founding fathers test

declaration of independence purpose

-declared the 13 colonies free and independent from Great Britain

declaration of independence historical context

-adopted by Continental Congress (John Hancock, President) during the Revolutionary War.

declaration of independence primary author

-Thomas Jefferson

declaration of independence key quotes

-We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

-That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.”

declaration of Independence date of adoption

july 4, 1776

articles of confederation overview

-First governing document of the U.S., created a loose confederation of sovereign states.

articles of confederation context

-Approved in 1777 but not in effect until 1781; Continental Congress was the de facto government during most of the Revolution.

articles of confederation weaknesses

-: No power to raise taxes, no executive branch, no judicial branch,

unicameral legislative branch.

article of confederation key event

-Shays’ Rebellion (1786–1787) exposed weaknesses of Articles of Confederation, showed the need for stronger national government; led to Constitutional Convention

articles of confederation date of approval, ratification, and replacement

-approved 1777

-ratified 1781

-replaced 1788

U.S. Constitution overview

-Replaced the Articles of Confederation, creating a stronger federal government with powers balanced between national and state governments.

U.S. Constitution key features

-federalism

-separation of powers

-checks and balances

U.S. Constitution major compromises

-great compromise

-3/5 compromise

U.S. Constitution ratification

-States debated whether to ratify (formally approve) the Constitution; once 9 of 13 states did so, it became the law of the land

-approval necessary for federal and anti-federalists made possible through compromises

federalism

-Division of power between state and national governments

separation of power

-Three co-equal branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial)

Checks and Balances

-A system allowing each branch to limit powers of other branches, preventing any one branch from dominating government.

great compromise

-Combined the Virginia and New Jersey plans to create a bicameral legislature, with equal representation for states in the Senate and representation by population in the House of Representatives.

-Three-Fifths Compromise

-Counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress and taxation of states.

Federalists

-Supported a stronger national government; argued it was needed for order and stability

Anti-Federalists

-Worried the Constitution gave too much power to the national government; demanded protection of individual rights

ratify

-formally approve

Bill of Rights overview

-The first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting individual freedoms and limiting federal power

Bill of Rights context

-During ratification debates, Anti-Federalists argued the Constitution needed protections for individual and states’ rights; Federalists promised a Bill of Rights if states agreed to ratify.

Bill of Rights Key amendments

-1st

-2nd

-10th

1st amendment 

-Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

road to revolution sequencing

the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, the Intolerable Acts, the Boston Tea Party, and the French and Indian War.

• 1754–1763: French & Indian War

• 1765: Stamp Act 

• 1770: Boston Massacre

• 1773: Boston Tea Party

• 1774: Intolerable Acts

2nd Admentment

-Right to keep and bear arms

10th Amendment 

-Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states, or to the people

Revolutionary War sequencing

Place these events in order: Treaty of Paris, ratification of the Articles of Confederation, adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Lexington and Concord, approval of the Articles of Confederation, Continental Congress meets, and George Washington is appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.

• April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord start Revolutionary War.

• 1775: Continental Congress convenes; acts as de facto national government.

• 1775: George Washington appointed Commander-in-Chief of Continental Army.

• July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence adopted.

• 1777: Articles of Confederation approved by Continental Congress. 

• 1781: Articles of Confederation ratified.

• 1783: Treaty of Paris signed; Revolutionary War ends.

Road to Constitution sequencing

Place these events in order: Constitution ratified, Constitutional Convention, Bill of Rights ratified, Shays' Rebellion, George Washington inaugurated as 1st President

• 1786–1787: Shays’ Rebellion.

• 1787: Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia.

• 1788: Constitution ratified.

• 1789: George Washington inaugurated as first president.

• 1791: Bill of Rights ratified.

U.S. Constitution ratify and drafted dates

-drafted 1787

-ratified 1788

Bill of Rights proposed and ratify dates

-proposed 1789

-ratified 1791