Colonial Foundations & English Heritage
Unwritten, judge-made law based on previous rulings that developed over centuries in England that influenced colonial government.
Common Law
Along with mob violence and boycotts, this official document, that highlighted British wrongdoings, was written to protest British policies.
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
The political concept described in the Declaration of Independence stating people have the right to alter or abolish destructive governments. The ______ Contract
The Social Contract
It was shown that each state viewed itself as independent/sovereign under the Articles of Confederation by the fact that they all had this number of votes in congress.
One Vote
This primary architect is considered to have contributed the most to drafting the U.S. Constitution.
James Madison
The fundamental concept that government should be restricted in what it can do.
Limited Government
The growing unity of the colonies during British conflicts was shown by the increase in delegates between the Stamp Act Congress and the First ___________ Congress
the First Continental Congress
Three common features found in all first state constitutions were limited government, checks and balances, and this division of power, which is the reason that we have 3 branches of government.
Separation of Powers
Major structural weaknesses under the Articles included the national government lacking power to enforce laws, regulate trade, or collect these.
Taxes
The major disagreement between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan centered on how much of this each state would have in congress.
State Representation (in Congress) or Votes
The 1215 English document, signed by king John I that established the principle that a monarch's power was not absolute.
Magna Carta
Influenced by moderate John Jay, this petition was sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George III as a peaceful gesture. This object can be a symbol of peace.
The Olive Branch Petition
Enlightenment thinker who wrote that "where there is no law, there is no freedom."
John Locke
When Congress called the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, its original intent was not to replace the Articles of Confederation, but to do this.
Revise, Amend, or Change
Under the Connecticut Compromise, representation would be equal in the Senate and based on this in the House.
Population
The 1689 document that required royal authority to get Parliament's consent to levy taxes or suspend laws. This inspired our first 10 Amendments
The (English) Bill of Rights
To reach a compromise, delegates removed language condemning this controversial trade from the Declaration of Independence.
Slave Trade or Slavery
The cornerstone of English law upheld by John Adams when he defended British officers accused in the Boston Massacre.
Due Process or (Fair) Trial
A major debate during the drafting of the Articles concerned state representation and how to determine the way that the government would get this thing that it could do nothing without
National Funding or Money
This Founding Father noted that while the Constitution was not perfect, it was remarkably good given the diverse viewpoints present.
Benjamin Franklin
The key principle shared by the Magna Carta, Petition of Right, and English Bill of Rights that inspired colonial assemblies.
Limited Government or Individual Rights
The British viewed the Second Continental Congress as unlawful because it met without this authority.
Royal (King) Authorization (or Sanction from Parliament)
Southern states like North and South Carolina favored counting these persons toward state population to gain more political representation.
Enslaved Persons or Slaves
This man influenced the constitution by designing a system of checks and balances, separation of powers, and federalism.
James Madison
Anti-Federalists like Amos Singletary opposed ratification of the Constitution because they feared this level of government would become too powerful.
the Central (or National/Federal) Government
Will accept President/Executive