Chapter 2: Americans Declare Their Independence

Magna Carta

A document signed by King John of England that limited the king’s power and protected certain rights.

Right to justice

The right to have crimes punished and disagreements settled fairly.

Right to a fair trial

The right to have a fair hearing based on evidence and the law.

Due process of law

The government must follow fair legal procedures before taking away someone's life, freedom, or property.

Limitation of government power

The government has limits on what it can do.

Limited monarchy

A system of government in which the king or queen's power is limited.

Mayflower Compact

An agreement signed by the Pilgrims in 1620 to create their own government and obey its laws.

Self-government

The idea that people govern themselves.

Consent of the governed

The approval of the people who are ruled by a government.

English Bill of Rights

A document from 1689 that protected people's rights and limited the power of the English ruler.

Individual rights/liberties

The rights and freedoms that people have.

Right to life, liberty, and property

The right to live, be free, and keep your belongings.

No taxation without representation

The government should not tax people unless they have representation in the lawmaking process.

Right to a speedy and fair jury trial

The right to have a fair trial without unnecessary delays, decided by a jury.

No excessive punishments

Punishments should not be unfairly harsh.

British policies/colonial policies

Actions and laws made by the British government that affected the American colonies.

Colonial concerns

Problems or issues that upset the colonists.

Causal relationship

A connection in which one event causes another event to happen.

Taxation

The act of collecting money from people to pay for government expenses.

Stamp Act

A British law that required colonists to pay a tax on documents such as newspapers, licenses, and court papers.