Influences
John Locke's three natural rights
Life, liberty, and property
This event left Britain with debt, leading to colonial taxation
French and Indian War
"We the people" are its first three words
The Constitution
The Articles were America's first ______.
constitution
This compromise addressed how many representatives Southern states would have
Three-fifths Compromise
The 1215 document introducing the concept of limited government
Magna Carta
the law applies equally to everyone,nobody is above the law
rule of law
"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."
Declaration of Independence
This event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles
Shay's Rebellion
The process by which a president is chosen
Electoral college
The U.S. Bill of Rights is an example of this British concept of government
Limited Government
“Everything that is right or natural pleads for separation. The blood of the slain,
the weeping voice of nature cries, ’TIS TIME TO PART....”. This document rallied the colonists to support the fight for independence.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
The Declaration of Independence was inspired by this person's ideas
John Locke
The reason for creating a weak central government under the AOC
British tyranny
This compromise created the bicameral structure of Congress, with one chamber based on representation and the other having equal representation.
Connecticut Compromise
One of two documents that expanded upon the ideas of the Magna Carta
Petition of Right or English Bill of Rights
“No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any way, ... except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.” Per this Magna Carta excerpt, every accused person has the right to this
due process
Meaning the people are independent, "We the People" represents this government concept
Popular sovereignty
One weakness of the Articles
Inability to tax, no judicial branch, no executive branch, 9/13 to pass laws, unanimous to amend the Constitution, etc
Argued for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights
Antifederalists
"The only way whereby anyone divests himself of his natural liberty, and puts on the bonds of civil society, is by agreeing with other men to join and unite into a community..." is an example of this theory of government
social contract theory
This plan, favored by large states, advocated for a legislature based on population
Virginia Plan
"...Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic", this was the first attempt at self-governemnt in America.
Mayflower Compact
Because there was no way to enforce laws or manage government, the Constitution did this
create an executive branch
Federalist or Anti-Federalist: “We have no reason to eliminate our state governments or think they are incapable of acting wisely. Our state governments should be the guardians of our rights and interests.”
Antifederalist