Documents
Governing Document before Constitution. Weaknesses include no power tax, only legislative branch, no judicial branch and no executive to enforce laws.
Articles of Confederation.
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
To Declare independence from England
Why did the founding fathers write the Articles of Confederation
They were afraid of a central government with too much power.
Each branch has it's own powers. Example: Legislative Makes laws, Executive Enforces, Judicial Reviews.
Separation of Powers.
What is Separation of Powers
Separating the powers into 3 branches
Limited the Power of the Monarchy, set up trail by peers and rule of law.
Magna Carta
What is a grievance?
A complaint
What were two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Couldn't collect taxes
Trade wars
No president
No Court System
This system gives each of the three branches of government ways to limit the powers of the other branches. Veto, impeachment
Checks and Balances.
What is the president vetoing a bill sent to him by congress an example of?
Checks and Balances
Group that wanted the addition of a Bill of Rights to the Constitution and wanted a smaller federal government.
Anti-Federalist.
Why did the colonists declare independence?
Rights, Representation, Taxation
How did the new U.S. Constitution fix the problem of a weak central government?
It created 3 branches of gov.
Congress could collect taxes
People willingly give up there power in order to protect their safety.
Social Contract
What was the compromise that persuaded the Anti-Federalists to ratify the U.S. Constitution?
The Bill of Rights
Written by Thomas Paine and asked Americans to Declare Independence from Great Briton.
Common Sense
What are your inalienable rights?
Life, Liberty, and Property
What was the cause of Shay's Rebellion?
Farmers were angry over taxes.
Believed that government's job was to protect life, liberty, and property.
John Locke
What was the purpose of the U.S. Constitution's Preamble?
To establish the goals of our new Constitution
First document to establish self- government in the United States.
Mayflower Compact
People may overthrow their government when it breaks this?
The Social Contract
What was the Anti-Federalists argument against the new U.S. Constitution?
It created a central government that was too strong and did not do enough to protect the people's rights.
Came up with the idea of Separation of Powers and checks and balances.
Baron De Montesquieu
Popular Sovereignty