STAAR test study guide 8th grade

1787

Constitutional Convention/Constitution is written

1803

Louisiana Purchase

1620

Pilgrims settle in Plymouth - they write the Mayflower Compact

1861-1865

Civil War

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

established judicial review; Supreme Court decides if a law is constitutional or unconstitutional; this law created a lasting balance among the three branches of government

McCulloch v. Maryland(1819)

Court ruling upheld federal power. Established that states can not tax the federal government and that the National Bank was constitutional.

Gibbons v Ogden (1824)

gave the federal government the power over states in regulating interstate commerce (trade) thus giving more power to the federal government as a whole.

Worcester v. Georgia (1832)

Supreme Court ruled that only the federal government, not the states, could make laws governing the Cherokees. Though the Cherokees won the case Jackson refused to honor the ruling saying "John Marshall has made hisdecision...Now let him enforce it."

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Supreme Court decision which stated slaves were property

Reasons for Exploration?

1. Curiosity

2. Wealth

3. Fame

4. National Pride

5. Religion

6. Foreign Goods

7. Faster, cheaper trade routes

Which states were the New England Colonies?

New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island

What are the economic, political, and religious reasons for the New England Colonies?

Economic - fishing, relied on trade rather than farming because cool temperatures,

short farming season

Political - Mayflower Compact (1620) - established representative government and

majority rule; 1620 Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts on the Mayflower,

self-governing

Religious - Pilgrims wanted to separate from Church of England - Puritans wanted

to purify Church of England

Which states were the Middle Colonies?

New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey

What are the economic, political, and social/religious reasons for the the Middle Colonies?

Economic - trade, some grain farming (bread basket)

Political - Dutch, English, German

Social/Religious - religious freedom, Quakers were against war

Which states were the Southern Colonies?

Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland

What are the economic, political, and social reasons for the Southern Colonies?

Economic - plantation system, growth of slave trade, spread of slavery, profit on

tobacco

Political - Virginia House of Burgesses (1619) - first form of representative government in America

Social - primary goal was to make money

In the South...warm climate + cash crops + plantations + the need for cheap labor \=slavery

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

first example of a written constitution in the American colonies. Set up a representative democracy in colony of Connecticut.

1st time that non-church members could vote!

Jamestown, VA (1607)

swampy location, many colonists died because of disease, 1st permanent English settlement in America

First Great Awakening

religious movement that swept through the colonies in early 1700s that emphasized inner religious emotion, increased church attendance, and inspired colonists to help others

Where does the Atlantic and Appalachian Mountains border?

Atlantic Ocean borders east side of colonies while the Appalachian Mountains border west side of the Colonies

Thomas Hooker

founded Connecticut, helped write the Fund. Orders of CT, strong supporter of democracy and voting rights

Charles de Montesquieu

believed in separation of powers and having three branches of government; he inspired J. Madison

John Locke

believed in protection of individual rights (natural rights) including life, liberty, and property; inspired Jefferson

William Penn

founded Pennsylvania for religious freedom (Quakers); gave PA a constitution with limited government power

Mercantilism

economic policy, (more money coming in than going out) colonies provide Great Britain with raw materials (cotton, wool, etc.) and Great Britain would manufacture the products (make clothes) and ship product back to the colonists for sale; Colonists could only trade w/ British not with French, Spanish, Dutch

French and Indian War (1763)

British and the colonists versus French and Indians. British won the war - gained control of trade in the English colonies & portions of Canada

Economic Policies following French and Indian War

the war cost the British a lot of money and its government went into debt so they began to tax the colonies

Who should pay for the French and Indian War?

British government decided it should be the colonists in America through TAXES!!

"NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!"

This is what colonists are angry about. Colonists had nobody to represent them in British Parliament to vote on the taxes

Proclamation of 1763

colonists could not move west of the Appalachian Mountains

Sugar Act

tax on sugar and molasses (1764)

Stamp Act

taxes on stamps which had to be posted on all types of documents (1765)

Boston Massacre

five colonists shot to death after protesting and heckling British soldiers (Crispus Attucks) (1770)

Boston Tea Party

Sons of Liberty dumped tea from British ships into harbor - example of civil disobedience (1773)

Intolerable Acts

a series of laws enacted by Parliament to punish colonists for Boston Tea Party (1774)

Samuel Adams

founder of Sons of Liberty, organized Boston Tea Party

Benjamin Franklin

helped write Constitution and Dec. of Ind.; negotiated with France to become our ally during American Revolution; was an important figure during Enlightenment

Albany Plan

"Join or Die"

King George III

King of England before, during and after Am. Rev., refused representation of colonies in Great Britain

Thomas Jefferson

wrote Declaration of Independence in 1776

Declaration of Independence

colonists identified numerous grievances; all men have unalienable rights...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...these are rights which cannot be taken away

Patrick Henry

"Give me Liberty or Give me Death" influential speech to rally American colonists to the cause of independence from British - he believed freedom was worth dying for

Lexington and Concord

first battles of the American Revolution, "shot heard round the world" (Paul Revere) spread the message that "The British are coming!" (1775)

Thomas Paine

wrote pamphlet Common Sense, ordinary people understood this writing, promoted independence movement from Great Britain, attacked King George III, freedom of press united the colonists

Valley Forge

where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777-1778 and suffered through the winter with few supplies (NOT A BATTLE)

George Washington

Commander of Continental Army during Am. Rev.; President of Constitutional Convention; civic virtue, showed leadership by being willing to listen to the opinions of others

Loyalists

supported the British during the war;

Patriots

supported independence from Britain

Saratoga

colonists won battle, French convinced to enter the American Revolution on the side of the colonists, French provided army/navy, Benjamin Franklin in France during Am. Rev. & helped to convince French to become our ally (turning point of the war)

Yorktown

last major battle w/ British in Am. Rev., colonists won w/ aid of French army/navy, British surrender (1781)

Treaty of Paris

end of Am. Rev., British signed peace treaty with America (1783). British must recognize American independence

John Paul Jones

first American naval commander; won the most famous sea battle during the war, "I have not yet begun to fight."

Abigail Adams

wife of President John Adams; wrote letters to her husband during the war; wanted equal rights for women, "Remember the Ladies"

John Adams

defended British soldiers from Boston Massacre; MA delegate to Continental Congress; patriot leader

Wentworth Cheswell

African American; soldier in Continental Army; helped warn New England that British were coming

Mercy Otis Warren

female American patriot; wrote plays, poems and essays supporting independence

James Armistead

African American slave who became an American spy and helped defeat the British

Crispus Attacks

African American former slave; shot and killed by British soldiers at the Boston Massacre

Marquis de Lafayette

a French officer who came to America to help fight against the British; convinced France to help

Articles of Confederation

system of government after the Am. Rev.; created strong STATE governments and a weak FEDERAL government

Strengths of the Articles

Land Ordinance of 1785 - land split up into townships, section 16 set aside for public education

Northwest Ordinance 1787 - established principles and procedures for orderly expansion of the U.S.; townships...territory...creation of new states (needed 60,000 people)

Weaknesses of the Articles

Legislative Branch - CONGRESS had...

- NO power to TAX or levy TAXES

- NO regulation of trade

- NO power to raise an ARMY (had to gain permission from states to send troops)

- Required all 13 states to approve changes to the Articles

Executive Branch - NONE

- NO President - did not want another King George III

Judicial Branch - NONE

- NO Supreme Court

- States could not settle disputes between each other

Why did we need the Constitution?

Articles of Confederation were weak + Shay's Rebellion + desire for strong national government

Magna Carta

guaranteed basic rights such as trial by jury and protection of property (1215). First time limited the power of king.

English Bill of Rights

individuals have rights protected by the government; was the model for the U.S. Bill of Rights

Philadelphia Convention of 1787 (Constitutional Convention)

delegates met together to rewrite the Articles of Confederation but instead wrote the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation (too many weaknesses)

Virginia Plan

(big states) proposed a government with three branches and a two house legislature; and that large states would receive more representatives than small states - based on population

New Jersey Plan

(small states) proposed a one-house legislature and that small states would receive the same number of representatives as large states

Great Compromise

two-house legislature (House and Senate); combined VA and NJ Plan; Senate based on 2 representatives per state; House of Representatives based on a state's population

Three-Fifths Compromise

the agreement to count three-fifths of a state's slaves as population for purposes of representation and taxation

Federalists

supported ratification of U.S. Constitution, emphasized federal power rather than state power but said both would be equal (shared)