Founding Documents

Question 1

Magna Carta

Answer 1

A document constituting a fundamental guaranteed of rights and privileges

Established the principle that everyone is subject to the law, even the king

Question 2

English Bill of Rights

Answer 2

A list of King James’s misdeeds

13 articles that outlined specific freedoms

Gave Parliament power over the monarchy

Inspiration for the US Bill of Rights

Question 3

Mayflower Compact

Answer 3

First document to establish self government in the New World

The purpose was to establish basic law and order in the colony

Question 4

“Common Sense”

Answer 4

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine

Advocated for independence from Great Britain to people in the 13 colonies

Question 5

Abigail Adams letter to John Adams

Answer 5

Abigail urged John and other members of the Continental Congress to not forget about the women when fighting for America’s independence

Question 6

Virginia Declaration of Rights

Answer 6

Adopted by the Virginia Convention of Delegates

Represented the first protection of individual human rights under state constitutions of the American revolutionary period

Also represented the shift from colonial charters to state constitutions as the nation moved towards independence

Question 7

Declaration of Independece

Answer 7

A statement issued by the Second Continental Congress that explained why the colonies wanted independence from Britain

Question 8

The Federalist Papers

Answer 8

A collection of 85 articles and essays by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison

Argued in favor of the proposed US Constitution and a strong federal government

Question 9

Federalist Paper 10

Answer 9

Written by James Madison

Stated how the proposed Constitution would control the damage caused by factions

Factions are groups of people who gather together to protect and promote their special interests

Factions are bad because they frequently work against the public interest and infringe on the rights of others

Question 10

Federalist Paper 51

Answer 10

Written by James Madison

Addresses the concerns about an overly powerful central government

Discusses the system of checks and balances

Question 11

Federalist Paper 58

Answer 11

Written by James Madison

Discusses how the House of Representatives will not grow as the population increases

Question 12

Articles of Confederation

Answer 12

An agreement among the 13 original states

Served as the first frame of government

Consists of a preamble and 13 articles

Problem: the states had more power than the national government

Question 13

Bill of Rights

Answer 13

First 10 Amendments of the US Constitution

Guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual

Reserves all powers not delegated the the federal government to the people or the states

Question 14

US Constitution

Answer 14

The supreme law of the land

Superseded the Articles of Confederation

A legal document written by the Founding Fathers

Contains a preamble and 7 articles

Question 15

The Treaty of Paris (1783)

Answer 15

Officially ended the American Revolutionary War

Also ended the 7 Years War

Formally recognized the United States as an independent nation

Question 16

The Northwest Ordinances (1787)

Answer 16

Passed by Congress in the era of the Articles of Confederation

Prohibited slavery in territories north of the Ohio River

Created a 3 step process for new territories to become states

Question 17

Emancipation Proclomation

Answer 17

Issued by Lincoln

Freed the slaves of the Confederate states in rebellion against the Union

Question 18

“I Have A Dream Speech” (Dr. Martin Luther King)

Answer 18

Called for an end to racism in the United States

Delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC

Question 19

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Answer 19

Passed by Lyndon B. Johnson

Ended segregation in public places

Banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, and religion

Question 20

Civil Rights Act of 1965

Answer 20

Passed by Lyndon B. Johnson

Outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War