Test Flashcards
Consent
Permission
State of nature
No laws; society w/o laws
Tyranny
Unjust rule
Primogeniture
Eldest son receives inheritance
Constituents
People in an elected district
Executive branch
President; enforces laws
Legislative branch
Congress; make laws
Judicial branch
Make sure laws are fair
Natural rights
Life, liberty, property; pursuit of happiness
Social contract
Agreement between the people and the government; people will follow the laws and the government will protect their natural rights
Seizure
To take
Trial by jury
Right that you have; people will decide if you are guilty or innocent
Anarchy
Chaos; everything out of control
Sovereignty
To rule
Suffrage
Right to vote
Boycott
To not buy or participate
Smuggle
To sneak something in
Riot
Public violence; disorder
Petition
To ask your government to do or stop doing something
Due process of law
Steps the government must take when you are arrested
Representative government
People elect others to run their government
Cruel and unusual punishment
Government can not do this. Examples would be torture or going to jail for fifty years for stealing a piece of gum.
No taxation w/o representation
Slogan of the revolution. Only elected officials can tax.
Right to bear arms
Right to own a gun
Checks and balances
Each branch is equal and has no power over the others
Limited Government
Power of the government is limited by the constitution. Example: bill of rights.
Parliament
British congress
Guerilla warfare
Hit and run tactics
Unalienable
God given
Domino theory
Belief by the British that if America gets its independence then all of the British colonies will too
Loyalist
American who supported the British during the revolution
Patriot
American who fought for independence against Britain
Habeas corpus
Government must tell you why you are arrested and show proof or they have to let you go
Democracy
Government in which the majority rules
Republic
Government with a constitution that protects people’s rights.
Separation of powers
Each branch is separate and has different powers. Nobody can be in more than one branch at a time.
Constitution
Americas current form of government. A document that will define the rules for a country.
Private domain
Your private property. The government must have a search warrant/probable cause to be on your property. This would include everything on your property.
Writs of assistance
Automatic search warrants for the British