Founding Documents
The first formal government adopted by the United States following the revolution creating a weak national government
Articles of Confederation
Freedom of speech and religion
1st amendment
First president of the United States of America
George Washington
Right to public trial and jury
6th amendment
Rule by the people; in practice today, this means popular election of the government and basic protections of civil rights and liberties
Democracy
Federalist Papers
No soldier shall be quartered in a home during a time of peace
3rd amendment
Writer of federalists papers killed in a duel
Alexander Hamilton
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law.
7th amendment
A plan proposed at the constitutional convention by Edmund Randolph of Virginia outlining a stronger national government with an independent executive and a bicameral legislature whose membership in both houses would be apportioned according to state population
Virginia Plan
Articles written by individuals who were opposed to the Constitution
Antifederalist Papers
Freedom against unreasonable search and seizure
4th amendment
He was an inventor, political philosopher and first official diplomat to France
Benjamin Franklin
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
10th amendment
A plan proposed at the constitutional convention by William Paterson of New Jersey to amend, rather than replace, the standing Articles of Confederation. The plan called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation among the states, along with a plural (multi person) executive appointed by the legislature
New Jersey Plan
List of unalienable rights that American individuals are entitled to
Bill of Rights
Right to bear arms
2nd amendment
3rd president of the United States of America
Thomas Jefferson
excessive bail shall not be required
8th amendment
An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention to establish a bicameral legislature with an upper house (the senate) composed of equal representation from each state and a lower house (the House of Representatives) composed of representation from each state in proportion to its population
Connecticut Compromise
The new form of government adopted by the US following the Articles of Confederation giving the national government more power
The Constitution
Right to due process of law
5th amendment
2nd president of the United States of America
John Adams
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
9th amendment
Those powers specifically described in the constitution
Expressed Powers (Enumerated Powers)