Principles Underlying America's Founding
Foundational Documents
Foundations of American law
Colonial Grievances
The Declaration of Independence
100
Which characteristic does the U.S. Constitution have in common with law codes like the Twelve Tables of ancient Rome?
It protects ordinary citizens with the rule of law.
100
What was the significance of the Mayflower Compact?
It introduced colonial self-government
100
What is a characteristic of a society under the rule of law?
All citizens and officials are subject to the same rules
100
Tax placed on paper products.
Stamp Act
100
What was the main concern of the colonists in North America that led to the American Revolution?
Opposition to British Tax policies
200
Ethical Ideas of Justice
200
Everyone (even the government) must obey the laws, and no one is above the law. Which principle is this?
Limited Government
200
Defines the rule of law?
Ensuring that laws are clear, public, fair, and enforced equally for everyone.
200
The cost of feeding and sheltering British troops was placed on the colonies.
The Quartering Act
200
Which Enlightenment idea does this quote?
“…to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed.”
Social Contract
300
Polis, Civic Participation, Legislative Bodies, Voting Rights, and Writing the Constitution.
Which Ancient civilization most directly influenced these concepts?
Ancient Greece
300
No freeman shall be taken or imprisoned or disseised or outlawed or exiled or in any way destroyed, nor will we go upon him nor send upon him, except by the lawful judgement of his peers or by the law of the land.
Which right was guaranteed in this excerpt from Magna Carta?
Trial by Jury
300
Accountability to the law means?
accountable to the law.
300
Declaratory Act
King George III and Parliament are the only authorities to make laws for the colonies.
300
In the Declaration of Independence, where is the importance of the social contract specifically expressed?
“It is the right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government…”
400
Civic Participation, Republicanism, Rule of Law, and Separation of Powers.
Which Ancient civilization most directly influenced these concepts?
Ancient Rome
400
Self-Government
400
What are the five principles of the rule of law?
Accountability to the law, enforcement of the law, decision based on law, fair procedures, and transparency of institutions.
400
Tax on more items brought into the colonies.
Townshend Acts
400
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...”
In the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, where are natural rights specifically expressed?
“with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
500
Ethical Ideas of Justice, Individual Worth, Personal Responsibility, Rule of Law.
Which Ancient civilization most directly influenced these concepts?
Judeo-Christianity
500
Which Foundational Document applies in the following quotes?
"England is simply too far away from us to run the day-to-day of our colony! We need to govern ourselves."
Common Sense
500
What does due process mean?
All people get fair legal treatment before facing legal consequences.
500
Which grievance against King George III is stated in the Declaration of Independence?
He had quartered his troops among the colonists.
500
Which document contains this passage?
Declaration of Independence