Road to Independence
Which country ruled the 13 American colonies before independence?
Great Britain (England)
In what year was the U.S. Constitution signed?
1787
How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
10
Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, and peaceful assembly?
The First Amendment
What does the word ratify mean?
To formally approve something
What were the colonists upset about paying without having representation in Parliament?
Taxes
What document came before the Constitution and created a weak national government?
The Articles of Confederation
Who proposed the amendments that eventually became the Bill of Rights?
James Madison
Which amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures?
The Fourth Amendment
Why was the Constitution created to replace the Articles of Confederation?
The country needed a stronger national government that could address problems between states and raise money.
What 1765 law required colonists to pay a tax on paper items, including newspapers and legal documents?
The Stamp Act
What 1787 meeting brought leaders together to revise the Articles of Confederation?
The Constitutional Convention
In what year were the 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights ratified?
1791
Which amendment guarantees the right to a speedy, public trial and a lawyer for someone accused of a crime?
The Sixth Amendment
A group of people gathers to protest a law they believe is unfair. Which amendment protects this action?
The First Amendment
What war began in 1775 after fighting broke out between British troops and American patriots?
The Revolutionary War
Why did the Articles of Confederation make it difficult for the national government to solve problems?
The national government had too little power, including no power to impose taxes and no president to intervene in disputes.
Why did some states refuse to ratify the Constitution without a bill of rights?
They wanted individual rights written down and protected from possible government abuse.
Which amendment prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment?
The Eighth Amendment
A judge orders someone accused of a crime to pay an extremely large, unreasonable bail amount. Which amendment is relevant?
The Eighth Amendment
Why did many colonists believe British taxes were unfair?
They had no representatives in British Parliament to help make decisions about those taxes.
Why did the framers divide the government into three branches?
To prevent any one person or group from becoming too powerful.
What is the main purpose of the Bill of Rights?
To protect people's individual rights and limit the power of the government.
Which amendment protects a person from being forced to incriminate themselves or being tried twice for the same crime?
The Fifth Amendment
How do the Constitution and the Bill of Rights work together to prevent abuse of government power?
The Constitution establishes a government with divided powers, while the Bill of Rights protects individual freedoms and places limits on government actions.