Hey, King!

Charter

a written grant of authority from the king

Parliament

the lawmaking body of British government

House of Burgesses

the first elected legislative assembly in the New World established in the Colony of Virginia in 1619, representative colony set up by England to make laws and levy taxes but England could veto its legislative acts.

Mayflower Compact

1620 - The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony.

Compact

an agreement, or contract, among a group of people

Thirteen Colonies

A group of British colonies on the east coast of North America founded in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Stamp Act

1765; law that taxed printed goods, including: playing cards, documents, newspapers, etc.

Declaratory Act

Act passed in 1766 after the repeal of the stamp act; stated that Parliament had authority over the the colonies and the right to tax and pass legislation "in all cases whatsoever."

Townshend Acts

A tax that the British Parliament passed in 1767 that was placed on leads, glass, paint and tea

Quartering Act

1765 - Required the colonials to provide food, lodging, and supplies for the British troops in the colonies.

Intolerable Acts

A series of laws set up by Parliament to punish Massachusetts for its protests against the British

Declaration of Independence

1776 statement, issued by the Second Continental Congress, explaining why the colonies wanted independence from Britain.

Unalienable Rights

basic rights of the people that may not be taken away

Pursuit of happiness

The inalienable right that allows people to gain their goals that will make them happy (as long as it doesn't infringe on someone's rights

Natural Rights

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

Consent of the governed

People are the source of any and all governmental power

Just powers

Powers that are fair

Self-evident

not needing to be demonstrated or explained; obvious.

Boycott

A group's refusal to have commercial dealings with some organization in protest against its policies