20 people names for the test Flashcards
English Jurist
1st Vinerian professor of law at Oxford
Solicitor General to the Queen
Changed English universities’ focus from Roman law to English law
Authored commentaries on the laws of England
Often referenced by the Supreme Court
William Blackstone
Enrolled by General Washington and became a lieutenant colonel, and got admitted to the bar in 1783
Served in Confederation Congress, where he and James Madison both desired a strong central government
Thought bill of rights was unnecessary
Co-authored the Federalist Papers
Secretary of Treasury
Pro national bank
Was a defense lawyer in People v. Croswell (1803)
Influenced freedom of press
killed in a duel with Aaron Burr
Alexander Hamilton
Notable lawyer in New York
Served in 1st Continental Congress
Published “Address to the People of Great Britain”
Initially favored a moderate approach to GB
Resigned from Congress instead of signing the DoI
Drafted NY Constitution
Against slavery; pro abolition
NY governor in 1795
Appointed 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1789
Signed Emancipation Bill
John Jay
Had 4 children, including John Quincy Adams
Shared political opinions with John Adams
Urged Continental Congress for women’s rights and fair laws
Asked Congress to declare independence
Requested fair treatment for women in new laws
Pro Alien and Sedition Acts
Engaged in political discussions with her husband
Abigail Adams
2nd cousin of Samuel Adams
lawyer passionate about liberty after witnessing James Otis’s defense of natural rights
drafted Massachusetts Constitution
1st VP
2nd President
pro BoR
signed Treaty of Paris 1783
legacy endures as a patriot and influential figure in American history
John Adams
key figure in drafting the Constitution
co-wrote Fed. Papers
known as the “Father of the Constitution”, he advocated for checks and balances and state-federal power balance
4th US President in 1809, leading during War of 1812, earning mixed historical opinions
James Madison
graduated from Harvard
formed Sons of Liberty w/ 2 others
wrote “The Rights of Colonists” in 1772
Sons of Liberty organized Boston Tea Party
signed DoI
helped w/ Massachusetts Constitution & AoC
against US Constitution until BoR was proposed
Samuel Adams
George Washington’s supply officer in French-Indian War
served in Virginia colonial legislature
pro independence
main writer of Virginia Constitution & Declaration of Rights
believed AoC to be ineffective, but was also against Const.
said Const. needed BoR
against importation of slaves
became enemies of James Madison & George Washington
became leader of the Anti-Fed. party
known as “Grandfather of BoR”
George Mason
famous French nobleman & political philosopher
key work: “The Spirit of the Laws” (1748)
pro sep. of powers in gov.
influenced James Madison
reflected in Federalist 47, where Madison defended the division of power in US Const. (articles I, II, & III)
Baron de Montesquieu
African American slave turned patriotic spy
Gen. George Washington’s effective spy
operated as a double agent for the US
invaded British defenses & acquired significant war secrets
Marquis de Lafayette supported him & wrote a letter of recommendation of freedom
was granted freedom in 1787
James Armistead
educated in Europe
Maryland chose him as a delegate for Cont. Cong.
signed DoI
served on Board of War during Rev. War
served briefly as the only Catholic in US Senate after Const. was ratified
last surviving signer of DoI when he died in 1832
helped set up the state gov. of Maryland
Charles Carroll
sometimes called a “Forgotten Founder”, due to little recognition despite his significant contributions to the US
was an aide-de-camp for George Washington during Rev. War
was a delegate to Cont. Cong., Annapolis Convention, & Const. Conv.
@ Const. Conv., he introduced Virginia Plan
refused to sign Const.
supported a 3-person executive council
George Washington appointed him to be the nation’s first Attorney General
Edmund Randolph
was friends w/ Hamilton
emphasized “We the People” to point out the importance of every citizen
helped outline the nation’s principles w/ Hamilton
supported the Army during financial struggles
helped write NY Const.
served in Cont. Cong.
signed AoC
appointed to Committee of Style along w/ Hamilton
responsible for the final language of the Const.
Gouverneur Morris
1st of 5 unarmed civilians shot in Boston Massacre
is credited as the leader and instigator of the heroic upheaval against the British army
there’s a day called “Crispus Attucks Day”
A commemorative Silver Dollar was made in 1998 to honor Attucks & other Black patriots during the Rev. War
Crispus Attucks
known for his political & philosophical writings, which were seen as both influential & controversial
had a theory where he believed that forming a republic requires each citizen to surrender all claims of liberty & peace
this theory was called “Social Contract”
considered an intellectual ancestor of socialist systems
Jean-Jacques Rosseau
known as an influential town leader, judge, historian, schoolmaster, archaeologist, & soldier during the AR
1st African American to be elected to public office in the US
Wentworth Chesswell
historians believe he is the author of “Letters From A Farmer In Pennsylvania” , which encouraged reconciliation with the British while resisting their policies
he wrote the song “Liberty Song”, which was America’s first patriotic song
In 1775, he and Thomas Jefferson wrote Declaration of the Causes of Taking Up Arms, which told the British King that the colonists were not raising an army with the intent of establishing independence
did not like the strong wording of DoI, & left Philadelphia in what many people saw as an act of integrity
once colonies declared independence, he dropped his objections & contributed to the drafting of the AoC
was governor of Delaware, until he was elected governor of Pennsylvania
chaired Annapolis Convention
headed Delaware’s delegation to the Const. Conv.
wrote “Letters of Fabius” in support of the Const.
known as the “Penman of the Revolution”
John Dickinson
published a series of almanacs
studied the law independently
became a leader in the resistance to the British tyranny in the 1760’s
urged peaceful forms of protest, such as boycotts & petitions
elected to Cont. Cong.
served on the committee in charge of drafting the DoI, which included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston & Thomas Jefferson; it was the committee who chose Jefferson to draft the document
helped frame AoC & later signed it
left national politics for a bit, but came back to approve ToP 1783
delegate to Const. Conv., where he worked to guard the power of states against national gov.
thought leg. should be strongest branch of gov., suggesting that Congress should have the power to select the President
suggested Connecticut Compromise, aka Great Compromise
against BoR at first, but then supported James Madison’s effort to add amendments
appointed to US Senate in 1791, & served until his death in 1793
Roger Sherman
published Poor Richard’s Almanac
made “Join or Die” cartoon
drafted Albany Plan of Union during a convention
defended American rights
served on DoI committee
was a commissioner to France, negotiated ToP 1783
criticized AoC
advocated for strong fed. gov. @ Const. Conv.
abolitionist
Benjamin Franklin
advocated for direct election of Pres. @ Const. Conv.
helped form Electoral College compromise
collab. w/ Benjamin Rush for Const. rat. in Pennsylvania
appointed to Sup. Ct. by GW in 1789
key opinion allowing state lawsuits was overturned by 11th Amd.
1st law professor @ University of Pennsylvania
James Wilson
