| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Enlightenment | European ideas such as John Locke's that influenced the Declaration of Independence. |
| Consent of the governed | Power to rule belongs to the people. |
| Natural Rights | Life, liberty and property-government must protect them. |
| Virginia House of Burgesses | 1st representative legislature in the new world. |
| Mayflower Compact | A social contract that was an early step towards self-government. |
| Mercantilsm | British economic theory that stated that the mother country should control its colonies trade, manufacturing, raw materials and taxes. |
| Common Sense | Pamplet written by Thomas Paine that convinced colonists to join the patriot cause. |
| Plantations | Large farms in the south that used slavery to produce cash crops. |
| "No taxation without representation" | Slogan that protested British mercantile policies. |
| Declaration of Independence | Document that stated the reasons why the colonists should be free from British rule. |
| Articles of Confederation | 1st form of government that created a weak central government and gave states all the power. |
| North Western Land Ordinances | Method for adding new states to the union, a strength of the Articles of Confederation. |
| Great Compromise | Created a bi-cameral legislature to decide how states would be represented in Congress. |
| Constitutional Convention | Meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation, many compromises were made. |
| Seperation of Powers | Creating 3 branches of government so no one becomes too powerful. |
| Bi-Cameral Legislature | A 2 house congress. |
| Federalists | People who wanted the new constitution ratified. |
| Federalist Papers | A collection of essays written to support the new Constitution. |
| Anti-Federalists | People who opposed the Constitution and demanded a Bill of Rights. |
| 3/5 Compromise | Adressed if slaves should count for the purposes of taxation and representation. |
| Ratify | To approve or become official. |
| Checks and Balances | A set of procedures such as veto, impeachment and the ability of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional, that prevent any branch from becoming too powerful. |
| Preamble of the Constitution | Begins "We the people...." and states that the power to govern belongs to the people. |
| Republic | A form of government where citizens elect their leader to make laws and decisions for them. |
| Presidential Powers | Can Appoint/nominate judges, negotiate treaties, veto laws, and is commander in chief of armed forces. |
| The Senate | Approves presidential nominations, ratifies treaties, carries out impeachment trial of the president. |
| The House of Representatives | Can raise taxes, bring impeachment charges on the president. |
| Bill of Rights | 1st 10 amendments to constitution intended to protect citizens from an abusive government. |
| Federalism | Dividing power between the central and state governments. |
| Census | Counts number of people in each state to determine representation in the House of Representatives. |
| Reserved Powers | Powers given to the states |
| Delegated Powers | Powers given to the central govt. such as coining money, declaring war and immigration laws |
| Concurrent Powers | Powers shared by the central and state govt. such as taxation and making laws |
Combine with other sets
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