Review of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes.

Declaration of Independence

Adopted on July 4, 1776, asserts rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, justifying the colonies' break from Britain.

Tyrant

What colonists called King George III due to violating colonists' rights and unjust laws.

Taxation Without Representation

One of the three biggest grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.

Imposition of Unjust Laws

One of the three biggest grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.

Dissolution of Colonial Legislatures

One of the three biggest grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.

American Revolution

Began before the Declaration of Independence, starting with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775.

Thomas Jefferson

Main author of the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams

Advocate for independence.

Benjamin Franklin

Influential statesman and diplomat.

Oppressive government

Unjustly restricts rights and freedoms through harsh control and suppression.

Right to alter or abolish

If a government becomes oppressive, the people have the right to alter or abolish the government.

John Hancock

The first to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Natural rights

Inherent rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Role of Government

Responsible for protecting natural rights.

Slavery in the Declaration

The initial draft condemned the slave trade, but it was removed to gain support from Southern colonies.

Boston Tea Party

A 1773 protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor against taxation without representation.

Intolerable Acts

The King enacted them as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.

Proclamation of 1763

Prohibited colonial expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains to prevent conflicts with Native Americans.

Sons of Liberty

A secret organization that resisted British taxation and policies in the colonies.

Boston Massacre

A confrontation on March 5, 1770, where British soldiers killed five colonists, escalating anti-British sentiment.

French Revolution

the amrican revolution inspired it

Articles of Confederation

people were scared it would make a strong centual government

Articles of Confederation Purpose

Aimed to unite the states under a weak national government while preserving state sovereignty.

Power under the Articles of Confederation

Most of the power was held by the individual states.

Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation

Lack of central authority, inability to tax, no regulation of commerce, unanimous consent required for amendments, and weak national defense.

Alexander Hamilton

Expressed the need to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention

The meeting in Philadelphia where delegates met to try and revise the Articles.

Virginia Plan

Proposed a strong national government with a bicameral legislature based on state population, favoring larger states.

Hamilton Plan

Proposed a strong central government with a bicameral legislature, a life-elected executive, and a national judiciary.

Federalists

Supported the Constitution, advocating for a strong central government to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Antifederalists

Opposed the Constitution, fearing a strong central government would threaten individual liberties and state sovereignty, advocating for a Bill of Rights.

Minimum Age for House of Representatives

25 years old

Minimum Age for Senate

30 years old

Bicameral

Refers to a legislative body with two chambers or houses.

Great Compromise

Established a bicameral legislature with a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.

Roger Sherman

Proposed the Great Compromise.

Northwest Ordinance

Established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory and admitting new states, while promoting civil liberties and prohibiting slavery.

Northwest Territory

Area now divided into the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.

Thomas Jefferson

Drafted the Ordinance of 1784.

Statehood Requirements

Minimum population of 60,000 free inhabitants, establishment of a territorial government, drafting of a state constitution, and approval by Congress.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The most important ordinance, establishing governance for the Northwest Territory and state admission processes.

Slavery in the Northwest Territory

Forever outlawed by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Civil liberties

Guaranteed in the Northwest Territory by the Northwest Ordinance.

Indian Rights

Indians were promised that their lands would not be taken without consent and fair treatment.

Number of Amendments in the Bill of Rights

10

Bill of Rights

Limits the powers of the federal government, ensuring that it cannot infringe upon the rights and liberties of individuals.

James Madison

Introduced the Bill of Rights.

Date Bill of Rights Passed

December 15, 1791

Application of Bill of Rights

Applies to all individuals in the U.S.

First Amendment

Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

Second Amendment

Protects the right to bear arms.

Third Amendment

Prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes without consent.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Fifth Amendment

Guarantees rights in criminal cases, including due process and protection against self-incrimination.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees the right to a fair trial and legal counsel.

What is the 15th Amendment?

The 15th Amendment prohibits denying a citizen the right to vote based on their race or color.

What is the 13th Amendment?

The 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

What is the 19th Amendment?

The 19th Amendment grants American women the right to vote, prohibiting the denial of this right based on sex.

What is the 18th Amendment?

The 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919, established the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in the United States by declaring the production,

What

The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, effectively ending the prohibition of alcohol at the national level. It was ratified on December 5, 1933.

What does the 26th Amendment do?

The 26th Amendment to the United States Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 1