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Benjamin Franklin
In 1751, Benjamin Franklin pioneered and was the first president of the Academy and College of Philadelphia. -
Charles Carroll
He engaged in an anonymous newspaper debate, maintaining the right of the colonies to control their own taxation. -
John Trumbull Sr.
John Trumbull Sr. was asked by British general Thomas Gage to give the support of Connecticut to the King to which he refused, making him the only colonial governor to side with the colonists. -
John Peter Muhlenberg
John Peter Muhlenberg gave a sermon that ended with, "a time of war, and a time of peace". He then declared "and this is a time of war", removing his minister robes to reveal his Colonel's uniform underneath. -
Declaration of Indenpendence
Document that explained the reason why the colonies sought independence; this is important because it freed the colonists from Britain and put forward theory of government. -
Benjamin Rush
Signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and was known as the "Father of American Medicine." -
John Hancock
Signed the Declaration of Independence, making his signature so large so that King George could read it without his glasses. -
John Witherspoon
After signing the Declaration of Independence, he responded to a person who said the colonies were not ready for independence. John Witherspoon stated that "it was not only ripe for independence, but in danger of rotting for the want of it." -
E Pluribus Unum
Latin phrase meaning "out of many, one." Adopted as the motto of the United States by an act of Congress in 1782. This is important because it shows that when our country was first established, we cared a great deal about egalitarianism and individualism. -
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton founded the bank of New York along with other colleagues. -
U.S. Constituition
In 1787, the Continental Congress decided to abandon the Articles of Confederation and create a constitution, which is the document that establishes the basic structure of our government. -
Bill of Rights
Document that contained specific individual rights and came into effect in 1791 when 2/3 of states approved. This is significant because it gave each citizen their own unalienable rights that the government cannot take away. -
Eminent Domain
In 1791 when the amendments were approved; Eminent Domain refers to the power of a government to take someone's property for public use. This is important because it shows the power of the government, despite the fact that regular citizens also have power in our country. -
John Jay
John Jay was able to negotiate favorable trade terms with Great Britain with the Jay Treaty. Some call this his greatest diplomatic achievement. -
James Madison
In 1808 James Madison was elected President of The United States. -
De Tocqueville's 5 principles
In 1835, Alexis De Tocqueville published a book called Democracy in America, which studied both the negative and positive effects of our government system. -
Egalitarianism
Refers to a society of equals. One of De Tocqueville's 5 principles. -
Populism
The participation of common people in political life. One of De Tocqueville's 5 principles. This is important because American citizens are able to freely choose our own government officials and laws. -
Liberty
Protection against a tyrannical government. One of De Tocqueville's 5 principles. This is significant because in De Tocqueville's book, he states that America's greatest danger is tyranny of the majority, so protection against a tyrannical government does not exactly protect us from ourselves. -
Individualism
Refers to the right of people to be free to flourish and rise in society. One of De Tocqueville's 5 principles. -
Laissez-Faire
A "hands-off" approach by the government towards the economy; Americans rely on themselves for economic success. This is important because it shows one of the significant aspects of freedom and democracy in America, which is that Americans are completely free to either fail or succeed. One of De Tocqueville's 5 principles. -
"In God We Trust"
This is the official motto of the United States which was adopted in 1956 as an alternative to "E Pluribus Unum". It is significant because it shows the religious views of the government during that time period. It is now printed on our currency.
