Documents
What document declared American independence from Britain?
The Declaration of Independence
Which branch of government enforces laws?
Executive
Into how many branches is the U.S. federal government split?
3
What date do Americans celebrate every year as Independence Day?
July 4th
Who was the first President of the United States?
George Washington
What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called?
The Bill of Rights
Which branch of government makes laws?
Legislature
Which branch can declare a law unconstitutional?
Judicial branch
What pamphlet did Paine write that convinced many colonists to support full independence?
Common Sense
What system gives power to both national and state governments?
Federal system
What 1787 document established the United States as a federal republic?
Constitution of the United States
Which branch of government interprets laws?
Judiciary
What system allows each branch to limit the power of the others?
Checks and balances
What country allied with the United States in 1778 against Britain?
France
What earlier system created a weak central government made up of sovereign states?
Confederation
What 1781 agreement created a central government with very limited power?
The Articles of Confederation
Which branch is led by the President and his cabinet?
Executive branch
What Enlightenment principle divides government power into three branches?
Separation of Powers
What 1783 treaty officially ended the American Revolution?
The Treaty of Paris
Who was a main author of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What 1774 law did Britain pass to punish the colonies, and what angry nickname did the colonists give it?
The Intolerable Acts
Which branch includes the Supreme Court and other courts?
Judicial branch
What power can the President use to block a law passed by Congress?
Veto
What 1773 event saw colonists throw British tea into the harbor?
The Boston Tea Party
Which British king received the colonists' petition in 1774?
King George III