Civics Unit 4

Jamestown, Virginia

First settlement and colony established in America in 1606, initially searching for gold.

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Settlement founded in 1620 by Pilgrims seeking religious freedom, known for the Mayflower Compact.

Mayflower Compact

First agreement of self-government in America, created by the Pilgrims upon arriving at Plymouth.

Thirteen Colonies

The original 13 colonies established under British control in North America, with varied economies and cultures.

Triangle Trade

Economic system connecting the colonies, Africa, and England, leading to domestic slave trade.

Navigation Act

Regulated trade between England and the colonies as a result of the Triangle Trade.

Salutary Neglect

Policy allowing colonies to govern themselves, contributing to a sense of independence.

Sons of Liberty

Group that supported independence from Britain, notably during events like the Boston Massacre.

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine advocating for independence from Britain and popularizing the slogan 'no taxation without representation'.

Declaratory Act

British Parliament's assertion of control over the colonies, establishing their authority to tax.

Boston Tea Party

A protest by the Sons of Liberty against British taxation, seen as an act of defiance.

Coercive Acts

Laws passed by Britain in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party, seen by colonists as 'intolerable acts'.

Battle of Bunker Hill

First major battle of the American Revolution, demonstrating colonial resolve despite a tactical loss.

Second Continental Congress

Assembly of representatives from the colonies that debated independence and organized the colonial war effort.

Declaration of Independence

The document adopted in 1776 declaring the colonies' independence from Britain.

Federalism

System of government dividing powers between national and state levels, established by the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments added to the Constitution to protect citizens' rights and limit government power.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who favored strong state governments and feared centralized power.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to promote the ratification of the Constitution, authored by James Madison and John Jay.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention to count each slave as three-fifths of a person for taxation and representation.

Shay's Rebellion

A 1787 uprising demonstrating the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and highlighting the need for a stronger federal government.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 assembly of delegates that drafted the Constitution of the United States.