Foundations of American Government

  • John Witherspoon

    John Witherspoon
    When John joined the colonies in 1768 as President of College of New Jersey, he brought some impressive credentials and a measure of public acclaim with him. He turned the President of College of New Jersey into a very succeseful institution, which is how he gained most of his fame. In November 1776, John was forced to abandon and shut down the College because of the approach of British forces.
  • John Jay

    John Jay
    Signed the Declaration of Independence. He helped negotitate the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that ended the American Revolution. This is realtion to our current unit of study because the Declaraion may not have been passed and without his imput towards the Treay of Paris it may not be the same as it is now.
  • Benjamin Rush

    Benjamin Rush
    He and Benjamin Franklin were the two great "Benjamin's" of the Revolutionary generation. Although Franklin was more well-known, Rush was actually the more educated, travled more broadly and was the more expeirence one of the two. He was a very big supporter of the Constitution and would even travel to different colleges to speak about his believes towards the Constitution.
  • John Trumbull Sr.

    John Trumbull Sr.
    John Trumbull Sr. was one of the only Americans who served as governor in a pre-Revolutionary colony and a post Revolutionary. He was the only colonial governor at the start of the Revolution to take up the rebel cause.
  • Declration of Independence

    Declration of Independence
    America was desperate for their freedom from Britian especially after the Revolutionary War was in full swing. In the middle of June 1776, five men got together, some of them being; Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin, to form a statement of the colonies intenrions. The Congress adopted the Declaration on Independence in Philadelphia on July 4, the day which is now celebrated as the Birth of American Independence.
  • El Pluribus Unum

    El Pluribus Unum
    Means 'out of many, one.' El Pluribus Unum is written on every bill that is printed in the United States. It is the motto that is suggested by the commitee appionted on July 4, 1776 to design "a seal for the United States of America"
  • U.S. Constituiton

    U.S. Constituiton
    The U.S. Costitution was signed on September 17,1787 by delegates to the Consitutional Convention in Philadelphia, presided over George Washington. This Constituiton established America's national government and fundamental laws. It also guaranteed certain basic rights for citizens.
  • John Peter Muhlenberg

    John Peter Muhlenberg
    John Peter Muhlenberg was the brother of Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg. Both brothers served in the First House of Representatives. John "earned renown for removing his pastoral robes to reveal a military uniform underneath while proclaiming his support for the war from his pulpit in Virginia."
  • Eminent Domain

    Eminent Domain
    "The of the goevernment or its agent to expropriate private property for public"
  • Bill of Rights

    Bill of Rights
    The Bill of Rights offically became part of the Constitution because of James Madison In December of 1791. The Bil of Rights wasn't always something that was considered important until the Constitution's supporters realized that is was crutical to achieving ratification. The Bill of Rights still garantees rights to all US citizes to this day.
  • Fifth Amendment

    Fifth Amendment
    The fifth amendment garuntess that no one should be held to answer for a capital crime. No one should be subject for the same crime twice or put in jerpody of life or a limb, be a whitness against himself, or taken for public use.
  • Charles Carroll

    Charles Carroll
    Charles signed the Declaration of Independence. He was a representative at the Constitutional Convention. Was one of the first sentators from MAryland. This realtion to our current unit of study because if the Declaration on Independence may not have been passed if it wasn't for his siganture.
  • "In God We Trust"

    "In God We Trust"
    In God We Trust was placed on the United States coins because of the increased religious sentiment exsiting during the Civil War. It is still written on every coin and every dollar printed and made in the US.
  • Alex de Tocqueville

    Alex de Tocqueville
    Tocqueville’s works shaped 19th-century discussions of liberalism and equality, and were rediscovered in the 20th century as sociologists debated the causes and cures of tyranny. “Democracy in America” remains widely read and even more widely quoted by politicians, philosophers, historians and anyone seeking to understand the American character.