American Revolution
A violent protest in 1773 where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose British taxes and monopoly control.
What is the Boston Tea Party?
The year the Continental Congress approved the Declaration that announced the colonies' break from British rule.
What is 1776?
The writer mentioned earlier who drafted the Declaration and later became president.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
This branch makes laws.
What is the Legislative Branch?
Powers that include trade with states, issuing licenses, running local elections
What are state (reserved) powers?
A war (1754–1763) between Great Britain and France over land in North America that left Britain with huge debts and led to new taxes on the colonies.
What is the French and Indian War?
The group that debated and approved the Declaration before it was shared with the colonies and other nations.
What is the Continental Congress?
A secret group connected to several Founding Fathers that planned the Boston Tea Party and other protests against British policies.
Who are the Sons of Liberty?
This branch carries out or enforces the laws and is headed by the President.
What is the Executive Branch?
Which level of government prints money and makes rules about trade between countries?
What is the national (federal) government?
The slogan expressing colonists’ anger about being taxed by Britain when they had no elected representatives in Parliament.
What is "No taxation without representation"?
The writer who is often credited as the principal author of the Declaration and used ideas about rights and government to persuade colonists.
Who is Thomas Jefferson?
One Founding Father helped secure French support during the Revolution, which was crucial for victory. He was a diplomat and inventor.
Who is Benjamin Franklin?
This branch decides if laws are fair and interprets the laws.
What is the Judicial Branch?
Name a power both state and national governments share that helps provide public services.
What is collecting taxes? (Other acceptable: building and maintaining roads, enforcing laws)
A set of harsh laws passed by Britain in response to colonial protests; they closed Boston Harbor and limited Massachusetts' self-government, angering colonists across the colonies.
What are the Intolerable Acts?
The famous phrase about rights included in the Declaration that says people have basic rights that should not be taken away.
What is the idea that "all men are created equal" with unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
The leader chosen to command the Continental Army and later became the first President of the United States.
Who is George Washington?
The system where each branch can limit the powers of the others—like when the President vetoes a bill or the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional—is called this.
What is checks and balances?
A state wants to make a law that conflicts with a federal law about trade. Who can decide which law applies?
What is the federal courts, including the Supreme Court?
A British company’s special control over selling tea in the colonies helped cause a famous protest where colonists destroyed the tea. Name the company and the protest.
What is the English (British) East India Company and the Boston Tea Party?
The Declaration is organized into sections. Put these parts in the correct order as they appear in the document: A) List of grievances against the king, B) Statement announcing independence, C) Introduction stating why the document is written, D) Statement about natural rights and the role of government, E) Conclusion and signatures.
What is C → D → A → B → E?
Thomas Jefferson’s writing and ideas in the Declaration helped colonists feel more justified to revolt. Name one key idea from his writing that encouraged colonists to take action.
What is that governments must protect people’s rights, and if they do not, people can change or end that government?
Because the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan disagreed about representation, delegates reached an agreement that created two houses in Congress — one based on population and one with equal representation. What is the name of that agreement?
What is the Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)?
A disagreement between state and national government: who settles conflicts about which laws apply and ensures the Constitution is followed?
What is the national (federal) court system, especially the Supreme Court?