Ideas that Influenced the Constitution
This document, written in 1776, declared the American colonies independent from Britain and argued that all people have rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
What is the Declaration of Independence?
The branch of government that makes laws.
What is the Legislative Branch?
The amendment that protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
What is the First Amendment?
Known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his leading role in the Constitutional Convention and contributions to the document.
Who is James Madison?
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
What is the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution?
The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom influenced this amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
The branch of government that enforces (carries out) laws.
What is the Executive Branch?
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution.
What is the Bill of Rights?
A famous Federalist leader who argued for the Constitution and wrote The Federalist Papers.
Who is Alexander Hamilton?
What is Shay's Rebellion?
The idea that government receives its power from the people and must protect citizens' rights; often summarized by the phrase "consent of the governed."
What is popular sovereignty?
The branch of government that interprets laws and decides whether laws follow the Constitution.
What is the Judicial Branch?
The right to bear arms and form a militia.
What is the 2nd Amendment?
This compromise at the Constitutional Convention created a two-house legislature with representation based on population in one house and equal representation in the other.
This was an important achievement of the Articles of Confederation.
What is the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
A system that divides power between a national government and state governments; the Constitution created this system to balance power.
What is Federalism?
One power of the executive branch that allows it to 'check' the legislative branch.
What is veto power?
The amendment that protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures and requires warrants based on probable cause.
What is the 4th Amendment?
The agreement that counted each enslaved person as part of the population for representation and taxation purposes, though controversial and later overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments' consequences.
What is the Three Fifths Compromise?
The first attempt at a constitution that failed because it created a very weak central government.
What is the Articles of Confederation?
The English political document from 1215 that limited the power of the king and influenced American ideas about limiting government power.
What is the Magna Carta?
The system that gives each branch some power over the others so no single branch becomes too powerful.
What is the separation of powers?
The amendment that reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.
What is the 10th Amendment?
The plan proposed by smaller states that wanted equal representation for each state in Congress.
The philosopher John Locke argued that all people have 'natural rights' and this inspired Thomas Jefferson to add these 'certain unalienable rights' into the Declaration of Independence.
What is 'life, liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness'?