What was the Enlightenment?
period of philosophy that emphasized reason, science, natural rights, and limited power and authority
What is the type of government that American Government borrows from ancient Greece and Rome?
Democracy
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What was the main point of the Magna Carta
Limited power of the government; the king is not above the laws
What was the MAIN cause of the growing tensions among the colonists and the British government at the time of the writing of the Decalaration of Independence?
economic tensions caused from taxes
How do you define natural rights?
inherent rights people are born with
What is a democracy
A type of government in which the people have the power by electing representatives and leaders
What were the 3 different regions of the 13 colonies at the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence?
The New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies
What key idea did the founders of American Government borrow from the Mayflower Compact?
Self-rule
What did the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Tea Act do to colonists?
they were being taxed
What is the concept of social contract?
The people give up some freedoms to be protected by the government.
Does American government have a direct or indirect (Representative) democracy?
Indirect (Representative) Democracy
poor farming soil, cold winters, being near the coast, and puritan culture leads to communities that rely on fishing, shipbuilding, lumber, trade, and small family farms
What document was a result of the tensions from British taxation on the colonies?
The Declaration of Independence
What was the cause of Britains debt that led to all of the tax acts at the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence?
The French and Indian War
What significant idea did Hobbes and Locke contribute to the Enlightenment?
the idea of Social Contract
Which of the following is not a common feature accross Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and American government?
-voting
-a group called the Senate
-freedom of speech
a group called the Senate
How did the geography of the Middle colonies affect the lifestyle there?
fertile soil, mild weather, flat land, and navigable rivers led to an economy of diversity with farming, livestock, trade, manufacturing, and commerce and the growth of urban centers (cities)
Who wrote the declaration of independence? What kind of document was it?
Thomas Jefferson on behalf of the Continental Congress, public statement or resolution
Explain this phrase and why it angered colonists: Taxation without representation.
the colonists didn't think they should have tax acts passed on them by the British Government when they didn't have any government representatives representing the colonists in that government.
What is the concept of Popular Sovereignty?
The consent of the people gives the government its authority and power.
What makes democratic government different than authoritarian government?
In a democratic government, the people hold the power through elections; in an authoritarian government one person or a group of people hold the power through force.
How did the geography of the Southern Colonies influence the lifestyle there?
warm temperatures, long growing seasons, and rich coastal plains, supported large-scale plantation farming and enslavement of black people
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independece?
to declare independence from Britain and list the colonists' grievances.
What key ideals did the builders of American Government get from the tension caused by the economic changes of the 1770s
Self-rule, limited government, democracy, representative government, no monarchy (no kings)