People
The Darn British
Constitutional Principles
100

This leader of the Continental Army also led the Second Continental Congress which helped form the US Constitution

George Washington

100

This act of resistance by the colonists infuriated King George III, and led him to punish the colonists with the Coercive Acts. 

The Boston Tea Party

100

This principle asserts that power should be divided between branches of government, so that an abuse of power would become less likely

Separation of Powers / Checks and Balances

200

This founding father included many republican virtues into the Constitution, including Separation of powers and Popular Sovereignty, thus earning him the title of “father of the Constitution”

James Madison

200

This boundary established by the British government prohibited Americans from settling past the Appalachian Mountains.

Proclamation Line of 1763

200

This principle asserts that power should be divided between the national and state governments.

Federalism

300

This anti-federalist worried that the constitution made the federal government so powerful that it would infringe on the rights of farmers.  He also wrote the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Jefferson

300

 This tax mostly affected the rich, but stirred many Americans towards resistance anyway

Stamp Act

300

This constitutional principle asserts that the true power of government comes from the people.

Popular Sovereignty

400

This federalist argued that poor farmers were unqualified to run the government, and that an educated elite should run the country instead.

Alexander Hamilton

400

The boycotting of British goods became much more prevalent after this act, which taxed a variety of products in the American colonies.

Townshend Acts

400

This author argued that it was “common sense” that the Americas should have independence from the British

Thomas Paine

500

 This leader of the Sons of Liberty had openly wanted war with Great Britain, and helped plan the Boston Tea Party

Sam Adams

500

This Native American leader united the Western Tribes and started a rebellion that made it hard for Americans to settle West. 

Pontiac

500

This series of papers, written by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, argued strongly for the ratification of the Constitution on the basis that the country needed a stronger central government

Federalist Papers

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