Founding, U.S. Constitution, and Introduction to American Politics

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical events, philosophical foundations, constitutional structures, and political ideologies from Chapters 1 and 2.

Social Contract

An informal agreement between citizens and their government on how citizens are to be governed, where people give up some freedom in exchange for basic government protections.

Rule of Law

The idea that no one is above the law, including the government and its leaders.

Natural Law

Rights that people are understood to have by virtue of living, including life, liberty, and property.

Mayflower Compact

A 1620 document created by Puritans that established just and equal laws for the general good of the colony, serving as the first known instance of a social contract in the Americas.

Great Squeeze

The period immediately following the end of the French and Indian War when Britain imposed taxes on the colonists without their consent to recoup war losses.

Sugar Act

A 1764 act requiring colonists to export certain items only to Britain.

Stamp Act

A 1765 act that imposed taxes on almost all paper products, prompting boycotts and riots.

Townshend Act

A 1766 act that imposed new taxes on imports and led to the rallying cry 'no taxation without representation'.

Boston Massacre

A 1770 event in which five colonists were killed by British soldiers, leading Parliament to repeal all Townshend Act taxes except for the tea tax.

Coercive Act

A 1774 act that restricted political freedoms in Massachusetts.

Quartering Act

A 1774 act requiring colonists to house British soldiers in their homes.

1st Continental Congress

A 1774 meeting of colonial delegates that rejected reconciliation with Britain and sent a list of grievances to King George III.

2nd Continental Congress

A body that acted as the national government of states from 1775 to 1781, approved the Declaration of Independence, and appointed George Washington as commander of the army.

Classical Liberalism

A political philosophy focused on minimizing government to protect personal liberty, distinct from modern liberalism and conservatism.

Articles of Confederation

The original governing document of the U.S. that created a weak national government without an executive branch, national court system, common currency, or direct taxing authority.

Virginia Plan

A Constitutional Convention proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, operating directly on the people.

New Jersey Plan

A Constitutional Convention proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state, operating through state governments.

Connecticut Compromise

The agreement creating a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and population-proportional representation in the House of Representatives.

Three-fifths compromise

A Constitutional Convention compromise concerning slavery that addressed representation and tax calculations.

Federalist 10

An essay addressing the issue of the tyranny of the majority versus representative democracy.

Federalist 51

An essay focused on the separation of powers within government.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court ruling based on Article 3 of the Constitution that established judicial review.

Political Party

A grouping of people who wish to win control of office and often assume an ideology.

Ideology

A set of political views that shapes a person's worldview.

Left (Liberal)

An ideological position characterized by greater faith in a large and active government to promote equality.

Right (Conservative)

An ideological position characterized by a greater preference for a small and limited government to encourage economic growth.

Libertarian

An ideological position favoring low government intervention in both the economy and individual lifestyles.

Populist

An ideological position favoring high government intervention in both the economy and individual lifestyles.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government tasked with making laws.

Executive Branch

The branch of government tasked with executing or enacting laws.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government tasked with interpreting laws.