Founding Documents & Constitutional Principles - Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, and ideas from the lecture notes on the Magna Carta through the amendment process.

Magna Carta

marked the beginning of limited government, gave nobles rights like a fair trial, and influenced due process & rule of law

Petition of Right

A 1628 English document that limited the monarchy's power and reinforced that no one is above the law.

English Bill of Rights

A 1689 English document limiting the monarchy and protecting rights such as free elections, freedom of parliamentary speech, no cruel or unusual punishment, and bearing arms for Protestants.

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher who argued that people are naturally selfish and need a strong sovereign to maintain order.

Montesquieu

Philosopher who argued that government power should be divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches with checks and balances.

Mayflower Compact

An early colonial agreement among Pilgrims to form a government and abide by its laws.

Rousseau

Philosopher who believed that humans are naturally good but corrupted by society.

Great Awakening

Religious revival in the 1730s–40s that emphasized personal faith and evangelical revivalism.

Intolerable Acts

British punitive laws after the Boston Tea Party, including closing Boston Harbor and restricting self-government.

First Continental Congress

Meeting to address grievances, unite the colonies, petition the king, and organize boycotts.

Second Continental Congress

Managed the Revolutionary War, named Washington commander, and adopted the Declaration of Independence; acted as de facto national government.

Declaration of Independence (author)

Thomas Jefferson.

Main ideas of the Declaration of Independence

Natural rights, government by consent, and justification for revolution against tyranny.

John Locke

Philosopher known as the father of liberalism; argued governments exist to protect natural rights.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Document asserting natural rights, government by consent, and separation of powers.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. government framework; weak central authority; states held most power; no power to tax or regulate trade.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation; delegates instead created a new Constitution.

Shays’ Rebellion

Armed uprising in Massachusetts by farmers facing economic hardship, highlighting the need for a stronger national government.

Ratification debate (federalists vs. antifederalists)

Federalists supported the Constitution; Anti-Federalists demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties.

Federalist Papers authors

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote as Publius to defend the Constitution.

Purposes of the U.S. Constitution

Create a stronger national government with three branches, ensure fairness and order, protect against external threats, and establish the governmental framework.

Preamble

Introduction to the Constitution outlining its purposes and goals.

Articles in the Constitution

There are seven articles.

Rule of Law

Principle that everyone, including the government, is subject to the law.

Popular Sovereignty

Power derived from the people.

Separation of Powers

Division of government powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

Each branch can limit the powers of the others to prevent tyranny.

Federalism

Division of power between the national government and the states.

Judicial Review

Power of the courts to interpret laws and determine their constitutionality.

Limited Government

Government powers are limited to those granted by the Constitution.

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws and resolves disputes; part of government comprising the court system.

Executive Branch

Enforces laws; headed by the President and includes federal agencies.

Legislative Branch

Makes laws; Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Amendment Process

Amendments are proposed by 2/3 of Congress (or a constitutional convention) and ratified by 3/4 of the states.