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72 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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a document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government
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constitution
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a written list of freedoms that a government promises to protect
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bill of rights
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the first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution
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Bill of Rights
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to carry out/ to kill
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execute
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to give up
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cede
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money
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currency
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a period of time when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises
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depression
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the branch of government that passes laws
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Legislative Branch
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the branch of government that carries out laws
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Executive Branch
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the branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly
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Judicial Branch
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a settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement
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compromise
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a system of government in which citizens choose representatives to govern them
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republic
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a government in which one person or a small group of people holds complete authority
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dictatorship
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the right that no person can be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime
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habeas corpus
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the principle by which the powers of a government are divided among separate branches
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seperation of powers
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change
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amend
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What were the two reasons the state governments wrote constitutions?
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1. a written constitution would spell out the writes of all citizens
2. it would limit the power of the government |
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Name the first American constitution approved by the Continental Congress.
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The Articles of Confederation
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List two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
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1. Congress didn't have the power to tax, so they couldn't repay their debts
2. dispute over western lands could not be settled by the central government |
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How did a territory become a state?
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For a territory to become a state it had to acquire a population of 60,000 free settlers, then it could apply for state admition.
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What system for settling the Northwest Territory called for each territory to be divided into towns, divide towns into 36 sections and sell them to settlers?
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The Land Ordinance of 1785.
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In 1787, Congress passed the ___________. It set up a government for the Northwest Territory. It set up the process by which territories became states.
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The Northwest Ordinance.
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How did many Americans react to Shays' Rebellion?
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They saw it as a sign that the Articles of Confederation did not work.
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Who was Daniel Shays? Why was he upset?
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Daniel Shays was a Massachusetts farmer who had fought at the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. He was angry because the government was seizing farms of those who could not pay their taxes or loans. He felt they were being treated unfairly.
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What event led to a call for a new convention to revise the Articles of Confederation?
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Shays' Rebellion
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In what way did the delegates to the 1787 convention represent a new generation of American leaders?
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In a time of crisis, 55 delegates gathered together. They represented the old and wise, and the new and spirited. These are the qualities that you look for in leaders.
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Why did small states oppose the Virginia Plan? How was this conflict resolved?
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In the Virginia plan, the number of representitives each state had was based on the population of that state. Smaller states feared that the larger states would out-vote them and their voices wouldn't be heard. They first thought it was resolved by creating the New Jersey Plan, but in the long run it was resolved by creating the Great Compromise.
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What compromises did the North and the South reach?
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The Three-Fifths Compromise- Southerners wanted to include slaves in their population count. Northerners thought that if slaves couldn't vote they shouldn't be counted. They decided that 3,000 of the 5,000 slaves would be counted.
The Slave Trade- The northern states had banned slave trade in their borders and wanted it to be the same for the whole nation. Southern states wanted to keep their slaves. They decided that Congress couldn't outlaw slavery for at least 20 years, but after that they could do so if they chose. They also decided that no state could stop a fugitive from being returned to their owner upon request. |
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Explain the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.
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Virginia Plan:
This plan proposed that their would be 3 branches of government, 2 houses, and the seats would be based upon population per state. New Jersey Plan: This plan proposed that their would be 3 branches of government, one house, and seats would be based on one per state. |
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Compare and Contrast the two plans.
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Virginia
1. 2 houses 2. seats based on population Both 1. 3 branches of government New Jersey 1. 1 house 2. only one seat per state |
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Do the words slavery and slave appear in the Constitution? What compromise resolved the conflict between southern and northern states?
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No.
The three-fifths compromise |
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Some historians refer to slavery as the "unfinished business" of the 1787 Convention. Explain this statement.
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I believe they call it "unfinished business" because they made a compromise for a short term period of 20 years. They kind of just put it off. They didn't really make a set decision on the issue yet, so in was "unfinished business".
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The Constitution of the US is based on the ideas of the Enlightenment Period because it ...
A. follows the Mayflower Compact B. addresses abuses of the English king C. is based on solving problems by reasoning D. set up an independent court system |
C. is based on solving problems by reasoning
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How did the Roman republic provide both an example and a warning to Americans?
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They showed that independance and public service were virtues that the citizens of Rome abided by. They showed that citizens shouldn't be willing to serve in public office, just for money, they should do it because the were devoted to their republic.
They also showed us that it was easy to become to engrossed in power and that leaders could become corrupt. They taught us that republics do not always die because they are invaded from the outside. Without education and dedication, republics can decay from the inside. |
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List two ways the Constitution addressed grievances (wrongdoings) listed in the Declaration of Independance.
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1. set up a court system independent of the president and legislature
2. accused the king of placing military power above civilian authority |
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What ideas did Americans adopt from John Locke?
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The idea that all people had natural rights, and the idea that the constitution is a contract between the people and their government.
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Montesquieu was a French philosopher who encouraged government to be separated to insure that no part of government became to large or powerful. According to Montesquieu what would happen if judges had the power to make and carry out laws? Do you agree with Montesquieu that government should be divided? Explain why.
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Montesquieu thought that if the 3 branches were combined the judges might act out in violent and oppresive ways. Yes I do agree because we don't want one group of people to have to much power, we want it to be equally spread out to keep a vital balance.
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What is the difference of the points of view of the Federalists and Antifederalists?
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Federalists supported the constitution. Federalists believed in a strong central government, they thought that the Articles of Confederation left to much power with the states.
Antifederalists were against the constitution. Antifederalists believed in state power and no "king like" figure, and they thought the constitution made the national government too strong and left the states weak. |
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How did the Federalist papers influence the American people?
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It gave an explanation of the ideas behind the constitution. As more people understood it more people got behind it.
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Who was elected our first President? Who was elected our first Vice President?
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President = George Washington
Vice President = John Adams |
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Where was our nation's first capital?
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New York City
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The first ten amendments to the Constitution became known as the __________.
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Bill of Rights
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List the 3 branches of government.
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1. Legislative
2. Executive 3. Judicial |
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What are the two houses of Congress? What are each based on?
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1. Senate - 2 per state
2. House of Representitives - based on population |
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Name our two state senators. Name the House of Representative member from our district.
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senator = Roger Wicker
senator = Thad Cochran representatives = Steven Palazzo |
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Recite the Preamble of the Constitution.
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We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America.
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Who proposed the Great Compromise?
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Roger Sherman
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peace petition sent to King George by colonial delegates after the battles of Lexington and Concord, declaring their loyalty to the king and asking him to repeal the Intolerable Acts
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Olive Branch Petition
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Vermont colonial militia led by Ethan Allen, which made a suprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga, giving Americans control of the key route into Canada
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Green Mountain Boys
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army established by the Second Continental Congress to fight the British
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Continental Army
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colonist who favored war against Britain
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patriot
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colonist who remained loyal to Britain
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loyalist
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in 1775, first major battle of the Revolution
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Battle of Bunker Hill
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the shutting of a port to keep people or supplies from moving in or out
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blockade
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soldier who fights merely for pay, often for a foreign country
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mercenary
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an essay published in 1776, by Thomas Paine that urged the colonies to declare independance
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Common Sense
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person who betrays his or her country
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traitor
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a 1776 document stating that the 13 English colonies were a free and independent nation
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Declaration of Indepedence
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introduction to a declaration, constitution, or other official document
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preamble
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rights that belong to all people from birth
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natural rights
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a 1776 battle in New York in which more than 1400 Americans were killed, wounded, or captured
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Battle of Long Island
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a 1776 battle in New Jersey in which George Washingtons troops captured a Hessian encampment in a surprise attack
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Battle of Trenton
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in 1777, the first major American victory in the Revolution, which ended the British threat to New England
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Battle of Saratoga
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nation that works with another nation for a common purpose
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ally
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troops on horseback
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cavalry
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Pennsylvania sit of Washingtons Continental Army encampment during the winter of 1777-1778
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Valley Forge
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a 1781 battle in South Carolina, where Americans won an important victory over the British
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Battle of Cowpens
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soldier who uses hit and run tactics
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guerrilla
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military blockade or bombardment of an enemy town or position in order to force it to surrender
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siege
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final battle in the Revolution; this 1781 American victory in Virginia forced the British to surrender
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Battle of Yorktown
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peace treaty between the United States and Britain, ratified in 1783, that recognized the United States as an idependent nation
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Treaty of Paris 1783
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to approve
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ratify
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