FCLE 2026

13 original colonies

New Hampshire, Mass, Rhode Island, Connecticut, NY, NJ, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, NC, SC, Georgia

Reasons colonists came to America

Religious freedom, escape persecution, political freedom, economic opportunity

Mayflower Compact

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.

Great Compromise

states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Monroe Doctrine

Declared that Europe should not interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere and that any attempt at interference by a European power would be seen as a threat to the U.S.

Revolutionary War

Started in 1775, fought against Britain

Causes of the Revolutionary War

High taxes (taxation without representation), quartered British army, desire for self-government

Common Sense

Pamphlet by Thomas Paine to convince people to support independence

Magna Carter

English document which limited the power of a king

Declaration of Independence

Written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, signed by 55 people

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

the 3 Unalienable Rights that were listed in the Declaration of Independence.

Articles of Confederation

first original plan for government, Gave all power to the states, lacked a strong national government

US Constitution

Adopted in 1787, replaced Articles of Confederation, established the Supreme Law of the Land

What type of government is the Constitution

Representative Democracy

Federalist Papers

83 essays written to support the US Constitution by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay

Explained why the states should ratify the constitution

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution due to fear of a strong government

Federalism

Balance of power between states and federal government

Who is the father of the constitution

James Madison

Why was the Constitution written?

To improve on the Articles of Confederation because it had too many weaknesses. To give more power to the national (central, federal) government.

Amendments

Changes or additions to the Constitution, require 2/3 vote in Senate and House of Representatives, then ratified by 3/4 of the states

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments to the Constitution

How many amendments are there?

27

1st Amendment

Freedom of expression (speech, religion, assembly, press, petition the government)

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

Restrictions on quartering soldiers

4th Amendment

Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, requires search warrants

5th Amendment

"Miranda Rights"

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process.

6th Amendment

Right to a fair trial and attorney

7th Amendment

Right to a trial by jury

8th Amendment

No cruel and unusual punishment, no excessive bail

9th Amendment

"Unenumerated Rights"

Protects rights not in the Constitution

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government go to people and States

Reinforces Federalism

11th Amendment

sovereign immunity

One State cannot be sued by another state

12th Amendment

Election of President and Vice President

13th Amendment

abolished slavery

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

"Due Process Clause"

15th Amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color

16th Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment

Prohibition of alcohol

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

20th Amendment

Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th

"Lame-duck" Amendment

21st Amendment

Repeal Prohibition of alcohol

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)

24th Amendment

No poll tax

25th Amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job.(2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve

26th amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

27th Amendment

Limits the power of Congress to increase its own salaries

US Citizen Rights and Responsibilities

Only US citizens can VOTE, serve on a JURY, run for federal office

What are the 2 main political parties?

Democratic and Republican

US economic system

Capitalist/Market economy

- Most businesses are privately owned

- Competition and profit motivate businesses

- Consumers and businesses interact in the marketplace where prices can be negotiated

- Businesses decide what to produce, how much to produce, and what to charge. Supply and demand influences decisions of businesses and consumers.

Louisiana Purchase 1803

15 million dollar purchase of the Louisiana territory from France by Jefferson

doubled the size of the US.

5 US territories

American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands

George Washington

1st President

Father of our country

commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence

3rd president

Abraham Lincoln

16th President during cical war

Emancipation Proclamation: led to freeing the slaves

Woodrow Wilson

28th president during World War I

Created Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Clayton Antitrust Act

won Nobel Peace Prize

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

32nd President during Great Depression and World War II

Only President to serve more than 2 terms.

Benjamin Franklin

US diplomat, oldest member of Constitutional Convention, wrote "Poor Richard's Almanac", started first 3 libraries

Susan B Anthony

fought for woman's rights and against slavery

Martin Luther King Jr.

Leader of the civil rights movement

Executive Branch

Enforces laws

(president, VP, and the cabinet)

Legislative Branch

Makes laws

(Congress= HOR and Senate)

Judicial Branch

Interprets the laws

(supreme court and other federal courts)

Who is the Commander in chief?

president

Presidential Powers include:

- sign treaties, set national policy, select ambassadors

- Proposes laws to Congress

- Names top leaders

- Signs bills to become laws

-vetos the bills

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress (legislative branch)

The president cabinet does what?

advises the president

(14 positions)

How many senators are there and how long are their terms?

100 senators (2 per state), 6yr terms

Who are the Florida senators?

Ashley Moody, Rick Scott

How many House of Representatives are there and how long are their terms?

435 members, 2 year terms

U.S. Representative for Fort Myers

Byron Donalds

Vice president

JD Vance

Speaker of the house

Mike Johnson (R)

How many Supreme Court Justices are there? How long are their terms?

9 justices, life term

Who is the Chief Justice

John G. Roberts Jr.

FEDERAL powers include:

print money, declare war, create army, make treaties

STATE powers include:

provide schooling, provide protection, provide safety, licensure requirements

Shared powers include:

right to tax, borrow money, establish courts

Who is the Florida governor

Ron DeSantis (R)

Dred Scott v Sandford - 1834

Supreme Court ruled Scott was not a citizen and was not a free man. Also declared Missouri Compromise unconstitutional

Plessy v. Ferguson, "Separate but equal"

Plessy tried riding on an all white car even though he was 1/8th black.

Established 'separate but equal' doctrine

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy v Ferguson, declared segregation in schools unconstitutional

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

(14th amendment Equal protection clause)

Bakke (white male) applied and rejected to University of California, so he sued.

Reverse discrimination

Bush v. Gore (2000)

Decided that different standards of counting votes violated the Equal Protection Clause

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

court found a law restricting film airing before elections conflicted with the 1st amendment (freedom of speech)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Supreme Court ruled that public schools cannot require prayer. (1st amendment - freedom of religion)

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943)

court found it unconstitutional to force students to salute the flag (1st amendment - freedom of speech)

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

1989 case where the Supreme Court determined that flag burning is protected symbolic speech. (1st amendment)

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Case where the Supreme Court ruled students have the right to wear armbands in protest. (1st amendment - freedom of symbolic speech)

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

court decided a principal has the right to edit school newspaper content to reflect school values (1st amendment - freedom of speech/press)

DC v. Heller (2008)

Supreme Court case affirming the 2nd amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Case ruling that evidence obtained from an illegal search (no search warrant) cannot be used in court.

New Jersey v. TLO (1985)

Supreme Court case establishing lenient standards for reasonableness in school searches.

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

court ruled that police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning. (miranda rights - 5th and 6th amendment)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Supreme Court case mandating state courts provide attorneys for defendants who cannot afford one.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

A case ruling that states cannot prohibit first trimester abortions.

Korematsu v. United States (1944)

A case where the court prioritized national security over individual rights of Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Case establishing the principle of judicial review and the Constitution as the supreme law.