AP Gov - Chapter 1: American Government & Politics

Who were the early inhabitants of America?

The indigenous people.

How many indigenous people were there and how long had they been living in America?

at least 100 mil. inhabitants & over 30,000 yrs

What happened to the indigenous people?

They died from european diseases and warfare.

Where was the first permanent settlement for the first colonists and when?

Jamestown, Virginia in 1607

When did the first enslaved people come to America?

1619

What was the number one reason for coming to America? **

Commerce

What were the puritans?

A group of English Protestants who had sought to "purify" the Church of England and return to simpler ways of worshipping.

Where did the puritans settle?

Plymouth Massachusetts

What were the puritan's city called? (is this right)

"city on a hill"

What was the Mayflower Compact?

document signed by men on the Mayflower, they agreed to work together and make decisions together, led to self-government in the colonies

What type of authority did the puritans have?

A strict code of authority

Who were the challengers to Puritanism?

Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, Thomas Hooker, William Penn

When were the enlightenment principles?

Late 17th and 18th centuries

What did the enlightenment principles shape?

American revolutionary ideals -- emphasizes tolerance and individual differences

What are natural rights?

They are rights that you have at birth, they are the right to life, liberty, and property, and gov. can't take them away

What did John Locke create?

The social contract theory

What is mercantilism? **

a philosophy that increases wealth by exporting more than they are importing. it has strict import/export controls.

Was mercantilism followed? Why or why not? **

no, it was widely ignored, mostly because the distance between America and Europe was so vast.

When was the french and indian war?

1754-1763. it was very costly

What were there new taxes on?

sugar and paper items

What were two acts passed after the french and indian war?

The sugar act and the stamp act

What did Samuel Adams create?

the Committee of Correspondence. It united colonists.

What is now named after Samual Adams?

a beer

When was the stamp act passed?

1765 - congress formed to address grievances

When was the boston massacre?

March 5th, 1770

What did the committees of correspondence do?

built public opinion against Britain

When was the boston tea party?

Dec. 1773

What was the boston tea party and what were the consequences?

The Americans threw a bunch of tea in the harbor because of the tea act. The harbor was closed until they could pay the expenses of the tea.

What act was passed in 1774 and what did it do?

The Coercive Acts of 1774 (intolerable Acts) and it allowed the quartering of soldiers.

What was considered the first fake news and who made it?

Propaganda about the Boston Massacre and Paul Revere

What actually happened with the Boston Massacre?

Americans were harassing the British troops and throwing ice chunks at them, so in self defense, they fired into the crowd and killed 5 people.

Who was the first person that was killed in the Boston Massacre? **

Crispus Attucs, he was a black man

When was the first continental congress?

September 1774

How many delegates were at the first continental congress?

56 delegates

What did they create at the first continental congress?

The declaration of rights and resolves

When was the Second Continental Congress?

May 1775

What petition was created because of the second continental congress and when?

Olive Branch Petition (july 5, 1775)

What happened in response to the Olive Branch Petition?

20,000 troops were sent to America

What did Thomas Paine create? **

Common Sense - a pamphlet

How many copies of Thomas Paine's common sense were printed? **

120,000 copies in the first 3 months

Who adopted the declaration of independence and when?

the Second continental congress in 1776

Who was the principal author of the declaration of independence? **

Thomas Jefferson

What did Thomas Jefferson draw on for the declaration of independence?

works from the enlightenment period

What was John Locke's belief of social contract theory?

The idea that gov.'s are created w/ the consent of citizens. gov's based on consent of people. if the people aren't happy, they can and should rebel. justification for the american revolution.

What rights were denied to citizens?

inalienable

What should have been evident under the law of nature?

"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"

What is popular sovereignty?

the idea is that the gov.'s rights to rule came from the people

What is a constitutional republic?

A democratic system w/ elected representatives in which the constitution is supreme law.

What is republicanism?

the belief that the authority of the gov. comes from the people (representative gov., Americans use free, fair, and frequent elections to hold officers accountable, opposes and direct democracy)

What are the three competing theories of democracy? **

1. political participation

2. competing groups

3. elites

What is a participatory government?

a theory that widespread political participation is essential for a democratic gov.

How does a participatory government work?

citizens can join different groups outside of government control. it demonstrates a strong civil society, joining voluntary associations prepares citizens for democratic process, and they work for the common good.

What is the pluralist theory?

the idea that people will congregate w/ like-minded people, these groups will compete.

What is America considered under the pluralist theory?

"A Nation of Joiners"

What are the groups called from the pluralist theory?

interest groups

What does the pluarlist theory result in?

bargaining and compromising

What is the elitest theory?

a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policy making process. a small minority dominates politics by influencing elected official. represented by wealthy interest groups and donors.