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John Hancock
Protesting financial regulations like the Stamp Act and Townshend duties, Hancock commandeered public acts of protest. To avoid British taxation, Hancock had also allegedly taken to smuggling goods aboard his vessels. In 1768, Hancock's ship the Liberty was taken ahold of by British authorities who stated the merchant hadn't paid the required fees on his imports. Hancock was given a huge fine and taken to court. These actions in turn prompted mob violence on Boston streets and eventually led to -
Charles Carrol
Carroll was an early advocate for armed resistance with the object of separation from Gr. Britain. However, his native colony was less certain in this matter and did not even send a representative to the first Continental Congress. He served on the first Committee of Safety, at Annapolis, in 1775, and also in the Provincial Congress. He visited the Continental Congress in 1776, and was enlisted in a diplomatic mission to Canada, along with Franklin and Chase. Shortly after his return, the Maryla -
Jonathan Trumbull Sr. (his role in the revolution)
When the British General in charge of taking and occupying Boston the General wrote to Jonathan stating that he needed assistance, but was refused and Jonathan made it clear that he was with the Patriots. Thus, expressed in reply that the General "Disgraced even barbarians" by attacking and taking the lives of the Majesty's subjects. -
John Peter Muhlenberg (role in the revolutionary)
In the late of 1775, during his Military career John Peter Muhlenburg was authoritzed to raise and lead as the Colonel of the 8th Virginia Regiment. At and during the battle of Yorktown he was in charge of commanding the first brigade in Lafayette's Light Division. His entire brigade was in charge of holding the right flank in two American made trenches to allow cannoners to knock down Cornwallis' defenses. Afterword he was promoted to Major General before retiring. -
Declaration of Independence
On July 4th, 1776 was the day of signing of the Declaration of Independence, although originally and certainly on July 2nd, July 4th would have been most celebrated as "An epocha of American History" -
E pluribus unum
E pluribus unum is the motto suggested by the committee Congress appointed on July 4, 1776 to design "a seal for the United States of America." The below sketch of their design accompanied a detailed description of their idea for the new nation's official emblem. -
John Witherspoon
In November, 1776, he shut down and then evacuated the College of New Jersey at the approach of British forces. The British occupied the area and did much damage to the college, nearly destroyed it. Following the war, Witherspoon devoted his life to rebuilding the College. He also served twice in the state legislature. In the last years of life he suffered injuries, first to one eye then the other, becoming totally blind two years before his death. He died on his farm, "Tusculum," just outside o -
John Jay
In September of that year he attended the First Continental Congress as the second youngest member•*, at age twenty eight. His authorship of the Address to the People of Great Britain, published by the first Continental Congress perhaps belied his resolute opinion for reconciliation with Gr. Britain. He retired from the Congress in 1776 rather than sign the Declaration of Independence. He became deeply involved in the development of a new state government for New York. In 1777 he attended the Ne -
Fifth Amendment
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides, "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be d -
Benjamin Rush
In 1789 he wrote in Philadelphia newspapers in favor of adopting the Federal constitution. He was then elected to the Pennsylvania convention which adopted that constitution. He was appointed treasurer of the US Mint where he served from 1797 to 1813. -
The U.S. Constitution
The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention (now known as the Constitutional Convention) It began in May 25th to September 17 1789. -
Bill of Rights
Congress transmitted to the state legislatures and had proposed twelve amendments to the Constitution. -
Alexis de Tocqueville
An aristocratic Frenchman who came to the U.S. in 1831 -- when he was only 25 years old -- and later wrote Democracy in America, a two-volume study of the American people and their political institutions. The book is frequently quoted by journalists and politicans. -
"In God We Trust"
The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War. Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase received many appeals from devout persons throughout the country, urging that the United States recognize the Deity on United States coins. From Treasury Department records, it appears that the first such appeal came in a letter dated November 13, 1861. It was written to Secretary Chase by Rev. M. R. Watkinson, M
