Important Documents

Question 1

The Declaration of Independence

Answer 1

• Told Britain colonies breaking away
• Reasons didn’t like living under monarchy
• Complaints (grievances)
• Established “All men are created equal” - foundation for America
• Holds 0 legal weight
• Didn’t do anything except announcing intentions for splitting

Question 2

The Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

• After Revolutionary War — first attempt at creating a functioning government
• Due to fear of a king, no singular powerful person in the government
• No real central government
• Individual states held most of the power and needed to learn to get along
• They didn’t learn, states started fighting

Question 3

The US Constitution

Answer 3

• Ratified in 1789, established the structure of our government
  
  • Article 1: Legislative Branch (Congress)
    
    • 2 Houses: Senate and House of Representatives
    • Directly elected by the people
  • Article 2: Executive Branch (President)
    
    • Indirectly elected by the people
  • Article 3: Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)
    
    • Appointed by other branches - serve to make sure other branches abide by rules in Constitution

Question 4

Federalism

Answer 4

Shared power between the Federal, State, and local governments

Question 5

Limited Government

Answer 5

The idea that the government is not all powerful and is limited by the Constitution and the people

Question 6

The Bill of Rights

Answer 6

• The first ten amendments (changes/add-ons) to the Constitution
• Makes sure basic + important rights are protected from the government
• Amendments do not “give” us rights, they take power away from the government (on going debate) in attempt to protect what the Founders saw as our sacred rights