Introduction to U.S. Government and Foundations Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms, definitions, and key political figures discussed in the lecture transcript regarding American history, governmental structures, and political philosophy.

French and Indian War

A conflict fought between 1754 and 1763 in which France lost Canada to Britain, prompting the British to impose taxes on the American colonies to help cover the costs of defense.

Sugar Act

A law passed in 1764 shortly after the French and Indian War that imposed a tax on many colonists, leading to colonial resistance and eventual repeal.

Stamp Act

A 1765 tax on colonial items including newspapers and tea that required a stamp, triggering the colonial protest phrase 'taxation without representation'.

Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)

Acts passed in 1774 that closed Boston Harbor and placed the government of Massachusetts under direct British rule.

First Continental Congress

A gathering of colonial delegates that met in 1774 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia without accomplishing concrete actions.

Declaration of Independence

A foundational document signed on July 4, 1776, authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson with contributions from Ben Franklin, establishing the ideal goals and standards for U.S. governance based on natural rights.

Articles of Confederation

The original governance structure of the United States that granted substantial power to the individual states while leaving the federal government almost powerless.

Social Contract

The concept that political authority rests on a moral set of rules grounded in an agreement—actual, hypothetical, or implicit—among the individuals living under that authority.

Thomas Hobbes

An English thinker (1588–1679) who argued that life in a state of nature is 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short,' justifying absolute political authority to guarantee peace and security.

John Locke

A philosopher who proposed that individuals have inherent rights to life, liberty, and property given by nature or God, and that governments exist by the consent of the governed strictly to protect those rights.

Popular Sovereignty

The doctrine asserting that ultimate authority resides in the people rather than in a monarch or sovereign.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

A philosopher involved with ideas behind the French Revolution who claimed social development corrupted humanity and advocated for a republic guided by the general will of the people.

Natural Rights

Inherent rights bestowed by nature or God—specifically life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—that cannot be granted or revoked by government authority.

Confederation

A political system in which regional governments or states retain ultimate authority while central governmental authority remains minimal.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislative body that consists of a single legislative chamber, such as the state legislature of Nebraska.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative branch composed of two distinct chambers or houses, such as the U.S. Congress.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal presented by Randolph calling for a bicameral legislature, a national executive elected by that legislature, and a national judiciary chosen by the legislature.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal maintaining a single vote per state, giving Congress power over trade and taxes, and establishing an executive office elected by Congress to appoint the Supreme Court.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)

An agreement creating a bicameral legislature with a lower house apportioned by population and an upper house (Senate) granting equal representation of two members per state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise during the Constitutional Convention counting three-fifths of the enslaved population for state representation in the House of Representatives.

James Madison

A Virginian delegate known as the father of the Constitution who devised the system of checks and balances to prevent governmental tyranny.

Checks and Balances

A system that assigns specific overlapping powers to separate branches of government so each branch can counter and limit the authority of the others.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to evaluate and declare whether laws or actions of the executive and legislative branches are constitutional.

Federalist System

A form of government in which constitutional power is shared between a national government and state or regional governments.

Enumerated Powers

Specific responsibilities explicitly listed for the federal government in Article 1 of the Constitution, including defense, immigration, customs, and interstate commerce.

Unitary System

A form of government, such as England's, where top authority resides in a single central government (like parliament) and flows downward to regional divisions.

Federalists

Proponents of ratifying the U.S. Constitution who authored essays explaining concepts like the electoral college, checks and balances, and the structure of power.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution that outline protected individual freedoms and place restrictions on government action.

Fourth Amendment

An amendment protecting individuals against unreasonable search and seizure by requiring probable cause for government intrusions.