John Jay
John Jay was the first Chief Justice of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1795.
A Founding Father, he helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War and co-authored the Federalist Papers with Hamilton and Madison.
The Jay Treaty with Britain, which he negotiated, proved deeply controversial.
His name appears on schools, streets, and buildings throughout the country.
Governing principles document
- Federalist PapersFounding-era persuasive essays
- republicState with elected leaders
- democracyRule by the people
- Continental CongressColonial era legislature
Articles of Confederation · American Revolution · independence · patriot · statesman · Alexander Hamilton · James Madison · George Washington
Opposing human bondage
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- manumissionFormal freeing of enslaved
- slaveholderOwner of enslaved persons
- freedomAbsence of constraint
abolitionism · human rights · reform · 1799 · liberation · activism
Major war-ending diplomatic pact
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- BritainIsland off northwestern Europe
Spain · foreign affairs · minister · peace · 1783 · ratification · commissioner · statesman
Nation's top tribunal
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- 1789Late eighteenth century
- benchShared seating surface
- ConstitutionGoverning principles document
jurisprudence · judicial review · court · robes · appointment · federal judiciary · resignation · precedent
Constitution
Governing principles document
- Federalist PapersFounding-era persuasive essays
- republicState with elected leaders
- democracyRule by the people
Continental Congress · Articles of Confederation · American Revolution · independence · patriot · statesman · Alexander Hamilton · James Madison · George Washington · Benjamin Franklin
antislavery
Opposing human bondage
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- manumissionFormal freeing of enslaved
- slaveholderOwner of enslaved persons
freedom · abolitionism · human rights · reform · 1799 · liberation · activism
Treaty of Paris
Major war-ending diplomatic pact
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
Britain · Spain · foreign affairs · minister · peace · 1783 · ratification · commissioner · statesman · neutrality
Supreme Court
Nation's top tribunal
Constitution · jurisprudence · judicial review · court · robes · appointment · federal judiciary · resignation · precedent · tribunal
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