the war
boston tea party
colonists dressed as Native American Indians boarded ships and threw 342 chests of tea overboard into the boston harbor
bill of rights
10 amendments that became part of the US Constitution
mercantilism
a system where a mother countries gains money and power from natural resources
executive branch
branch of government that executes, or carries out, the law; headed by the president
triangular trade
a triangle shaped trading route that consisted of the colonies, europe, africa, and the indies
loyalists
american colonists who remained loyal to britain and opposed the war for independence
preamble
introduction to a formal document that often tells why the document was written
seperation of powers
a principal by which powers are divided among different branches of government to make sure no one branch has too much power
judicial branch
the supreme court and other federal courts hear cases involving the constitution, federal laws and disputes between states
the whiskey rebellion
congress passed a tax on the manufacture and sale of whiskey causing a rebellion
minutemen
civilians sworn to be ready to fight with only one minute’s notice
alien and sedition acts 1798
these acts allowed the president to imprison aliens, deport those thought to be dangerous
concurrent power
powers shared by the state and federal government
legislative branch
lawmaking branch, includes congress, the house of reps, and the senate
mercenary
a hired soldier
stamp act
the stamp act forced the colonists making revenue by taxing playing cards, wills, stamps and newspapers
implied power
power not enumerated on the constitution but suggested in its language
special group of electors chosen to vote for president and vice president
the electoral college
carried pitchers of water to soldiers who were fighting in the revolutionary war
molly pitcher
checks and balances
a system by which each branch of government limits power of other branches