Legislative Branch
Branch that makes laws (Article I of Constitution)
Executive Branch
Branch that enforces laws (Article II of Constitution)
Judicial Branch
Branch that interprets laws (Article III of Constitution)
Federalism
Government power shared between levels (national, state, local)
Separation of Powers
Power split between branches (happens at each level)
Amendment
A change to the Constitution (There are 27 currently including Bill of Rights)
Enumerated Powers
Powers listed for the government to do
Reserved Powers
Powers set aside for other levels to do (the states)
Denied Powers
Powers government can't do
Implied Powers
Powers government do but aren't written anywhere
Elastic Clause
Allows Implied Powers - government does anything that is "Necessary and Proper" (a clause is a written part of the document)
Bill of Attainder
A law that punishes someone without a trial (government can't do this...it is a denied power)
Ex Post Facto Law
A law that punishes someone for something they did that was legal when they did it. (government can't do this... it is a denied power)
Habeas Corpus
Evidence must be shown that a crime has been committed (Habeas Corpus means to "show the body". Government can't deny Habeas Corpus)
National Supremacy
The national laws (Constitution) overrule state and local laws
Checks and Balances
Idea that each branch of the government has powers that control the other branches
Check
Control over other branches
Judicial Review
Idea that the courts can decide if a law goes against the Constitution. They "declare it unconstitutional".
Popular Sovereignty
Idea that the people rule their country or state and make decisions. Popular = people; Sovereign = rule
Republicanism/Representative Democracy
People elect others to vote on issues for them
Ratification
The approval of something (in this case, the Constitution)
Concurrent
Powers shared by both the nation and states
Limited Government
Everyone, including the leaders, must obey the law. People aren't given titles of nobility.
What is government?
A structure to protect people's rights.
Who is John Locke?
Enlightenment thinker who created the idea of natural rights
What are the Natural Rights?
Rights that cannot be taken away... you are born with them (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).
What would happen if the government were to abuse the Natural Rights?
We have the right to rebel and create our own government
What is a State of Nature?
A situation with no laws, government, or security.
How does a Social Contract get you out of a State of Nature?
A social contract gets a person into an agreement that allows for them to get out of an unbearable place and gives them the option of changing their life, however, they have to make an agreement on it; has to help both sides.
What are the causes of the French & Indian War (who was competing for 'western' trade)?
French and Natives vs English and Colonists Fighting for resources, wanting to rule the west. English and Colonists won.
Why did natives side with the French?
The natives had a better trading relationship with the French, the French treated the natives as equals.
What was George Washington's role in the French and Indian War?
Accidentally was the cause/start of the war.
Treaty of Paris: What lands did we, the English, receive?
All land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
Proclamation of 1763: What land was closed off? Why did it upset colonists?
The land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River was closed off. This upset colonists because they had less land that they owned and wanted more.
Why was the area beyond the Appalachians (like Ohio) called the "west" back then but today we say California?
Mississippi River was the borderline for the "west" back then, it was the area that was unexplored.
How would England pay for the war? If you were England, does this make good sense?
War ends with English getting a bunch more land and agreeing they will not take any more native lands. Colonists aren't part of the negotiations and decide they don't have to follow the agreement.
What taxes did the British impose on the colonists and how did the colonists respond (townshend, sugar, stamp, tea acts)?
1764: Sugar Act - tax on imported sugar to help pay for the just finished war (colonists boycott). 1765: Stamp Act - first direct tax, covered most paper goods and documents. 1767: Townshend Acts - used to raise money to pay (bribe) judges to remain loyal
How are boycotts important to resistance and how can they help achieve goals?
They allow the citizens to have the right to rebel. This can help them in the future if there was ever a problem and rights were being taken away.
How are the Intolerable Acts connected to the Boston Tea Party (think cause and effect)?
The Intolerable Acts brought back the Boston Tea Party when they were created.
What are the Boston Massacre and Quartering Act?
Boston Massacre - a group of angry colonists were harassing some British soldiers. Quartering Act - a set of laws requiring colonists to provide housing for British soldiers.
What natural rights did the Boston Massacre and Quartering Act break?
Boston Massacre - life. Quartering Act - Property/pursuit of happiness.
Why was Ben Franklin's Albany Plan of Union important?
To unite colonies against French, however, it failed; but later, used for the Revolutionary War.
What were the committees of correspondence? Why would they help uniting?
A communication network to warn colonists of British movements.
What was the 1st Continental Congress and what did they do?
Continental Congress - met in Philadelphia to discuss the British threat, 1st Congress ended with an agreement to create an army led by George Washington for defense only, King George III didn't care and refused to back down, 2nd Congress ended with the D
How would sectionalism play a role in the struggle to unite for independence (use the definition to understand why they don't want to work together)?
Loyal to the interests of one's own region or section of the country. After Lexington and Concord, American people were split on what to do. Patriots = want Revolution, Loyalists = want peace with England
Thomas Paine and "Common Sense": What did the document tell the colonists?
Persuasion of commoners to support independence. Connected the ideas of the Great Awakening to the political ideals of liberty.
What was Thomas Jefferson's role in the Declaration of Independence?
He wrote the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence says power comes from who?
The people.
Why wouldn't the colonists mention actions like the Boston Tea Party in the document (the Declaration was meant to justify their actions to countries that might agree with them and be an ally)? How might English view this act?
Because the colonists didn't want to hurt their argument by mentioning things that they did wrong.
What was the first, turning point, and last battle of the Revolutionary War?
First Battle: ... . Turning Point Battle: The Victory at Saratoga. Last Battle: Yorktown.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and what strategies did they use to try and win the war?
Continental Army: Strengths - excellent leadership, extreme motivation to fight, fighting on the home turf. Weaknesses - limited supplies, limited naval support, limited experience. British Army: Strengths - very experienced, very well trained and discipl
Who helped the Americans defeat the British?
French.
Why might European nations help the Americans against England?
Want revenge-gain back territory.
How were women and African Americans affected by the war?
Many women lost any status they had during the war and still have no right to vote. After the war, the women were treated the same, though they had to take on the role of the "man of the house" when their husband left them for war. As for the African Amer
What is Salutary Neglect?
When the king "left the colonies alone" or did not actively involve himself in their interworking, didn't supervise them too much: pretty much let them do their own thing as long as they acknowledged he had ultimate control.
Bicameral
2 Houses; Senate = 100, House of Representatives = 438
Unicameral
1 House
Republic
A country that chooses representatives to govern them
Ordinance
Rule, regulation, or law
Territory
Any tract of land belong to a state (country)
Township
Unit of local Government. Subdivision of a large area
Amend
To alter or modify
Inflation
Your currency's value has decreased
Constitutional Convention
Realizing that a stronger national government was needed
Virginia Plan
Proposed a 3 branch government. The Legislative branch was composed of 2 houses (bicameral) based on the population of the state. Large population states support this.
New Jersey Plan
Liked the 3 branches but didn't like the legislative idea of the other plan. They wanted 1 vote (unicameral) per state so all states were equal. Small population states support this.
Federalism
The idea that government power is shared between states and the national government
Federalists
Supporter of the Constitution and Federalism
Anti-Federalists
People against the Constitution saying it gave too much power to the national government
Bill of Rights
Added to the Constitution to convince states to ratify
? Compromise
Each slave would count as ? of a person for population in both taxation and for representation. Both North and South gave up something for the Compromise.
Great Compromise
The agreement that combined the New Jersey Plan and Virginia Plan to get all the states to ratify (approve) the new Constitution
Vasco de Gama
Sailed for Portugal. Explored the south tip of Africa to India, which he called the Cape of Good Hope. Opened up trade for the Portuguese between Arab traders in India and Europe. Murdered innocent people, tortured Arabs, killed many African hunters, and
Caravel
A small ship that had triangular sails. The ship was designed to allow for long voyages at sea. It was durable and the sails allowed it to navigate the seas easier. It could be manned by a small crew, which cut down on needed supplies.
Astrolabe
Helped plot the position of the moon, sun, and stars. Used latitude to determine where you were. Problem was could not use during a cloudy day.
Nautical Chart
Originally early maps were inaccurate. Allowed explores to navigate the seas and would improve over time.
Compass
Determined direction using the Earth's magnetic fields. Advantage was that it could be used anywhere during the day or night.
Colombian Exchange
Movement of living things and ideas between the old world and new world (Europe to America).
Line of Demarcation
Portugal and Spain were in a dispute over the New World for who would take control of it. The Pope was callled to settle the dispute, and creates the Line of Demarcation. This line is eventually drawn from Greenland south through what is now Brazil.
Christopher Columbus
Sails for Spain. He believed that the Atlantic Ocean could be crossed and Asia could be reached easily. However, he arrived in what is now the Bahamas and met the Arawak and Taino. He will bring back valuable goods. Will lead to further settlement of the
Mercantilism
A system in which kinds tried to increase their country's exports while decreasing imports. They wanted to become self-sufficient.
What level would explorers be at in Maslow's Hierarchy?
Need for Esteem
What motivated European Explorers?
1. Curiosity
2. Fame/glory
2. Fame/glory
What were some benefits and negatives to the Colombian Exchange?
Benefits: Trading of crops, natural resources, and animals
Negatives: Disease spread, killing 90%-95% Natives in the first 100 years
Why did a country want more exports than imports?
If a king could export more products than he had to import, he would be money ahead. Export = Independent; Import = Dependent.
Why did Kings think mercantilism was the way to power?
Because if money flowed into the treasury, he could live a life of luxury. He could build a navy to protect colonies and trading interests, and could hire mercenaries (paid soldiers) to do battle for them.
What three things caused the defeat of both empires to a small European force?
1. Weapons/armour
2. Natives enslaved by the Aztecs and Incas
3. Disease (small pox) = Biological Warfare
What was the Spanish Armada? Who defeated them? What were the three lasting effects of its defeat?
Spain was fed up with the attacks creates what is known as the Spanish Armada to capture England and convert them back to Catholicism. Spain will fail due to a storm knocking out a majority of the 130 invasion ships and due to Drakes leadership, the rest
In what ways would Europeans and Natives viewpoint be different on exploration?
More of a negative view. As time went on, most Natives were tortured, killed, or their culture was destroyed. However, Europeans had a very positive view. They received power and money and destroyed the Natives.
Maslow's Hierarchy
A theory of why humans act the way they do.
Who is east of the Line of Demarcation?
Portugal
Who is west of the Line of Demarcation?
Spain
Who destroyed the Aztec Empire?
Hernan Cortez
Who destroyed the Inca Empire?
Francisco Pizzaro
New York
Dutch Colonists
New Jersey
John Berkeley and George Carteret
Pennsylvania
William Penn
Delaware
Swedish Settlers
Massachusetts
William Bradford and John Winthrop
Connecticut
Thomas Hooker
New Hampshire
Settlers from Massachusetts/England and Ann Hutchison
Rhode Island
Roger Williams
Virginia
John Smith
Maryland
Lord Baltimore
The Carolinas
Lord Proprietors
Georgia
James Oglethorpe
Triangular Trade
Complex System of Transatlantic exchange of slaves, rum, sugar, and molasses between Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
Indentured Servant
One who works for a set time without pay in exchange for a free passage to America.
Slave
Someone who is captured for use in forced, unpaid labor.
Separatists
People who wanted to break away from the Church of England. Thought it was too close to Catholicism and will be persecuted for it.
Mayflower Compact
Agreement signed by the pilgrims before landing on Plymouth.
Congregation
A group of people who belong to the same church.
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
All men who owned land (even if not a puritan) could vote in the government. Goal was to limit power of the governor.
Toleration
Willingness to allow other people to worship their own religion and not persecute them for it.
Subsistence Farming
Farmers who grew food for themselves and not for trade.
Patroon
Person rewarded with a large land grant for bringing 50 settlers to New Amsterdam (New York).
Quaker
A branch of Christianity which valued spiritual communication with God. Downplay the importance of clergy, believe in equality for all men, no single holy book.
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania
Document that outlined religious freedom for the people of Pennsylvania.
Conestoga Wagon
Covered wagons introduced by the German immigrants. Will carry farm goods great distance across cities.
Bacon's Rebellion
Nathaniel Bacon organized a group of farmers attacking Natives and almost burnt down Jamestown, only lasted a short period of time.
House of Burgesses
First Representative Government in the Americas. Had the authority to create local laws and pass local taxes as needed. Was almost abolished by the king at one point but massive amounts of protests changed the kings mind and continues. We see the first ex
English Debt Law
People who owed money could be put in jail until the debt was repaid.
Act of Toleration
Tolerance of other religions.
Tidewater
Flat land near the coast that was easy to access waterways and was ideal for planting.