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U.S. History
Foundations of Our
Constitutional Republic
Celebrating Freedom
John Hancock -- First to sign
Declaration of Independence; First
President of the Continental Congress;
Helped finance the Revolution
John Jay -- President of the
Continental Congress from 1778 to
1779; Served as an ambassador to
Spain and France during American
Revolution; First Chief Justice of the
United States Supreme Court
Authored the Federalist Papers
Dr. Benjamin Rush -- Signer of the
Declaration of Independence; Member
of the Convention of Pennsylvania adopted the Constitution; “father of
American medicine”
John Witherspoon -- Signer of
the Declaration of
Independence; president of
College of New Jersey
(Princeton University); only
active clergyman to sign the
Declaration
Charles Carroll – Signer of the
Declaration; was the only Catholic
to sign the Declaration of
Independence
John Peter Muhlenberg – led
army during Battle of Yorktown;
member of Congress from
Pennsylvania
Jonathan Trumball -As Governor of the
colony of
Connecticut (17691776), he was the
only colonial
governor to support
the American
Revolution
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Constitution (signed in 1787)
Delegates from each state met to amend the Articles of Confederation, but
instead created a new document.
New government based on Federalism – power is divided between state
and national governments.
Separation of Powers – checks and balances prevented any one of the
three branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative) from
gaining too much power.
It is a “living” document that can meet the changing needs of Americans.
• Bill of Rights added to Constitution. First ten amendments
spelled out personal liberties guaranteed to all citizens.
– 1st Amendment: guarantees citizens rights to freedom of
religion, speech, the press, petition, and assembly. RAPPS!
– 2nd & 3rd Amendments state that the govt. can not deny citizens
the right to bear arms and private homes do not have to take in
troops during peacetime.
– 4th Amendment: prevents the search of citizens’ homes
without proper warrants.
– 5th – 8th Amendments: guarantee fair treatment for individuals
accused of crimes.
– 9th & 10th Amendments: place limits on the powers of the
federal government.
7 Principles of
Government
• Popular Sovereignty -- The power to rule comes from
the people; “Consent of the Governed
• Republicanism -- people elect others to represent them
in the government.
• Federalism -- government in which the states and
national government share powers.
• Separation of Powers -- This principle creates the
division of basic government roles into 3 branches. No
one branch is given all the power.
• Check and Balances -- Each branch of government can
exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches
• Limited Government – federal government is limited to
the power given to them in the Constitution. No more,
no less
• Amendments – Constitution could be amended as
needed
Alexis de Tocqueville
• Young French aristocrat & social scientist.
Traveled throughout the United States in
the 1830s to better understand the growing
ideas of liberty & equality in our young nation.
• Published Democracy in America in 1835,
and identified 5 unique “American” values that were crucial
to the success of our constitutional republic.
– Liberty – freedom
– Egalitarianism – promotion of the belief in the equality
of all people politically, socially, & economically
– Individualism – belief in the rights & dignity of each
individual, also strong sense of self-reliance
– Populism – grass-roots democracy, working-class
activism
– Laissez-faire – belief that the government should
intervene as little as possible in economic affairs
The U.S. has two mottos:
1. E Pluribus Unum –
“Out of Many, One”
-The U.S. is a “melting pot” of people,
but we are all one nationality.
We are AMERICANS!
2. In God We Trust –
- Is a line from
The Star
Spangled Banner.
- Dates back to the
nation’s early documents.
- The nation is trusting
something bigger than itself.