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The English Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta are both examples of early _______ _______ written due to a King abusing their ________.
Social Contracts, power.
Under the Articles of Confederation, how many branches of government did the U.S. have?
One; legislative
John Locke believed that if a government became tyrannical, the people had the right to overthrow the government. What is this called, and what document did the Founding Fathers issue that also exercised this right?
Right of Revolution; Declaration of Independence
What are Natural Rights? What THREE Natural Rights are guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence?
Rights that all people possess as human beings; Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness (also a great song).
What is the MAIN reason the Founding Fathers DID NOT have a strong leader under the Articles of Confederation?
They feared tyranny.
The Land Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 were the TWO major success under the Articles of Confederation, what is one of the reasons they were a success?
No slavery in the Northwest Territory, established Federal control over the territories, created a system for territories to become new states.
This MAJOR event led the British to refocus on the colonies, it was part of a much larger, worldwide conflict. What event was this, and how did King George make the colonist angry after this event concluded?
French and Indian War (part of the Seven Years War); Proclamation of 1763.
This event in 1770 happened in Boston, and Paul Revere's famous piece of propaganda helped to stir the colonist towards independence. What event was this?
The Boston Massacre
Double Jeopardy:
The Tea Act of 1773 was passed by Parliament, making it so the tea trade in the colonies came from ONE SOURCE (British East India Company). What do we call that when one company has control over something, and what did it do to the price of tea in the colonies?
Monopoly; Lowered the price of tea.
"No taxation without representation" became the rallying cry of the Colonist on the road to revolution, what does this mean?
The colonist were upset that they were being heavily taxed WITHOUT being represented in Parliament.
Abusing its power, tyranny.
What is Federalism?
Powers of government being shared between the Central/Federal government and the state governments.
Shays' Rebellion led the leaders of our new country to want to change the Articles of Confederation, what was this meeting called and what new governing document came out of this meeting?
Constitutional Convention 1787; the US Constitution.
What were the main economic activities of the New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies?
NE - whaling, shipbuilding, trade
Mid - Breadbasket, Merchants
Southern - Cash crops/plantations
What did the Great Compromise entail?
Bicameral Legislature (2 Houses)
Senate - equal representation, elected by State legislatures.
House of Reps - based on population, directly elected.
There were TWO debates over slavery at the Constitutional Convention:
1. How should slaves be counted towards representation and taxation?
2. What do about the importation of enslaved peoples?
What did the delegates decide?
1. Three-Fifths Compromise, slaves would be counted as 3/5 towards population towards representation and taxation.
2. The importation of enslaved peoples from outside the US would end in 20 years (1808).
There are only two jobs in the United States government where you must be a NATURAL BORN US Citizen, what two jobs are they and why does it make sense for this requirement to be the same for both positions?
President, VP; because the VP can become President.
Federalism breaks the power of government into three parts, delegated, reserved and concurrent powers. Which part of government has each of these powers?
Delegated - given to the Federal Gov.
Reserved - Kept for the the states and the people.
Concurrent - shared between Federal and State governments.
What is an example of a DELEGATED power and why would it make sense that this power is DELEGATED?
Answers may vary.
Under the Constitution, which branch of Government can declare war?
Legislative (House of Reps)
Today in the United States, which member of our Government is NOT directly elected?
What is used to elect this person?
President; Electoral College
The first three words of the Preamble are "We the People"...
Who did that include in 1787? Who was left out? Who does it include today?
White, landowning, wealthy men.
Women, enslaved people, Native Americans
Citizens of the US
What is Popular Sovereignty?
The ultimate power of our Government comes from the people, CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.
What do the Constitutional Mechanisms Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances entail?
Separation of Powers divide the powers of our government into THREE BRANCHES, so one branch does not become to powerful.
Checks and balances are powers each branch of government have to check the power of another branch.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence with the help of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin?
Who is considered to be the Father of the Constitution?
Thomas Jefferson; James Madison