American Revolutionary War
1775-1783 The war in which Americancolonists fought for independence from Great Britain.
Declaration of Independence
Signed in July 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state.
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Drafting of the Constitution
(1787) Built on a series of compromises
Ratification of the Bill of Rights
1791. In order to secure ratification of the Constitution, Congress needed to agree on changes. First ten amendments of the constitution.
Jonathan Trumbull Sr.
1st state governor, separated colonies over the king
John Peter Muhlenberg
an American clergyman, Continental Army soldier during the American Revolutionary War, he served in the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate from Pennsylvania; (Founding father)
John Hancock
Patriot leader and president of the Second Continental Congress; first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.
John Witherspoon
American Revolutionary leader and educator (born in Scotland) who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and president of the college that became Princeton University (1723-1794)
Dr. Benjamin Rush
father of American medicine," signer of the Declaration of Independence
Charles Carroll
Signer of the Declaration of Independence who showed patriotism at the time of the Revolutionary War helping to pave the way for a greater acceptance of Catholics in the new nation. financed the revolution.
Limited Government
A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Republicanism
A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.
Unalienable Rights
rights that cannot be taken away
Seperation of Power
Dividing power between the different branches of government
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Popular Sovereignty
A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.
1st Amendment
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
No quartering of soldiers
4th Amendment
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
5th Amendment
The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process
6th Amendment
Right to a speedy trial
7th Amendment
Right to jury in civil trials.
8th Amendment
No cruel or unusual punishment
9th Amendment
Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution
10th Amendment
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
13th Amendment
Abolition of slavery
14th Amendment
Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws
15th Amendment
Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude