Influential Documents
Vocab
The Declaration, Articles & Constitution
Debates at the Constitutional Convention
Compromises & Individual Rights
100

This 1620 agreement helped the Pilgrims establish rules and govern themselves.

the Mayflower Compact

100
The word for a formal approval

Ratify/Ratified

100

The Declaration says governments get their power from this group.

The people

100

This compromise didn't count enslaved people as 1 whole person for representation and taxation.

 The Three-Fifths Compromise

100

The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called

The Bill of Rights

200

This document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the English king.

What is the Magna Carta?

200

A person chosen or elected to vote, act, or speak on behalf of a larger group

Delegate

200

This document announced the colonies’ independence from Great Britain in 1776.

The Declaration of Independence

200

This system divides power between the national government and state governments

federalism

200

This amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press

First Amendment

300

This 1689 English document protected rights such as life, liberty, and property.

the English Bill of Rights

300

The large-scale buying and selling of goods/services between people, businesses, or nations

Commerce

300

This first plan of government created a weak central government because Americans feared a monarchy

The Articles of Confederation

300

How did delegates solve the problem of "who should have power within the national government?"

The created 3 branches of government

300

This principle keeps one branch of government from gaining too much power by dividing government responsibilities

separation of powers

400

This pamphlet by Thomas Paine encouraged colonists to declare independence from Great Britain

Common Sense

400

The primary national authority that holds ultimate political power and manages affairs for an entire country

Central Government

400

The Declaration of Independence claimed the government should be able to protect the nation. Did the Articles of Confederation do that? 

No, Congress had limited power which made it hard to do

400

This clause gave Congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, states, and American Indian tribes.

Commerce Clause

400

According to yesterday's lecture, why did the Founding Fathers include the right to bear arms?

To rebel against that government if it ever began to take away people's rights. 

500

Which two English documents helped establish limits on government power

What are the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights

500

The lawmaking branch of a government, or a formal meeting where representatives meet to discuss and decide important issues.

Congress

500

Put these in chronological order: Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation.

1. The Declaration

2. Articles of Confederation

3. Constitution

500

Name the 3 examples of what the national government can do under federalism.

  • Declare war

  • Make treaties

  • Regulate interstate trade

500

What compromises were made by the North that protected southern slave owners?

The compromises were about the slave trade and escaped slaves