The American Revolution and Criminal Justice

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to key terms, influential figures, and concepts discussed in the context of the American Revolution and the development of criminal justice.

Jury Act of South Carolina

The 1731 law established procedures for the selection of jurors to ensure fairness.

Aaron Burr

Former Vice President charged with treason after a duel with Alexander Hamilton.

Auburn system

A prison management system that emphasizes inmate labor during the day and enforced silence.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution protecting individual liberties.

Blackbeard

Notorious pirate known for his fearsome image and activities along the Carolina coast.

Boston Massacre

A deadly confrontation between British soldiers and American colonists on March 5, 1770.

Captain Thomas Preston

Leader of British troops involved in the Boston Massacre.

Constructive treason

A legal concept where individuals are deemed guilty of treason by mere association.

Dueling

A formal fight between two persons, often resolved to settle disputes of honor.

Executive clemency

The power of a president or governor to forgive or lessen the punishment for a crime.

Sequestration

The act of seizing someone's property, often as a penalty for treason.

Smuggling

The illegal movement of goods to avoid tariffs or restrictions.

Stamp Act

A 1765 British law imposing a tax on newspapers and legal documents in the colonies.

Treason

The crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign.

William Gilmore Simms

A prominent Southern writer known for his novels about the American Revolution.

Jury nullification

Occurs when a jury disregards the law and acquits a defendant based on their own belief of justice.

Independent judiciary

A system of courts that is not influenced by governmental or political pressures.

John Adams

One of the Founding Fathers and the second President of the United States, known for his legal career.

John Howard

An English prison reformer known for advocating for humane treatment of inmates.

John Peter Zenger

A printer whose trial for libel established the principle that truth is a defense against libel.

Josiah Quincy

An American lawyer who defended Captain Preston in the Boston Massacre trials.

King George III

The British monarch during the American Revolution, whose rule faced increasing opposition.

Manumission

The act of a slave owner freeing their slaves.

North African piracy

Piracy that occurred off the coast of North Africa, affecting American and European shipping.

Pardon

The action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offense.

Piracy

Robbery at sea, often involving the hijacking of ships.

Thomas Jefferson

The principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.

Thomas Eddy

An early American penal reformer who advocated for humane treatment of prisoners.

Jury nullification

A jury’s power to refuse to enforce a law they believe is unjust.

Fair trial

A trial that follows the due process principles of fairness and impartiality.

Acquittal

A legal verdict of not guilty.

Vigilantism

The act of taking law enforcement into one's own hands.

Lex talionis

The law of retaliation, often summarized as 'an eye for an eye'.

Dissatisfaction with British law

The feeling that British legal punishments were excessively harsh.

Penology

The study of punishment, including its practices and effects.

Revolutionary War

The conflict between the American colonies and Great Britain from 1775 to 1783.

Constitutionalism

The practice of establishing governmental authority based on a written constitution.

Freedoms

Rights guaranteed to citizens of a country, such as freedom of speech, press, and assembly.

Grand jury

A group of citizens convened to consider evidence and determine whether charges should be brought.

Petty jury

A jury that hears evidence in a trial and delivers a verdict.

Due process of law

Legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person.

Mercantilism

An economic policy dominant in the 16th to 18th centuries promoting government regulation of the economy.

Navigational laws

Britain's legislative measures aimed at regulating colonial trade.

Tea Act

The 1773 act granting the British East India Company the right to sell tea in the colonies without colonial taxes.

Revolutionary rhetoric

Language used to express the principles and goals of the American Revolution.

Militia

A military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense or security.

Dominium status

A level of self-governance granted to certain territories within the British Empire.

Proportionality

A principle of justice that ensures penalties for crimes are proportionate to the severity of the offense.

Seditious libel

The crime of criticizing the government or its officials, punishable under English common law.

Common law

Law developed through court decisions and judicial rulings, rather than through statutes.

Civil government

A government established by the people for the purpose of managing public affairs.

Fugitive slave law

Regulations that required the return of runaway slaves to their owners.