Founding Fathers
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison
Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence was written primarily by
Founding Father and third American President Thomas Jefferson and signed by
Congress on July 4,1776 . It declared the independence of the 13 British colonies
from today's United Kingdom and is therefore considered the founding
charter of the USA. The document is based on the basic Enlightenment idea of
equality and freedom for all people and is therefore regarded as an essential
milestone of modern democracy. Since then, Americans have celebrated their
Independence Day Fourth of July every year on July 4 th.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is a constitutional declaration of fundamental rights
effective for residents of the United States since December 15 1791 and
,
consists of ten amendments.
First amendment
•The right to worship
•The right to speak
•The right to write and
publish
•The right to gather
•The right to petition
Constitution of the US 1787
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
''We the People'': affirms that the government of the US exists to serve its citizens.
Checks and balances
The division of power the three branches of government where each
branch has a direct ability to prevent action from another branch,
largely to resist encroachments on its own powers to maintain
democratic government
Three branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Legislative: legislative power is Congress
Executive: Executive power is the President
Judiciary: judicial power is the Supreme Court
The political system of the United States is a presidential federal
republic. The President is the head of state at the head of the country
and is also the head of government. It is controlled by the Supreme
Court and Congress. Congress, in turn, consists of a bicameral system,
the Senate and the House of Representatives.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin
Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison
Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence was written primarily by
Founding Father and third American President Thomas Jefferson and signed by
Congress on July 4,1776 . It declared the independence of the 13 British colonies
from today's United Kingdom and is therefore considered the founding
charter of the USA. The document is based on the basic Enlightenment idea of
equality and freedom for all people and is therefore regarded as an essential
milestone of modern democracy. Since then, Americans have celebrated their
Independence Day Fourth of July every year on July 4 th.
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is a constitutional declaration of fundamental rights
effective for residents of the United States since December 15 1791 and
,
consists of ten amendments.
First amendment
•The right to worship
•The right to speak
•The right to write and
publish
•The right to gather
•The right to petition
Constitution of the US 1787
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.
''We the People'': affirms that the government of the US exists to serve its citizens.
Checks and balances
The division of power the three branches of government where each
branch has a direct ability to prevent action from another branch,
largely to resist encroachments on its own powers to maintain
democratic government
Three branches: Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Legislative: legislative power is Congress
Executive: Executive power is the President
Judiciary: judicial power is the Supreme Court
The political system of the United States is a presidential federal
republic. The President is the head of state at the head of the country
and is also the head of government. It is controlled by the Supreme
Court and Congress. Congress, in turn, consists of a bicameral system,
the Senate and the House of Representatives.
