Road to Revolution
This phrase described the colonists' objection to paying British taxes without having representatives in Parliament.
What is taxation without representation?
This document, adopted on July 4, 1776, explained why the American colonies were separating from Great Britain.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
This city hosted the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
What is Philadelphia?
This group supported ratification of the Constitution because it believed the United States needed a stronger national government.
Who were the Federalists?
This branch of the federal government is responsible for making laws.
What is the legislative branch?
This amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
What is the First Amendment?
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.
What is the Bill of Rights?
This war left Great Britain deeply in debt, leading Parliament to impose new taxes on the American colonies.
What is the French and Indian War?
This was the first written framework of national government for the United States, but it gave the national government limited powers.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This proposal favored by large states called for representation in Congress based on state population.
What is the Virginia Plan?
This group feared that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government and might threaten individual freedoms.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
This branch of the federal government includes the president and is responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws.
What is the executive branch?
This amendment protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.
What is the Second Amendment?
The process of formally approving a constitution or agreement.
What is ratification?
This 1765 British law required colonists to pay a tax on newspapers, legal documents, and other printed materials.
What is the Stamp Act?
This 1787 document established a stronger national government with three separate branches.
What is the United States Constitution?
This proposal favored by small states called for equal representation in Congress regardless of state population.
What is the New Jersey Plan?
This uprising by Massachusetts farmers exposed weaknesses in the government under the Articles of Confederation.
What is Shays' Rebellion?
This branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts and interprets laws and the Constitution when deciding cases.
What is the judicial branch?
This amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
A legislature made up of two separate houses.
What is a bicameral legislature?
This group of colonial protesters, which included Samuel Adams, organized opposition to British taxes and helped lead resistance to British rule.
Who were the Sons of Liberty?
Thomas Jefferson was strongly influenced by this English Enlightenment thinker, who believed governments exist to protect natural rights.
Who was John Locke?
This compromise settled disagreements over representation by creating a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation.
What is the Great Compromise?
This Virginia delegate refused to sign the Constitution because it lacked adequate protections for individual rights.
Who was George Mason?
The president can veto laws passed by Congress, and Congress can override a veto; which is an example of this constitutional principle.
What are checks and balances?
This constitutional amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial and the assistance of an attorney in criminal prosecutions.
What is the Sixth Amendment?
The belief that government's authority comes from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
This 1783 agreement formally ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
What is the Treaty of Paris?
The Declaration of Independence states that people may alter or abolish a government that violates their rights. This political principle explains why the people may do so.
What is the right of revolution?
Delegates agreed to this compromise when determining the impact enslaved people would have on a state's population.
What was the three-fifths compromise?
To help secure ratification of the Constitution, Federalists promised to add this set of protections for individual freedoms.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The words 'We the People' express this principle: government gets its authority from the people rather than a monarch.
What is popular sovereignty?
Police search a person's home without a warrant or another valid legal justification. This constitutional protection may have been violated.
What is protection against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment?
An agreement between the people and their government in which the people accept the government's authority in exchange for protection of their rights.
What is the social contract?