Unit 1 Test

Thomas Paine

an English born political-philosopher who wrote Common Sense during the American Revolution

Samuel Adams

he was a politician during the American Revolution who was a leader of the Massachusets Radicals and played a part in the Boston Tea Party

John Locke

an Enlightenment thinker who believed in life, liberty, and property which played a role in the Declaration of Independence

Thomas Hobbes

an Enlightenment thinker who believed that all humans were naturally bad

Thomas Jefferson

the third president of the United States who wrote a majority of the Declaration of Independence

Alexander Hamilton

the first secretary of the treasury and he helped draft the United States Constitution

George Washington

the first United States president

John Adams

second president of the United States who was also the first vice president

Common Sense

written by Thomas Paine and it advocated for United States independence from British

American Revolution

A war for independence fought by the American colonies seeking to break free from British rule. The war began in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and ended in 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Why was the American Revolution caused?

The colonists sought to assert their rights and liberties, protest British taxation policies, and establish self-governance, leading to a desire for independence from British rule.

United States Constitution

this document outlines the framework of the federal government, including the three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It guarantees certain rights and freedoms to the American people, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms. It also serves as the foundation of the American legal system and is considered one of the most important documents in American history.

Ratification

formal approval of a document including treaties and laws

Checks and Balances

the system of a government where each branch has the ability to limit the powers of the other branches

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States and most power was given to individual states, but it failed since it was unable to enforce laws

Bill of Rights

1. First Amendment: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
2. Second Amendment: Right to bear arms.
3. Third Amendment: Protection against quartering of troops.
4. Fourth Amendment: Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
5. Fifth Amendment: Protection of rights to life, liberty, and property.
6. Sixth Amendment: Right to a fair trial.
7. Seventh Amendment: Right to a trial by jury.
8. Eighth Amendment: Protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
9. Ninth Amendment: Protection of rights not specifically listed in the Constitution.
   10. Tenth Amendment: Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states or the people.

What are the three branches of government?

executive, legislative, and judicial

Executive Branch

consists of the president of the United States and they enforce laws

Legislative Branch

consists of House of Representatives and the Senate (known as Congress) and they create all laws

Judicial Branch

consists of the Supreme Court and they basically decide if laws and actions of president are unconstitutional or constitutional

Federalist

they believed in weaker state governments, a centralized government, indirect election of government officials, and democracy a lead figure was Alexander Hamilton

Anti-Federalists

they believe in a weak central government and they preferred small localized governments and a leading figure was Thomas Jefferson

Virginia Plan

a plan for a new form of government that highlighted the three branches of government and wanted representation to be based on a state’s population

New Jersey Plan

a proposal of a new government that advocated for equal representation for each state so that small states would have equal participation in government

Great Compromise

occurred as an effect of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan where the House of Representatives has representation based on population (Virginia Plan) and equal representation in the Senate (New Jersey Plan)

XYZ Affair

three French agents demanded bribes to negotiate a treaty and started a Quasi-War

Jay’s Treaty

diplomatic agreement signed between U.S. and Britian

Louisiana Purchase

the U.S. was able to buy the Louisiana territory from France and it caused chaos about whether it would be slave or non-slave states

Marbury vs. Madison

someone did not give documents to let appointed judges start their jobs so one of the judges sued the original guy