| Term | Definition |
| Magna Carta | document signed by King John in 1215 that made the king subject to law |
| English Bill of Rights (1689) | declared that Parliament held the power of the government |
| constitution | set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government |
| Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom | document that declared no person could be forced to attend a particular church or to pay for the church with tax money |
| suffrage | the right to vote |
| Articles of Confederation | first U.S. Constitution-stated that Congress was the single branch of the national government-given limited powers to protect the liberties of the people |
| ratification | official approval |
| Land Ordinance of 1785 | set up a system for surveying and dividing western lands |
| Northwest Ordinance of 1787 | established Northwest Territory-created a system for states to enter the Union, required public education and banned slavery in this area |
| Northwest Territory | what is currently the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin |