Ancient Greece/ Rome and Judeo-Christian
Ancient Athens is considered the birthplace of
democracy
What did Federalists and Antifederalists disagree most strongly about?
a strong national government
Which Enlightenment thinker argued that all people were born equal and had natural rights to life, liberty, and property?
John Locke
What were John Locke's natural rights?
Life, Liberty, Property
Under the Articles most of the power resided with?
the state
What is the Tea Act
The British placed heavy taxes on the tea
By granting the right to vote, Ancient Athens helped create this concept where “the people” get involved in governing:
civic participation
Why did Anti-Federalist's want a bill of rights in the Constitution?
to protect their individual rights
Enlightenment thinker John Locke thought that rights come from?
God or nature
Which document did Thomas Paine argue for American independence from Britain?
common sense
Because this branch was missing under the Articles of Confederation the government had no power to enforce its laws?
Executive Branch
A group of colonial delegates met where in September 1774 to voice their grievances against the British government?
Philadelphia
What did the Ancient Greek word “polis” evolve to mean?
A body of citizens in a community
How many states were required to ratify the Constitution?
13
Name of the concept that promotes the idea that “the people” give the government power to protect their natural rights and must live by the rules:
social contract
The Plymouth colonists decided that they wanted a government based on ______________________. This meant that they agreed to the laws that were passed, and that the government could only function, or was only legitimate, if the colonists agreed to and had a say in the rules.
consent of the governed
By 1786, why did many merchants want the Articles of Confederation to be replaced?
States were discouraging trade by taxing one another’s goods.
The Quartering Acts, passed in 1765, did what?
allowed British soldiers to live with the colonists in their homes.
The Roman Republic had which representative governing body?
The Senate
“I support ratification” was most likely said by a Federalist or Anti-Federalist?
Federalist
Montesquieu is most known for his ideas on?
separation of powers
Which founding document of the United States was significantly influenced by John Locke's ideas?
Declaration of Independence
This event demonstrated to the country that the Articles were too weak?
Shay's Rebellion
What did the Townshend Acts place taxes on?
paper, paint, glass, lead, and tea.
This is the concept that the government should have its power checked by a constitution or laws:
limited government
Use the quotes below:
Speaker 1: “We can’t ratify the Constitution. It has no bill of rights!”
Speaker 2: “I think the states should have more power.”
Speaker 3: “We just fought for liberty. Why submit to a new tyrant?”
Are the speakers Federalist or Anti-Federalist?
Anti-Federalists; a strong national government
What document was most influenced by John Locke’s ideas?
Declaration of Independence
Montesquieu's concept of checks and balances aimed to prevent
the concentration of power in a single entity
How was the complaint below addressed by the Constitutional Convention?
“We delegates from small states insist on a national legislature in which each state receives equal representation?”
The Convention created a bicameral legislature with one house (Senate) being equal and the other house (House of Representatives) based on population
Colonists boycotted British products after the Stamp Act. What Act did Parliament respond with?
the Declaratory Act
Did Judeo-Christian's oppose or support the idea of natural law
Support
The passage below about government is from Federalist No. 51
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. . . . the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
How are the author’s views from this passage applied in the U.S. Constitution?
The U.S. Constitution limits the power of the federal government.
Locke believed that government should be based on __________, the idea that laws should be based on human nature.
natural law
John Locke's ideas on government influenced the American colonists' belief in:
limited government & individual rights
What does the phrase "insure domestic tranquility" in the Preamble of the Constitution mean?
keep the homeland at peace
Use the quotation to answer the question.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
—excerpt from the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution
What does the phrase “to ourselves and our Posterity” suggest about the Founding Fathers’ goals?
They wanted to create a lasting government that future Americans would benefit from.
Christians and Jews believe everyone is created equal and has personal responsibility so everyone is required to follow the laws.
How did Americans reflect this in the U.S. Constitution?
Rule of Law in the Constitution
Written by Federalist James Madison in 1788...
“… the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places. ”
Which constitutional principle does Madison describe in the passage?
Checks and balances
Example a) The U.S. Supreme Court declares a law created by Congress unconstitutional.
Example b) Congress passes a new tax law and the Internal Revenue Service enforces it.
What constitutional principles are demonstrated in examples A and B?
Example A: checks and balances
Example B: separation of powers
The Mayflower Compact introduced the idea of _______________ to the colonies. This was the idea that people were able to create and rule their own government.
“We the People” in the Constitution refers to it.
self government
The Preamble of the Constitution lists six goals, what are they?
1. to form a more perfect union
2. establish justice
3. ensure domestic tranquility
4. provide for the common defense
5. promote the general welfare
6. and secure the blessings of liberty
The Battles of ________ and _________ in Massachusetts began the start of the Revolutionary War after the British attempted to seize arms of the Colonists arsenal
Lexington
Concord