History State Test Review

Declaration of Independence

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state.

Enlightenmnet

a movement that emphasized science and reason as guides to help see the world more clearly.

John Locke

philosopher who argued that people have natural rights

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd president

Natural Rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

Social Contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifying their consent to be governed

Self-Evident Truth

clearly true without needing to be proven

Unalienable Rights

rights that cannot be taken away

Pursuit of Happiness

Trying to find joy and contentment

Second Continental Congress

13 representatives from each colony helped fund the war for independence against Great Britain.

Articles of Confederation

Created a new, weak national government. Had to rely on states for support. 

Confederation Congress

The national legislative body was unable to raise an army or collect taxes

Northwest Ordinance

The KEY achievement of the Confederation Congress. A series of stages on how a territory becomes a state. 3 stages total. How Ohio became a state.

Democratic Ideals in Northwest Ordinance

1. States were equal

2. No Slavery

3. Voting rights to men who owned 50 acres

4. Free Public Schools

5. Individual rights

6. Don’t take land from Indians

Shay’s Rebellion

A uprising of farmers broke out in Massachusetts. Low market prices, caused many farmers to go into debt.  If they could not pay their debts they were thrown in prison.

Popular Sovereignty

Will of the People

Preamble

The beginning of the Constitution that has the Enlightenment/ social contract philosophy

Separation of Powers or Checks and Balances

To ensure no one branch of Government becomes too powerful.

The Greater Good

Any acts passed should provide happiness to most people.

Freedom of Religion

You can choose your religion

Separation of Church and State

No national religion

Rights of the Accused

Innocent until proven guilty

Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Enlightenment thinkers, the power lies with the people.

Baron De Montesquieu

Enlightenment thinker, wanted checks and balances and separation of power.

Voltaire

Enlightenment thinker, wanted freedom of religion/Separation of Church and State

Cesare Beccaria

Enlightenment thinker, if you choose to live in the society, you give up some freedoms for protection under the law. 

Federalists

Wanted the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Did not want the Constitution. Wrote Anti-Federalist Papers

Magna Carta 1215

It was the first document to state that the King was not above the law. It also included rules for how justice would be dealt out across England, fishing rights, church rights, and rules against false imprisonment.

Magna Carta

Influenced Dec. of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

English Bill of Rights 1689

Kings could not raise taxes without getting the permission of Parliament. Guaranteed jury trial, right to petition, freedom of speech, and safety from cruel and unusual punishment. Influenced Bill of Rights

Virginia House of Burgess 1619

Established by the Virginia colony, making it the first legislative assembly in American Colonies.

Mayflower Compact 1620

The Pilgrims agreed to self-government. The first handwritten framework of government was established in what became the United States

First Amendment

Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition

Second Amendment

Guns

Third Amendment

No housing or quartering soldiers

Fourth Amendment

No search without a warrant

Fifth Amendment

No self-incrimination, double jeopardy

Sixth Amendment

Speedy Trial

Seventh Amendment

Trial by peers/jury

Eighth Amendment

No hate- no unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

You have other rights not named in the Constitution

Tenth Amendment

Powers not given to the Federal Gov’t are left for the states.