Magna Carta- signed in 1215 by King John of England, was the first document that limited power of the ruler and established the principles of trial by jury and the protection of life, liberty and property.
English Bill of Rights (1689) - English document
What documents inspired the Constitution?
Declaration of Independence (1776) - The Bill of Rights
and the Constitution addressed grievances from the Declaration of Independence. It also lists the unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
What was the Declaration of Independence?
Federalist Papers (1787-1788) - anonymously written essays to encourage ratification of the constitution. The authors include Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison.
What were the Federalist Papers?
The Articles of Confederation (1781-1787) - the first federal government of the United States, created a weak central government and stronger states. It was replaced by the US Constitution.
What was the Articles of Confederation?
No executive branch to enforce laws, Congress could not collect taxes or regulate trade, No national court system, Each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of population
What were the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?
The Northwest Ordinance (1787) - created a process for U.S. territories to become states, prohibited slavery in the NW Territory.
What was a positive outcome of having the Articles of Confederation?
1787 - Delegates from the 13 states drafted the US Constitution in Philadelphia.
What happened in 1787 in Philadelphia?
The Preamble - is the introduction of the Constitution that states its purpose. We the People, in order to form a more perfect union...
What is the Preamble?
Compromise between the big and small states over representation in Congress. Created a bicameral (two-house) Congress - the Senate and the House of Representatives. The number of members in the Senate is equal for all states (2), and the number of represe
What is the Great Compromise?
Compromise between northern and southern states over how slaves would be counted in determining a state's population. Three out of every five slaves would be counted.
What is the 3/5th Compromise?
Ratification - to formally approve. Before it could go into effect, 9 out of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution.
What is Ratification and how many states had to ratify the Constitution?
Separation of Powers - Divides the powers of government into 3 branches
What is Separation of Powers?
Article 1.Legislative Branch - makes the laws
Article 2.Executive Branch - enforces the laws
Article 3. Judicial Branch - interprets the laws
What are the 3 branches, what do they do and which article are they found in?
makes sure no branch of the government becomes too powerful. Example: The President can veto a bill, Congress can impeach a president, the Supreme Court can rule a law unconstitutional.
What is Checks and Balances?
Federalism
Which principle is the power shared between the states and national government?
Limited government
Which principle is the power of the government is restricted by the U.S. Constitution. "No one is above the law."?
Republicanism
Which principle is a system where people vote for elected representatives to run the government?
Popular Sovereignty
Which principle is the people hold the ultimate power. "We the people..."?
Federalists: supported a strong federal government, wanted the Constitution ratified as is. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote the Federalist Papers to push ratification.
Who and what were the federalists?
Anti-Federalists: feared a strong federal government, opposed ratification without a Bill of Rights added. Led by George Mason and Patrick Henry.
Who and what were the Anti-federalist?
Bill of Rights-1st ten amendments to the Constitution, Protect individual rights and liberties
What are the Bill of Rights?
1st Amendment
Freedom of speech, religion and press; right to assemble; right to petition our government
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms (to own guns)
3rd Amendment
No quartering of troops during peace time
4th Amendment
No unlawful search and seizure
5th Amendment
Right to Due Process, no double jeopardy, do not have to testify against yourself
6th Amendment
The right to a fast and public trial, right to a jury in a
criminal trial, right to have a lawyer.
7th Amendment
Trial by jury in civil cases
8th Amendment
No cruel or unusual punishment
9th Amendment
Rights reserved to the people
10th Amendment
Powers reserved to the states
President Washington served two terms as president of the United States. In his last speech Washington made these key points: Warned against alliances with other countries, Warned against political parties
What was Washington's Farewell Address?
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
What were the first two political parties?
The Federalists, led by Hamilton and Adams, believed in a strong federal government and an industrial economy.
What did the Federalist Party believe in?
The Democratic-Republicans, led by Jefferson and Madison, believed in stronger states and an agricultural economy.
What did the Democratic-Republicans believe in?
John Marshall served as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. During his tenure he shaped federal law and increased the power of the federal government
Who was John Marshall?
Marbury v. Madison decision (1803) in which he ruled that the federal courts had the power to determine whether or not a law was constitutional. This power
became known as Judicial Review
What case created Judicial Review?
The XYZ Affair and Alien and Sedition Acts
What events during the John Adams Presidency caused friction with France and with many people in the U.S.?
Jefferson and Madison
Who wrote the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions to oppose Adams and introduced idea of State's Rights?
1803: the Louisiana Purchase - Thomas Jefferson buys territory from France that doubles the size of the U.S.
What happened in 1803?
1804-1806: Lewis and Clark explore the Louisiana Territory. With the help of a native woman named Sacagawea, they bring back much valuable information.
Who was sent to explore the Louisiana Territory and who help them?
Great Britain had been seizing American ships, kidnapping American sailors, and helping Natives against the U.S. government. This led to the outbreak of war between the United States and Great Britain. The war ended in 1815 without an obvious winner.
What caused the War of 1812, who was it between and who was the winner?
Francis Scott Key
Who wrote "The Star Spangled Banner" during the War of 1812?
Andrew Jackson wins the battle of New Orleans, a new spirit of unity, patriotism, and nationalism spreads throughout the U.S.
What was one of the last major battles of the War of 1812?
The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
President James Monroe issued this doctrine declaring the Western Hemisphere off-limits to further colonization by European powers.