The Declaration of Independence
What year was the Declaration of Independence signed?
1776
How many amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
10
What was the first government established by the newly independent United States?
Articles of Confederation
Which group supported the ratification of the Constitution?
Federalist
What was the name for the period in the 18th century when thinkers emphasized reason and individualism?
The Enlightenment
Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What is the purpose of the first three articles of the Constitution?
They establish the three branches of the U.S. government.
What was a major weakness of the Articles of Confederation related to taxation?
No power to Tax
Which group's primary concern was that the new Constitution would create a national government that was too powerful?
Anti-Federalists
This English philosopher argued that people are born with the natural rights of life, liberty, and property.
John Locke
The Declaration of Independence states that all men have certain unalienable rights. What are these three rights?
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Which amendment protects the right to freedom of speech, religion, and the press?
First Amendment
What did the Northwest Ordinance outlaw in the newly organized territories, marking a significant early stance on a national issue?
Slavery
Who was a leading Federalist, author of many of the Federalist Papers, and the first Secretary of the Treasury?
Alexander Hamilton
Which French philosopher advocated for the separation of powers in government?
Baron de Montesquieu
In addition to declaring independence, the document lists a series of grievances. Who were these grievances against?
King George III
The Constitution is based on the principle of separation of powers. What are the three branches of government created by this principle?
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
The Northwest Ordinance set the precedent for what public institution?
Public Education
What was the key compromise that led many Anti-Federalists to finally support the ratification of the Constitution?
What idea, advanced by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, describes an agreement among individuals to create a government and abide by its laws?
The Social Contract
What Enlightenment idea, prominent in the Declaration of Independence, suggests that the government's authority comes from the consent of the governed?
Popular sovereignty
What constitutional principle is best illustrated by the statement, "Congress passes a law, the President signs it, and the Supreme Court can declare it unconstitutional"?
Checks and Balances
What states were added under the Northwest Ordinance?
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and Minnesota
Which Federalist Paper, written by James Madison, argues that a large republic would be the best way to control the dangers of factions?
Federalist 10
Thomas Jefferson borrowed this Enlightenment thinker’s idea of “life, liberty, and property,” but changed it to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Jefferson borrowed this Enlightenment thinker’s idea of “life, liberty, and property,” but changed it to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence.