Foundations of Government
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Established a legal separation between church and State (government)
Declaration of Independence
Document stating America's intent to break from British rule.
James Madison
Federalist and author of the U.S. Constitution
The Virginia Declaration of Rights
Preceded U.S. Declaration of Independence & established idea of unalienable rights.
unalienable rights
Rights like life & liberty that people are said to be born with.
Thomas Jefferson
Founding father that wrote the Declaration of Independence
Charters of the Virginia Company
Established the British colony at Jamestown & gave colonists rights as English citizens.
Popular Sovereignty
The idea that people are the source of all government power.
Articles of Confederation
An alliance between the 13 states that created a weak national government.
Magna Carta
First time rule of law & limits on government were set in England in 1215
Representative democracy
Government where citizens choose people to govern on their behalf.
U.S. Constitution
Document that sets up the structure of the U.S. government
Rule of Law
The principle that laws should be applied to everyone equally.
Limited government
The principle that government is not all powerful and can only do what the Constitution says.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution that guarantee some basic rights