civics unit 1 Flashcards
c
What is the importance of the Magna Carta
giving nobles certain rights, especially over land ownership
Explain the Rule of Law
nobody is above the law
Who/what is Parliament
legislative/law making body for England or englands government
What was the Glorious Revolution
Parliament invited James II’s daughter Mary and her husband William to replace James II as the new king
Why is the Glorious Revolution important
Showed Parliament was the true power of England
For what does the English Bill of Rights require the monarch to get Parliament’s permission
Impose laws, raise an army, create special courts
What four things does the English Bill of Rights guarantee its citizens
free elections, free speech, fair juries, no cruel and unusual punishments
What is common law
System of laws based on custom and precedents
What is a precedent
a ruling in earlier cases that were similar
What is salutary neglect
the time period when the British government left the colonies alone for almost 200 years and American colonists began governing themselves
Why are the House of Burgesses and the Mayflower Compact important
it was the beginning of self-government in colonial America
What is a bicameral legislature
They had 2 houses
Explain mercantilism
economic policy/belief that a country’s power depends on its wealth
Who was the King during the American Revolution Era
King George 3
England began to heavily tax the colonies after what event
French and Indian war
Explain the following acts: Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Act, Coercive/Intolerable Acts
Stamp- tax on virtually everything paper
Declaratory- right to tax and make decisions for the colonies in ALL cases
Townshend- tax on tea, glass and paper, and allowed for writs of assistance or general search warrants
Coercive/Intolerable- Allowed quartering of soldiers, Shut down Boston Harbor, Future trials of British officials would take place in England, Allowed soldiers to search homes
What were the Committees of Correspondence
keeping colonies informed of what was happening in individual colonies
What two events occurred in Boston prior to the Revolutionary War
Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party
What group conducted the Boston Tea Party? What two men led the group
Sons of Liberty, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere
What two things did the First Continental Congress members agree to not do
ban all trade with England and no longer obey English laws
What is a militia
Armys made up of citizens
What was the first battle of the Revolutionary War
Lexington and Concord
Who was the unofficial government for the colonies during the Revolution
Second Continental Congress
What was the Olive Branch Petition and what was the outcome of it
It asked the King to work with the colonies to find a peaceful end to their fighting and to continue being colonies of England, king George 3 never responded
What was “Common Sense” and who wrote it
It is only common sense that the colonies be independent, Thomas Paine
List three authors that influenced Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence and what their ideas were that Jefferson used
Thomas Paine – reasons for independence
John Locke – Natural Rights to life, liberty and property
Jean Jacques Rousseau – All men are created equal
What countries helped the colonists and what made them decide to help
France and spain, after fighting for some time they thought the colonies might have a chance
What was the final battle of the Revolution
Yorktown
What treaty ended the Revolution
Paris
What is a constitution
written plan of government
What is the name of the first constitution of the U.S.
Articles of Confederation
How was our government described in this first constitution
Written during the American Revolution by members of the Second Continental Congress, each state had one vote, it could make laws, it could Raise military to protect the country, it could Organize treaties
.Why was it difficult to change or amend the Articles of Confederation
Because 13 of the 13 colonies had to agree
Why is the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 important
Created the rules of how territories would form territorial governments and what was needed in order for them to join the U.S.
What are the five major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
No executive or judicial branches, Set up a weak national government, Each state had one vote, No common currency, Congress couldn’t regulate commerce between the states or tax the states
What is the importance of Shay’s Rebellion
a strong central government was needed forcing leaders to call for a meeting to revise the Articles of Confederation to create a stronger national government
