review outline

social studies

A document signed by King John II that limited the power of the monarch and established certain rights for the nobility, influencing later concepts of limited government and due process.

Magna Carta (1215)

King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, which significantly reduced the absolute power of the English crown.

king john

The legislative body of the British government, consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons; it gained increasing power over the monarchy through time.

Parliament (1265)

A non-violent overthrow of King James II that resulted in the installment of William and Mary, solidifying Parliament's power over the monarchy.

Glorious Revolution (1688)

A law passed by Parliament that declared the rights and liberties of the people, further limiting the monarch's power and influencing the U.S. Bill of Rights.

English Bill of Rights (1689)

Enlightenment philosopher who argued that all individuals have Natural Rights (life, liberty, and property) and that government legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.

John Locke

Irish statesman and philosopher, often considered the father of modern conservatism, who criticized the French Revolution but supported the American colonists' demands for representation in Parliament.

edmund burke

The brutal and often deadly voyage that forcibly brought millions of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

middle passage

A period of religious revival in the American colonies during the 1730s and 1740s, emphasizing personal piety and emotional religious experience, which helped create a shared colonial identity.

Great Awakening

An economic theory that a nation's wealth is measured by its supply of gold and silver, promoting the idea that colonies exist to benefit the mother country by providing raw materials and a market for finished goods.

mercantillism

A series of English laws beginning in 1651 that required all colonial trade to be carried on English ships, and certain goods could only be shipped to England, enforcing the policy of mercantilism.

navigation laws

The unofficial British policy of loosely enforcing trade laws and governing in the American colonies from the late 1600s to the mid-1700s, allowing the colonies a degree of self-rule.

salutary neglect

A conflict (1754–1763) between Great Britain and France, with both sides aided by Native American tribes; Britain won but incurred massive debt, leading to taxation of the colonies.

french and indian war

A young military officer in the French and Indian War; later the Commander of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States.

George Washington

A law issued by King George III that forbade colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains, intended to prevent conflict with Native American tribes.

Proclamation of 1763

A British law that required colonists to pay a tax on almost all printed materials, including legal documents, playing cards, and newspapers.

stamp act (1765)

The rallying cry of the colonists, asserting that Parliament had no right to tax them because they did not have elected representatives in the British legislative body.

No taxation without representation

A secret patriotic society, led by figures like Samuel Adams, that used protests, boycotts, and occasionally violence to oppose British policies like the Stamp Act.

sons of liberty

A law that required American colonists to provide housing, food, and supplies for British troops stationed in the colonies.

The Quartering Act (1765)

A series of laws passed in 1767 that taxed goods such as glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea imported into the colonies.

the townshend acts

A confrontation where British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists who were harassing them, killing five; it was heavily publicized by colonial leaders as an act of British tyranny.

The Boston Massacre (March, 1770)

A leading figure in the Sons of Liberty and one of the most vocal proponents of independence; a key organizer of the Boston Tea Party.

samual adams

A lawyer who defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre; later a delegate to the Continental Congress and the second U.S. President.

john adams

A 1773 law that granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party.

tea act

A protest by colonists, some disguised as Native Americans, who boarded British ships and dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act.

The Boston Tea Party (1773)

A series of punitive laws passed by Parliament in 1774 in response to the Boston Tea Party. They included: 1. Closing of Boston Port 2. Massachusetts Government Act (restricting colonial self-governance) 3. Administration of Justice Act (British officials tried in Britain) 4. A new Quartering Act (expanding requirements for housing troops).

The Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)

A meeting of delegates from twelve colonies (Georgia did not attend) in Philadelphia in 1774 to organize colonial resistance to the Intolerable Acts; they issued a declaration of rights.

First Continental Congress

A quote by Patrick Henry emphasizing a growing sense of unified colonial identity rather than loyalty to individual colonies.

"I am not a Virginian, but an American."

A famous political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin depicting a snake cut into segments, urging the colonies to unite against the French/British.

Join or Die!

The first military engagements of the Revolutionary War (April 1775), where the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired, signaling the start of armed conflict.

battle of lexington and concord

Concepts like natural rights, popular sovereignty, the right to revolution, and the equality of all men, heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke.

Major Themes (Declaration)

Following Lexington and Concord, colonial militias surrounded the city, leading to the Siege of Boston; the British were forced to evacuate the city after the Americans fortified Dorchester Heights.

What happened in Boston in the early stages of the War?

A three-part document: a preamble (stating principles like natural rights and the purpose of government), a list of grievances (The King's Crimes) against King George III, and the formal declaration of separation from Great Britain.

Content of the Declaration of Independence

A stirring speech delivered in 1775 to the Virginia Convention, urging them to prepare for war against Britain.

Patrick Henry’s “Give me Liberty or Give me Death”

A convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that met in 1775; it managed the colonial war effort, created the Continental Army, and eventually adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Second Continental Congress

An early, bloody battle in June 1775 outside Boston; the British won, but the colonial forces inflicted heavy casualties, boosting American confidence.

battle of bunker hill

The eleven-month period from April 1775 to March 1776 in which the Continental Army surrounded Boston and eventually forced the British to withdraw.

siege of boston

A final attempt by the Second Continental Congress in July 1775 to avoid a full-scale war by pledging loyalty to King George III and asking him to address their grievances; the King rejected it.

olive branch petition

A widely influential pamphlet published in January 1776 that forcefully argued for American independence from British rule in plain, accessible language.

Thomas Paine’s Common Sense

The British monarch who reigned during the American Revolution; he was the primary target of the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence.

King George III

Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (as stated in the Declaration).

Natural Rights

The list of 27 specific grievances, or accusations, in the Declaration of Independence detailing how King George III had violated the colonists' rights and established a tyranny.

The King’s Crimes

A major defeat for the Continental Army in August 1776, resulting in the British occupation of New York City.

Battle of Long Island (Sec. 7.4)

A crucial surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries by Washington's army on Christmas night 1776, providing a much-needed morale boost for the Americans.

Battle of Trenton (Sec. 7.5)

A victory for Washington's forces a week after Trenton (January 1777), further boosting morale and demonstrating the Continental Army's resilience.

Battle of Princeton

A decisive American victory in October 1777; it convinced France to openly ally with the United States and provide military and financial support.

Battle of Saratoga (Sec. 7.6)

The winter camp (1777-1778) where the Continental Army suffered greatly from cold, starvation, and disease, but Washington's leadership and training by Baron von Steuben kept the army intact.

Valley Forge, Pa.

The last major battle in the North (June 1778), which ended in a stalemate but proved the improved effectiveness of the Continental Army.

battle of monmouth

The final major battle of the war (October 1781), where a joint American and French force trapped the British army, forcing General Cornwallis to surrender.

Battle of Yorktown (Sec. 7.7)

The agreement that formally ended the Revolutionary War, confirming American independence and setting the boundaries of the new nation (extending west to the Mississippi River).

Treaty of Paris (1783)

A 1787 law for governing the western territories (north of the Ohio River) that established a process for creating new states and explicitly forbade slavery in those territories.

Northwest Ordinance

An armed uprising of farmers in Massachusetts (1786–1787) protesting debt and foreclosures; it highlighted the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger national government.

Shay’s Rebellion

Known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his detailed notes of the convention and for largely drafting the Virginia Plan and the Bill of Rights.

James Madison

Presided over the Constitutional Convention, lending the proceedings immense legitimacy and credibility.

George Washington (Role in CC)

The oldest delegate, he lent his wisdom and prestige to the convention, playing a key role in negotiating the Great Compromise.

Benjamin Franklin (Role in CC)

A rule adopted by the delegates at the Constitutional Convention to ensure honest debate and prevent public pressure by prohibiting them from sharing details of the discussions outside the hall.

Rule of Secrecy

The opening statement of the Constitution, which begins with "We the People..." and states the six goals and purposes of the new government (e.g., "to form a more perfect Union").

Preamble to the Constitution

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for a bicameral legislature with representation in both houses based on a state's population (favored by large states).

virginia plan

The proposal that called for a single-house legislature where every state had equal representation, regardless of population (favored by small states).

new jersey plan

The agreement that established a bicameral Congress: the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation for each state, two senators).

Great Compromise

Agreements necessary for Southern states to join the Union: 1. Three-Fifths Compromise (counting 3/5ths of the enslaved population for both representation and taxation) 2. Slave Trade Compromise (Congress could not outlaw the international slave trade for 20 years) 3. Fugitive Slave Clause (required the return of runaway slaves to their owners).

Constitutional Compromises on Slavery

The principle that the ultimate political authority resides in the people; the government gets its power from the consent of the governed.

Popular sovereignty

A legislative body that has two houses or chambers (e.g., the U.S. Congress has the House of Representatives and the Senate).

Bi-cameral

The national legislative branch, responsible for making laws, controlling the budget, and declaring war.

congress

A section of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8) that grants Congress the power to pass all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers, allowing government flexibility.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

The process by which the House of Representatives formally charges a federal official (like the President) with misconduct, which may lead to a trial in the Senate.

Impeachment

The power of the Supreme Court to determine whether a law or executive action is constitutional.

Judicial review

A system where each branch of government (legislative, executive, judicial) is given powers to limit or check the power of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.

checks and balances

Formal changes or additions to the U.S. Constitution; there are 27 in total.

amendments

The power of the President (Executive Branch) to reject a bill passed by Congress (Legislative Branch).

veto

A system of government in which power is divided between a national (federal) government and state governments.

federalism

The amendment that states any power not specifically given to the federal government, nor withheld from the states, is reserved to those respective states, or the people.

Reserved Powers Act (10th Amendment)

Trade, traffic, and transportation that crosses state boundaries; the Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate it.

Interstate Commerce

Federalists were supporters of the Constitution's ratification. The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to persuade New York to adopt the Constitution.

Federalists & Federalist Papers

The process of formally approving the Constitution, which required nine of the thirteen states to agree.

Ratification (of the Constitution)

The principle, based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, that the government cannot establish or endorse a national religion.

Separation of Church & State (1)

The freedom is not absolute; speech and press can be restricted if they involve: 1. Libel/Slander (false statements that harm reputation) or 2. Incitement to violence/clear and present danger (speech that directly causes a crime or panic).

Two Limits of Speech & Press (1)

The First Amendment rights that allow people to gather peacefully (assembly) and to ask the government to change policy or correct a grievance (petition).

Assembly & Petition (1)

The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government without a valid warrant.

Search & Seizure (4)

A reasonable basis to believe that a person or premise is linked to a crime; a necessary standard for a judge to issue a search Warrant.

Probable Cause (4)

A legal document, signed by a judge, authorizing law enforcement to conduct a search or make an arrest.

warrent(4)

Though not explicitly in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fourth Amendment and others to protect an individual's right to privacy from government intrusion.

Right to Privacy (4)

A group of citizens convened to determine whether there is enough evidence to indict (formally charge) a person with a serious crime; this process is required for a federal felony.

Grand Jury (5)

The Fifth Amendment protection that prevents a person from being tried twice for the same crime after a legitimate acquittal or conviction.

Double Jeopardy (5)

The Fifth Amendment right to remain silent ("plead the fifth"), meaning you cannot be forced to testify against yourself in a criminal case.

Self-Incrimination (5)

The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person; the government must follow fair procedures before depriving someone of life, liberty, or property.

Due Process (5)

The requirement that police must inform an arrested person of their right to remain silent and their right to an attorney before questioning them.

Miranda Warning (5)

The government's right to take private property for public use (Eminent Domain), but the Fifth Amendment requires the government to pay the owner a fair price (Just Compensation).

Just Compensation (Eminent Domain) (5)

The Sixth Amendment guarantees an accused person the right to a trial that is held promptly and is open to the public.

Speedy/Public Trial (6)

A jury that is unbiased and made up of people who have no prior knowledge or stake in the outcome of the case.

Impartial Jury (6)

The historical, and often required, standard in criminal trials where all jurors must agree on a verdict (guilty or not guilty).

Unanimous Jury Decision (6)

The highest legal standard of proof required to convict a defendant in a criminal case; the jury must be almost entirely certain of the defendant's guilt.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (6)

A court case involving a legal dispute between two or more parties (individuals, companies, or the government) over property or rights, not a criminal violation.

Civil Trial (7)

While criminal cases require unanimity, many civil trials only require a majority of the jury to agree on a verdict.

Simple Majority Jury Decision (7)

The legal standard of proof in a Civil Trial; the evidence presented must show that it is more likely than not (more than 50%) that the defendant is liable.

Preponderance of Evidence (7)

The Eighth Amendment forbids excessive fines and bail, as well as forms of punishment that are considered inhumane or out of proportion to the crime committed.

Cruel & Unusual Punishments (8)

An amount of money set by a judge that is unfairly high for a person to pay to be released from jail pending trial.

Excessive Bail (8)

The Ninth Amendment states that the rights specifically listed in the Constitution are not the only rights that the people have.

Enumeration of Rights (9)