Early Influences
This Enlightenment thinker influenced our Founding Fathers with the idea of Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances.
Baron de Montesquieu
This event caused the British government to begin taxing the American colonies.
The French and Indian War
This was the first attempt at a written constitution for the newly independent states.
Articles of Confederation
It was at this meeting that our Founding Fathers created the United States Constitution
Constitutional Convention
The Declaration of Independence was signed on this date.
July 4th, 1776
“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.." Which Enlightenment idea is present in this Declaration of Independence quote?
Natural Rights or Natural Law (life, liberty, and property)
This is how the colonists protested the Stamp Act, which taxed goods such as newspapers and playing cards.
Boycotting British goods
In this system of government, the states have the majority of the power and are united by a weak central government.
Confederal
This group of men believed in the Constitution as it was written and wrote papers promoting it's ratification (approval).
Federalists (they wrote the Federalist Papers)
This person was the main author of the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
This document was the first evidence of Self-Government in the American colonies.
Mayflower Compact
These acts was passed by the British Parliament to punish the American colonists for the Boston Tea Party
Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts, as the colonists referred to them)
This "dreadful conflict" was the main reason for the meeting of the Constitutional Convention.
Shays' Rebellion
This group believed that in order to limit the power of the federal government and protect the people, a bill of rights needed to be added to the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
Name two punishments in the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)
Boston Port Act - Closed the Boston Port to trade
Quartering Act - Forced colonists to house soldiers
Massachusetts Gov. Act - Appointed a Royal Governor in charge of Massachusetts colony instead of their elected legislatures
Administration of Justice Act - Moved trials of British officials accused of crimes in the colonies to Great Britain.
This document was written in 1215 in order to limit the power of the government (King) in England.
(Latin for the "Great Charter")
Magna Carta
This pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine in order to convince American colonists to declare independence from Great Britain.
"Common Sense"
These 2 branches of government did not exist under the Articles of Confederation
Executive and Judicial
This was the solution agreed upon in the "Great Compromise"
A three branch government & bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate (each state receives two representatives) and House of Representatives (amount of representatives based on population of state)
This man was one of the main authors of the Federalist Papers.
Alexander Hamilton or James Madison
“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…” This Declaration of Independence quote is referring to this Enlightenment idea.
Social Contract
List two grievances that were listed in the Declaration of Independence
(Answers will vary) “For imposing taxes on us without our Consent” “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.” “He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.” “For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury.”
These were the five major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
1. Congress could not levy taxes
2. No national court system to settle disputes (no Judicial Branch)
3. No power to enforce laws (no Executive Branch)
4. No power to regulate trade
5. Required unanimous approval from all 13 states to amend (change) the Articles
Draw a Venn Diagram showing the differences and similarities between the Virginia and New Jersey plans.
Virginia Plan: Preferred by larger states, bicameral legislature, wanted representation to be based on population.
Same: Three Branches of Government.
New Jersey Plan: Preferred by smaller states, unicameral legislature, wanted each state to have ONE vote each.
These are the four principles of government (big ideas) first created in the Magna Carta.
1. Limited Government
2. Rights
3. Rule of Law
4. Due Process