Founding Fathers
This man was responsible for writing the Constitution, giving him the name "Father of the Constitution".
Who is James Madison?
This famous three-word line opens up the US Constitution, establishing that the sovereignty of the government is endowed by the people, not from its own power.
What is "We the People"?
This was the date that the Declaration of Independence was officially declared by the original thirteen colonies.
What is July 4th, 1776?
This header in both the Constitution and Declaration of Independence describes the purpose and significance of the document.
What is the Preamble?
This set of laws comprises the first ten amendments to the US Constitution.
What is the Bill of Rights?
This Virginia delegate was responsible for writing the Declaration of Independence, and would go on to hold the both the Presidency and Vice Presidency in his lifetime.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
These three unalienable rights can be found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence's Preamble.
What is "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"?
On this day, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention began the signing of the Constitution.
What is September 17th, 1787?
This article of the Constitution highlights the powers of the judicial branch of the government.
What is Article III?
This precursor to the Constitution was ratified on November 15, 1777; put into effect in 1781; and retired in 1789.
What is the Articles of Confederation?
This Pennsylvania founding father, known for his rallying phrase of "Join, or Die!", helped co-write the Declaration of Independence as apart of the "Committee of Five".
Who is Benjamin Franklin?
This two body system of legislature used in the US Congress is established in Article 1 of the Constitution.
What is a bicameral legislature?
This date marks the beginning of the Constitutional Convention.
When was May 25th, 1787?
This article of the Constitution sets forth the ability to edit the document through the passing of "amendments".
What is Article V?
Enacted in response to The Boston Tea Party, this set of laws from the British Parliament are seen as the final dividing line between the 13 colonies and Britain, leading to the Revolutionary War.
What are the Intolerable Acts?
Although well known for his role in American independence, this founding father was not able to sign the Declaration of Independence due to leading the continental army in New York during the document's creation. Instead, he read the document aloud to troops on July 9th.
Who is George Washington?
These powers are explicitly provided to the Federal Government and Congress by the US Constitution.
What are enumerated powers?
This date marks the beginning of the Declaration of Independence's creation, in which the first draft began to be worked on.
When was June 11th, 1776?
This section of the Constitution gives the President the power to be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, to appoint Judges of the Supreme Court, and to fill any vacancies which occur in the Senate.
What is Article II, Section 2?
This document was sent by Congressmen to King George III in a final effort to mend relations with Great Britain and avoid a war for US Independence.
What is the Olive-Branch Petition?
This delegate from Delaware was the last person to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Who is Thomas McKean?
This right corresponds to a fair imprisonment and, unless during time of war or uprising, is guaranteed in Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution.
What is The Writ of Habeas Corpus?
On this date, the Constitution was ratified by the state of New Hampshire, the ninth state to do so.
What is June 21, 1788?
This section of the Constitution enforces that states must return fugitives who have escaped from other states to where they were criminalized, and enforces that states must give the same fundamental rights to citizens from outside their domain as from within it.
What is Article IV, Section 2?
This writing from Enlightenment Philosopher John Locke greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson during his writing of the Declaration of Independence, providing birth to ideas such as the guaranteeing of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
What is The Two Treatises of Government?