U.S. History Foundational Documents

Enlightenment

An era that took place during the 18th Century that influenced a culture of questioning tradition & authority by logic and reason

Articles of Confederation

America’s first form of government after winning independence. The federal government was weak, while state governments were stronger in order to be opposite of the British government at the time. This WAS NOT a good form of government.

French & Indian War

Britain and France fighting over territory in NA. G.W. Ambushes them in West PA to spark the war. England wins, but at the cost of spending lots of money.

Declaration of Independence

Declares America’s freedom from Britain as of July 4th, 1776. Establishes the values that our country stands for today and states reasons of independence from Britain.

Glorious Revolution

A time where people were developing an idea of government that protects the rights of the people; constitutional monarchy & English B.O.R. came from this period.

Book of Principia

Isaac Newton’s book of scientific ideas, proving that celestial body movements could be predicted and the movements of the universe were predictable. Book influenced the Enlightenment period greatly.

English Bill of Rights

Stated British people’s rights and that the people were entitled to their rights (i.e. Habeas Corpus) unless having been punished in court

Parliament

Elected representatives of the people who controlled the government instead of the king/queen of Britain

John Locke

Pioneer and influencer of the Enlightenment period. Influenced the idea that the government’s job was to protect the rights of the people; Life, Liberty, and Property (I have the right to be a lawyer, etc.).

13 Colonies

The English settlements of North America that were the 13 original states. English governors kept things in check but settlers were generally free to do whatever. There were also large cultural differences between colonies.

Taxes

After the French & Indian War, the British government had spent too much money to beat out the French. Thus, the British began taxing the colonies for stuff like shipping, tea (NOT British tea), printing, etc.

1770 Boston Massacre

In the streets of Boston, angry protestors yelled at British soldiers and threw rocks and snowballs and other objects at them. After being provoked too much, people ended up being shot dead by the British, terrifying the protestors.

1773 Boston Tea Party

Staged by the Sons of Liberty, people dressed up as Native Americans and dumped crates of British tea being shipped to a Boston port out into the sea as a form of protest against British taxation against American colonialists.

1775 Battle of Lexington Green “The Shot Heard Round The World”

As British soldiers marched into the town of Lexington, Massachusetts, they encountered a group of American soldiers holding a line with guns, ready to fire. Nobody knows who shot first, but everyone knew that that shot was the beginning of a big change. Start of the Revolutionary War.

John Adams

Man who wanted independence for America, defended the British in court after the Boston Massacre

Sons of Liberty

Group formed by Sam Adams (cousin of John Adams) to fight British soldiers; staged the Boston Tea Party

American Revolution

The 13 Colonies began to unite to push Britain away for independence

Continental Congress

Group of colonial representatives that discussed whether or not to fight for independence, and their decision was made when the king refused American citizens the same rights of British citizens. Also met often on other occasions, such as creating the Constitution

Thomas Jefferson

Virginian representative, wrote the Declaration of Independence draft, and well known for being very intelligent. In the Declaration, he changed John Locke’s 3rd human right to “the pursuit of happiness” and took much of his influence while writing the Declaration

Shays’ Rebellion

When veterans weren’t being paid after their service in the Revolutionary War, they formed a group to rebel in Massachusetts; ultimately failed their mission

The Spirit of the Law

Written by Baron de Montesquieu, this book inspired America’s Constitution. This book contained the idea of splitting the government into 3 branches of power, preventing a tyrannical government from taking place.

Westward Expansion

This BEGAN when the original colonies wanted to expand westward for more opportunities. As a result, Native Americans were pushed out of their territories, and competition for land sparked between states.

The Northwest Ordinance

To prevent the states from competing for land, a law was made that allowed territories to become NEW states. In order to become a new state, however, a territory had to have a population of at least 60,000, religious freedom, mandated education, and NO SLAVERY.

Barón de Montesquieu

This Frenchman wrote the Spirit of the Law, a book that popularized the idea of a branched government in order to protect the people from a tyrannical government.

Legislative Branch

Government branch that MAKES laws. Formed of the House of Representatives and Senate. This branch of government has also the power to declare war.

Executive Branch

This branch belongs to the President. Enforces laws (can veto the Legislative Branch’s bills), ‘runs’ wars (commanded-in-chief).

Judicial Branch

This branch INTERPRETS laws, and the Supreme Court is part of this branch. The members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President and approved by Senate to become Supreme Court Justices. This branch can rule laws UNCONSTITUTIONAL and deny them.

Separation of Powers

This keeps power balanced so that no one branch has all of the power.

Checks & Balances

To keep each other from overstepping boundaries, the 3 branches of government do this to keep power in the government balanced.

Constitution

This document is the foundational law of the land, in which all other laws must follow the terms of this document. This document was written as a result of the Articles of Confederation being scrapped and acts as its replacement.