Lesson A - British Policies
This act allowed British soldiers to live in the homes of American colonists
Quartering Act
What are the “unalienable rights” listed in the Declaration of Independence?
➡️ Answer: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
List at least one weakness of the Articles of Confederation
•No Chief Executive
•No National Court System
•Only 1 branch of government (legislative)
•No Taxation Power
•Supermajority vote
•No National Military
•Unanimous Amendments
•State Disputes Unsolved
make sure our country is peaceful
a. establish justice
b. ensure domestic tranquility
c. provide for the common defense
d. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
b. ensure domestic tranquility
Who wanted a strong central government — Federalists or Anti-Federalists?
➡️ Answer: Federalists.
A government where a king or queen rules is a __________.
➡️ Answer: Monarchy
What is a system of government?
➡️ Answer: The way power is shared and organized between national and local levels of government.
From Lesson A Notes
Find the vocab word
a formal complaint or expression of dissatisfaction, often about a perceived injustice or violation of rights
Grievance
In this event American colonists dumped tea into the Boston Harbor
Boston Tea Party
Which Enlightenment thinker inspired the Declaration’s ideas about natural rights and the social contract?
➡️ Answer: John Locke
Under the Articles, who had the most power — the states or the national government?
➡️ Answer: The states.
What is the purpose of the Preamble?
➡️ Answer: To introduce the Constitution and state its goals.
What did Anti-Federalists demand be added before they agreed to ratify the Constitution?
➡️ Answer: A Bill of Rights.
Scenario: The country’s laws are based on religious texts, and leaders are chosen by religious councils.
What form of government is this?
➡️ Answer: Theocracy
In a unitary system, who holds most of the power?
➡️ Answer: The central/national government holds most of the power.
From Lesson C Notes
Find the vocab word
To officially approve (pass) or agree to something, usually by voting.
Ratify
This man was chosen to lead the American forces against the British
George Washington
According to the Declaration, what is the main purpose of government?
➡️ Answer: To protect people’s natural rights
Which major weakness made it difficult for Congress to raise money?
➡️ Answer: Congress could not tax.
What does “We the People” mean?
➡️ Answer: The power of government comes from the people (popular sovereignty).
Why did the Federalists support the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
A. They believed it created a strong national government that could effectively manage the country's economic and military affairs
B. They feared the Constitution would limit the power of the federal government, allowing states too much authority
C. They believed the Constitution gave too much power to individual states, which would hinder national unity
D. They supported the Constitution because it included a Bill of Rights that clearly outlined individual freedoms
A. They believed it created a strong national government that could effectively manage the country's economic and military affairs
Scenario: Citizens elect representatives who make decisions and pass laws for them.
➡️ Answer: Representative democracy (republic)
Scenario: The central government allows local governments to make their own decisions but can take power back at any time.
What system of government is this?
➡️ Answer: Unitary system
From Lesson G Notes
Find the Vocab word
The main or most important level of government that has authority over smaller parts, like states or regions.
Central
This document was written in response to British policies
Declaration of Independence
Which colonial grievance mentioned in the Declaration of Independence is directly related to the violation of JUDICIAL powers?
A. The imposition of taxes without consent
B. Suspending trial by jury
C. Restricting the movement of goods and persons
D. Forcing citizens to house soldiers
b. Suspending trial by jury
How did the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation lead to the writing of the U.S. Constitution?
➡️ Answer: The government’s inability to solve national problems convinced leaders to create a stronger federal government.
Scenario: Congress funds the military to defend against foreign threats. Which goal of the Preamble does this represent?
➡️ Answer: Provide for the common defense.
Scenario: A politician argues that the states should have more control than the federal government. Whose viewpoint is this?
➡️ Answer: An Anti-Federalist viewpoint.
Scenario: A small council of wealthy business leaders makes all government decisions. What type of government is this?
➡️ Answer: Oligarchy
Scenario: States form a loose alliance, and the national government has very limited power.
Which system is this?
Bonus points: Why did the U.S. move away from it?
➡️ Answer: Confederal system
Bonus answer: it made the national government too weak under the Articles of Confederation.
From Lesson D Notes
Find the vocab word
Future generations — the people who come after us, like our children and grandchildren.
posterity
These meetings were held to talk about how to petition the British government
1st and 2nd Continental Congresses
Scenario: The colonists sent petitions to the King asking for fair treatment, but he ignored them and used force instead.
What did this lead the colonists to decide?
➡️ Answer: That they had the right to change or abolish the government and declare independence.
Scenario: Farmers in Massachusetts rebelled over unfair taxes, but the national government couldn’t stop them because it had no army.
What event was this?
Bonus points: what did it show?
➡️ Answer: Shays’ Rebellion
Bonus Points answer: it showed the Articles of Confederation were too weak to maintain order.
cooperation between the states and a better government than the one under the Articles of Confederation
a. secure the blessings for ourselves and our posterity
b. domestic tranquility
c. establish justice
d. in order to form a more perfect union
d. in order to form a more perfect union
Which document did the Federalist Papers support, and why were they written?
➡️ Answer: Supported the U.S. Constitution; written to persuade states to ratify it.
Scenario: The leader seized power during a military coup and controls the government through fear and violence.
➡️ Answer: Autocracy / Dictatorship
Why does a federal system help protect against authoritarianism?
➡️ Answer: It divides power so no single leader or level of government can become too powerful.
From Lesson E Notes:
Find the vocab word
The power or authority to rule and make decisions for yourself.
Sovereignty