U.S Gov Unit 2 Quiz

Great Britain’s Debt After the French and Indian War

Great Britain was left with a large amount of debt after the French and Indian War, leading Parliament to seek ways to raise revenue from the colonies.

Proclamation Line of 1763

A British law that prohibited American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Sugar Act of 1764

A law that placed taxes on sugar, molasses and other imports and was intended to raise revenue from the colonies.

Stamp Act of 1765

A law requiring colonists to purchase special stamps for printed materials such as newspapers, legal documents and playing cards.

Townshend Acts of 1767

A series of laws that placed taxes on imported goods such as glass, paint, paper and tea.

Boston Massacre

A March 5, 1770 confrontation in Boston in which British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists, killing five people.

Tea Act of 1773

A law that allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the American colonies at a lower price while keeping a tax on the tea.

Boston Tea Party

A December 1773 protest in which colonists boarded ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor to protest British taxation.

Intolerable Acts

A series of laws passed by Parliament in 1774 to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.

Boston Port Act

One of the Intolerable Acts that closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for.

Massachusetts Government Act

One of the Intolerable Acts that limited town meetings and increased British control over Massachusetts’s government.

Administration of Justice Act

One of the Intolerable Acts that allowed certain British officials accused of crimes to be tried outside the colonies, including in Britain.

Quartering Act of 1774

One of the Intolerable Acts that required colonists to provide housing and supplies for British troops.

American Revolution

The conflict between Great Britain and the American colonies that lasted from 1775 to 1781 and resulted in American independence.

Battle of Lexington and Concord

The first major military conflict of the American Revolution, fought in Massachusetts in April 1775.

Battle of Yorktown

A 1781 battle in Virginia where American and French forces defeated British forces under General Cornwallis, effectively ending major fighting in the American Revolution.

Economic Independence

One lasting impact of the American Revolution was that the United States gained the ability to develop its own economy and trade policies rather than being controlled by Britain.

Model for Future Independence Movements

The American Revolution became an example for later independence movements around the world.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution and explain how the proposed government would work.

Publius

The shared pen name used by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay when writing the Federalist Papers.

Federalists

People who supported ratification of the proposed U.S. Constitution and favored a stronger national government.

Anti-Federalists

People who opposed or criticized the proposed Constitution because they feared the national government would become too powerful and wanted stronger protections for individual liberties.

Anti-Federalist Papers

Essays and writings that criticized the proposed Constitution and argued against or raised concerns about ratification.

Brutus

The pseudonym used by an Anti-Federalist writer, generally believed to have been New York politician Robert Yates.

Federal Farmer

The pseudonym used by an Anti-Federalist writer who argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government.

Centinel

The pseudonym used by Anti-Federalist writer Samuel Bryan, who criticized the proposed Constitution and supported greater protections for states and individual liberty.

Why did some Anti-Federalists hide their identities?

Some Anti-Federalists used pseudonyms to protect themselves from political backlash, criticism or damage to their reputations.

Purpose of the Federalist Papers

To persuade Americans to ratify the Constitution and explain why the proposed system of government would protect liberty and create an effective national government.

Anti-Federalist Influence on the Bill of Rights

Anti-Federalist concerns about individual liberties and government power contributed to the demand for a Bill of Rights.

Brutus No. 1

An Anti-Federalist essay published on October 18, 1787 that argued against ratification of the Constitution.

Brutus No. 1 — Main Argument

The proposed Constitution could create a federal government that would become too powerful and threaten the liberty of the states and the people.

Brutus No. 1 — Necessary and Proper Clause

Brutus argued that the Necessary and Proper Clause could allow Congress to expand its powers beyond those specifically listed in the Constitution.

Brutus No. 1 — Supremacy Clause

Brutus feared the Supremacy Clause would make federal law more powerful than state law and contribute to an overly powerful national government.

Brutus No. 1 — Large Republic

Brutus argued that a large republic would make it difficult for representatives to understand and properly represent the interests of the people.

Brutus No. 1 — Quote

“In a government, where the powers are so extensive, and where they are so little checked…”

Federalist No. 10

An essay by James Madison published on November 22, 1787 that explains how a large republic can control the dangers created by factions.

Federalist No. 10 — Factions

Groups of people who share a particular interest or opinion that may conflict with the rights or interests of others.

Federalist No. 10 — Causes of Factions

Madison argued that the causes of factions cannot be removed without destroying liberty because people naturally have different opinions, interests and property.

Federalist No. 10 — Controlling Factions

A large republic can reduce the harmful effects of factions by making it more difficult for one faction to gain complete control.

Federalist No. 10 — Representatives

Representatives can filter and refine the views of the public before turning them into government policy.

Federalist No. 10 — Quote

“Liberty is to faction what air is to fire.”

Federalist No. 51

An essay by James Madison published on February 6, 1788 that explains why separation of powers and checks and balances are necessary.

Federalist No. 51 — Separation of Powers

Government power is divided among different branches so that no single branch controls the entire government.

Federalist No. 51 — Checks and Balances

Each branch of government has powers that can limit the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

Federalist No. 51 — Human Nature

Madison argued that because people are not naturally perfect, government is necessary, but government officials must also be restrained from abusing their power.

Federalist No. 51 — Quote

“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.”

Federalist No. 51 — Quote

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

Federalist No. 70

An essay by Alexander Hamilton published on March 15, 1788 that argues for a strong and energetic executive branch.

Federalist No. 70 — Single Executive

Hamilton argued that executive power should be placed in one person rather than divided among multiple people.

Federalist No. 70 — Energetic Executive

A strong executive allows the government to act quickly and effectively, especially in matters of security and administration.

Federalist No. 70 — Accountability

A single executive makes it easier for the public to identify who is responsible for government actions.

Federalist No. 70 — Quote

“Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.”

Federalist No. 78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton published on May 28, 1788 that explains the importance of an independent federal judiciary.

Federalist No. 78 — Judicial Independence

Federal judges should be independent from political pressure so they can fairly interpret the Constitution and laws.

Federalist No. 78 — Life Tenure

Federal judges serve during “good Behavior,” which generally means they can remain in office for life unless they resign, die or are removed through impeachment and conviction.

Federalist No. 78 — Least Dangerous Branch

Hamilton described the judiciary as the least dangerous branch because it controls neither the military nor the treasury.

Federalist No. 78 — Judicial Power

Hamilton argued that the judiciary has “neither FORCE nor WILL, but only judgment,” meaning courts decide cases but do not control the military or directly control government spending.

Federalist No. 78 — Quote

“It may truly be said to have neither FORCE nor WILL, but only judgment.”

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, which created a weak national government and gave most power to the states.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The national government could not effectively tax, regulate interstate commerce or enforce its laws, and there was no separate executive branch or national court system.

Constitution

The supreme law of the United States that established the federal government and its system of separation of powers and checks and balances.

Ratification

The formal approval of the Constitution by the states.

Separation of Powers

The division of federal government power among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances

A system in which each branch of government has powers that limit the other branches.

Necessary and Proper Clause

The constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional provision establishing that the Constitution, federal laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land when they conflict with state law.