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John Trumbull Sr.
John Trumbull Sr. was a colonial Governor who sided with the Colonists against the British. He was born on October 12, 1710 and passed away August 17, 1785 at the age of seventy four in Lebanon Connecticut. He was the Governor of Connecticut. -
John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon was a Scottish immigrant, born on February 5, 1723 and passed away on November 15, 1794. He became the leading member of the Continental Congress and took part of over more than a hundred of its committees. He also became a President of the College of New Jersey, which later was known as Princeton University. -
John Hancock
John Hancock was a prosperous merchant from Boston and the President of the Continental Congress. He had the most recognizable signature in the Declaration of Independence. Hancock made his signature extremely large so that King George the III could read it with no glasses on. When the very first version of the Declaration of Independence was passed to all the colonies it carried only Hancocks signature because the original document was not ready for those to sign. Passed away October 8, 1793. -
Charles Carroll
Charles Carroll was one of the wealthiest men in the colonies. Carroll used his own money from his pocket to help finance the Revolution. He was one of the first to ever recognize that we needed Independence from Britain. Carroll was a catholic and he was born in Sep 19, 1737 and passed away on Nov 14, 1832 in the Caton home at the age of 95 years. -
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was one of the signers of the Declaration. Born on January 4, 1745 and passed away on April 19, 1813. Rush was a Pioneer in the fields of physiology and psychiatry. He favored the education of Women and later on his son became U.S. Ambassador to England. -
John Jay
John Jay helped on writing the federalists paper; first chief justice of Supreme Court, and negotiated a boundary treaty with England. He was born on December 12, 1745 and passed away on May 7th, 1829. -
Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration Of Independence was mostly written by Thomas Jefferson. It gave reasons of why the colonists were demanding Independence from Britain. The Declaration Of Independence also listed the grievences of American colonists against British King. They argued that the Government was made to protect all citizens unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This also justified that the Government could be overthrown if abused peoples rights! -
U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation. This established a new national Government. It provided three branches, the Executive branch with a President, Legislature branch with a two-house congress, and judiciary with Supreme Court. The U.S. Constitution also provided a set of principles to ensure that the Federal Government would not be too powerful, these principles are Federalism, Limited Government, Checks and Balances, and Popular Sovereignty. -
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights are the first ten Amendments. The 1st Amendment covers five separate rights all in one, we have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right of assembly. The 2nd Amendment gives citizens rights to carry a handgun. 3rd Amendment is no housing of soldiers. 4th Amendment states searches and seizures should not be violated. 9th Amendment states that any citizen is allowed to do anything unless it is written in the constitution not to do so. -
The Fifth Amendment
The fifth Amendment states that no person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime. Nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb. Nor shall they be deprived of life, liberty, or property. I plead the fifth! -
John Peter Muhlenberg
John Peter Muhlenberg was a clergyman who recruited soldiers to fight the British. He was born in October 1, 1746 in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania and passed away on October 1, 1807, which was also the day of his birthday. John Peter Muhlenberg was also a political figure in the newly independent United States. -
Alex de Tocqueville and his Five Principles Liberty, Egalitarianism, Individualism, Populism, and Laissez-faire.
Tocqueville noticed that America was different from Europe and tried identifying the ways. The result of this was his book Democracy in America, published 1835. By 'Liberty" he meant protection against tyrannical Government. "Egalitarianism" refers to society of equals. "Individualism" refers to freedom of action for individuals. "Populism" refers to participation of the common people in political life, and "Laissez-faire" is referring that Government took a "hands off" approach to Economy. -
"E Pluribus Unum"
"E Pluribus Unum" expresses the notion that Americans stand together. This motto means "out of many [comes] one." The purpose of this was to show that several states have joined together as a nation. The Continental Congress first first adopted this motto in 1782 and became official in 1956. -
"In God We Trust"
Congress adopted "In God We Trust" the same year "E Pluribus Unum" became official in 1956 as another one of our nations motto. This was found in the words of our star Spangled Banner and has been used on coins since 1864. "In God We Trust" is imprinted in all American money. It's meaning is ceremonial, not religious. -
Eminent Domain
Eminent Domain is the right of a Government of the Governments agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation as stated in the fifth Amendment.
