unum
This phrase means "Out of many, one." It symbolizes the 13 original states uniting to form one nation. -
Declaration of Independence
The DOI was made by the second American Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This document asserted the freedom and independence of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain. -
John Jay
John Jay was a United States diplomat who negotiated peace treaties with Britain. He served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. (1745-1829) -
Bicameral Congress
Bicameral Congress is based on two legislative branches. They include the house of representatives and senate. -
Branches of Government
There are three branches of government in order to keep seperation of power. They are each responsible for different things. Judicial is in charge of making sure laws are constitutional, Legislative is in charge of making laws, and Executive signs and vetoes laws. -
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is a state of having supreme power or authority. When our nation became a sovereign nation we were allowed to make our own rules. -
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments made to the U.S. Constitution are the Bill of Rights. They were added in 1791 to protect certain rights of citizens. -
Alexis de Tocqueville's Five Values
Alexis de Tocqueville had Five Values that were very crucial to America's success as a constitutional republic. They are: Liberty which means individuals are free to persue their own work, Egalitarianism meaning there are no class distinctions so everybody has equal opportunity, Individualism meaning hard work and labor are key to success, Populism meaning everybody is entitled to their own opinion and can voice it, and Laissez-faire which means hard work and money lead to success. -
Manifest Destiny
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13th amendment
The 13th amendment abolished slavery. -
14th amendment
The 14th amendment granted citizenship to everybody that was born or naturalized in the U.S. -
15th amendment
The 15th amendment extends the right to vote to all male citizens regardless of race. African American men now had the right to vote. -
Plessy v Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson allowed states to make laws that discriminated against U.S. citizens because of their skin color. 'Separate but equal' allowed Jim Crow laws to exist. -
In God We Trust
This phrase ,"In God We Trust" became the official motto of the United States. It can be found on coins dating back to the 1860's and paper bills since 1956.
