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Declaration of Independence
America's way of telling Great Britain that they claim their independence from them. Main five reasons being, Imposed taxes without consent, cutting off our trade, and not allowing a fair trial. -
John Witherspoon
WHO: American revolutionary leader, and educator.
IMPORTANCE: Signed Declaration of Independence (1776) and President of what now is known as Princeton University. (1723-1794) -
John Hancock
WHO: American Revolutionary patriot, governor of Massachusetts.
IMPORTANCE: President of Continental Congress, Signed DOI (1776) -
Charles Carroll
WHO: catholic signer of the DOI (1776)
IMPORTANCE: Only catholic to sign Declaration of Independence, also the signer who lived the longest. -
Benjamin Rush
WHO: patriot and doctor.
IMPORTANCE: signed constitution(August 2, 1776), strong believer in US constitution, member of first Continental Congress -
"E Pluribus Unum"
WHAT: United States Motto, or the Great Seal of the United States (motto: something to live by).
IMPORTANCE: It means "out of many" or "one", meaning as US citizens, we vow to be united as one. Was created by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin.
January first set as default date -
John Trumbull Sr.
WHO: American Revolutionary leader
IMPORTANCE: governor of Connecticut, provided for the Continental Army (1710-1785)
january first set to default date -
U.S. Constitution
WHAT: Document that established America's government and fundamental laws, guaranteed certain basic rights for it's citizens. Signed by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
IMPORTANCE: Since signed on September 17,1787, America's constitution has ensured it's citizens freedom. -
Bill of Rights
WHAT: First ten amendments of the U.S. declaration of independence.
IMPORTANCE: The ten amendments give us, as the people, protection and rights as citizens. It gives freedom of expression, right to bare arms, quartering of soldiers, warrants and searches, individual debt and double jeopardy, speedy trial and witnesses and accusations, right for a jury trial, and finally, bail and fines. -
Fifth Amendment
WHAT: Known as individual debt and double jeopardy.
IMPORTANCE: Protects you from being held for committing a crime unless you have been indicted correctly by the police. Also makes sure that all states and the country respect your legal rights. -
John Peter Muhlenberg
WHO: From the Pennsylvania Dutch Colony, he was a lutheran minister and went to serve as a soldier in the Continental Army, then eventually became a congressman.
IMPORTANCE: an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, he served in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate from Pennsylvania. He also became a founding father.
January first set as default date -
Alex de Tocqueville's Five Principles
WHAT: Liberty, Egalitarianism, Individualism, Populism, and Lassiez-faire.
IMPORTANCE:
Liberty- freedom from arbitrary/ tyrannical government control.
Egalitarianism- society of equals; no permanent class structure.
Individualism- people are allowed to pursue their individual goals.
Populism- participation of common people in political life.
Lassiez-Faire- government has "hands off" approach to the economy. -
Alex de Tocqueville
WHO: French sociologist and political theorist. Named 5 values crucial to America's success as a constitutional republic.
IMPORTANCE: wrote and published the book, "Democracy In America" (1835) which became one of the most influential books in the 19th century. It explained America to Europeans and even Americans themselves.
January first set to default date -
"In God We Trust"
WHAT: motto of united states
IMPORTANCE: replaced "E Pluribus Unum" (1956)
January first set as default date -
Eminent Domain
WHAT: the right of a government to take away private property for public use, with payment of compensation. -
John Jay
WHO: First chief justice of US Supreme Court (1789)
IMPORTANCE: President of First Continental Congress. Negotiated "treaty of london" or "jay's treaty" which normalized the relationship between Great Britain and United States and forced Britain to view the US as an independent power. (1795)
