20 people names for the test

Question 1

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

Answer 1

William Blackstone

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Alexander Hamilton

Question 3

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

Answer 3

John Jay

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Abigail Adams

Question 5

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

Answer 5

John Adams

Question 6

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

Answer 6

James Madison

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Samuel Adams

Question 8

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”

Answer 8

George Mason

Question 9

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)

Answer 9

Baron de Montesquieu

Question 10

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

Answer 10

James Armistead

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Charles Carroll

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Edmund Randolph

Question 13

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.

Answer 13

Gouverneur Morris

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Crispus Attucks

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Jean-Jacques Rosseau

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Wentworth Chesswell

Question 17

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”

Answer 17

John Dickinson

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Roger Sherman

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Benjamin Franklin

Question 20

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

Answer 20

James Wilson