Mayflower Compact
| Define: Separatist agreed to a representative government
Significance: first written framework of self-government (US) |
Magna Carta
| Define: King John, in 1215, gave freemen rights and due process (justice)
Significance: it later led to the creation of a parliament to make laws |
English Bill of Rights
| Define: limited the king’s power (trial by jury, tax powers given to parliament, etc.)
Significance: It led to the US Bill of Rights |
House of Burgesses
| Define: colonial Virginia’s democratic legislature (self government)
Significance: only white, male landowners could vote though |
Albany Plan of Union
| Define: A plan to unite the 13 colonies into a confederation to raise taxes & an army
Significance: the plan was abandoned |
Act of Religious Toleration
| Define: A law in Maryland that ended discrimination between Catholics & Protestants
Significance: toleration did not include non-Christians (e.g. Jews) |
Zenger Trial
| Define: A trial over whether newspapers could print damaging stories against the gov’t
Significance: Zenger was found not guilty (the principle of free press) |
Great Awakening
| Define: a religious revival where ministers toured the country giving emotional sermons
Significance: it led society to questions authority & think for themselves |
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Declaration of Independence
| Define: a list of grievances against King George III & a justification for independence
Significance: enlightenment ideals of equality, liberty, rights, opportunity & democracy |
Stamp Act
| Define: a tax imposed on the colonists to help Britain pay off the French Indian War
Significance: it was never put into effect, but it led to calls for “no taxation without representation” |
Committee of Correspondence
| Define: letters sent throughout the colonies to spread anti-British sentiment
Significance: it helped unite the 13 colonies |
Boston Tea Party
| Define: a group of protesters destroyed British tea in reaction to the Tea Act
Significance: it led to the Intolerable Acts |
Intolerable Acts
| Define: a group of laws to punish Boston and put them under direct British control for destroying their tea
Significance: they led to violence and anti-British sentiment |
Common Sense
| Define: a pamphlet by Thomas Paine attacking the then beloved King George III
Significance: it persuaded the commoners to question Britain and move towards revolution |
Battle of Saratoga
| Define: An American victory against the British in NY
Significance: the victory convinced the French & Spanish to help us with troops & supplies |
Battle of Yorktown
| Define: American & French troops forced Cornwallis to surrender in Virginia
Significance: it was the last battle of the revolution |
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Articles of Confederation
| Define: America’s first constitution
Significance: it was considered too weak (couldn’t tax, no judiciary or army, etc.) |
Constitutional Convention
Define: it was created because of the problems under the Articles (poor economy, Shays Rebellion, etc.)
Significance: created a constitution with a stronger central gov’t |
Northwest Ordinance
| Define: a law that governed and divided up the western lands (WI, MI, IL, IN & OH)
Significance: the new states would be equal to the originals & couldn’t have slavery |
US Constitution
| Define: our plan of government
Significance: it added separation of powers & checks & balances to prevent tyranny |
Great Compromise
| Define:Equal Representation in the Senate, but it is based on population in the House
Significance: it was needed to get more to accept the constitution |
Electoral College
| Define: A system, where each state is given a number of votes for the presidential elections
Significance: the loser of the popular vote can win the election (e.g. Bush in 2000) |
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Preamble
| Define: The opening paragraph of the Constitution
Significance: it describes the purposes of the government |
Congress
| Define: the legislative branch (Senate & House)
Significance: writes laws, declares war, proposes amendments & checks the other 2 branches |
Elastic Clause
| Define: part of constitution that gives Congress powers to do what is “necessary & proper”
Significance: increases power of Congress |
Chief Executive
| Define: the president carries out Congress’ laws
Significance: the president also checks other branches (signs or vetoes laws & appoints judges) |
Federal Judiciary
| Define: it is made up of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals & District Courts
Significance: it interprets the Constitution |
Judicial Review
| Define: The power of the federal judiciary to throw out laws and executive actions (checks & balances)
Significance: it was first used in Marbury v. Madison |
Federalism
| Define: the division of power between the federal and state governments
Significance: it creates a balance b/t the British system & the Articles |
Supremacy Clause
| Define: part of the constitution that says that the laws of the US make up the “supreme Law of the Land”
Significance: federal law should be followed if it conflicts a with state |
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