unit 1 vocab- foundations of the republic

Question 1

declaration of independence (1776)

Answer 1

an official act taken by all 14 american colonies in declaring freedom from british rule

approved/passed on july 4, 1776

unalienable rights

Question 2

unalienable rights

Answer 2

rights, mentioned in the declaration of independence, that cannot be given or taken away

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Question 3

articles of confederation (1781)

Answer 3

defines the fundamental law of the us federal government, setting forth the three principle branches of the federal government and outlining their jurisdictions

september 17,1787

Question 4

bill of rights/individual rights (1791)

Answer 4

constitutional principle

the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. It spells out Americans’ rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion.

1791

Question 5

republicanism

Answer 5

constitutional principle

the theory of government that emphasizes the participation of citizens for the common good of the community.

Question 6

limited government

Answer 6

constitutional principle

an ideology that restricts allowing absolute powers to government so that the lawmakers also abide by the laws

primary leaders have very little power

Question 7

popular sovereignty

Answer 7

constitutional principle

government based on the consent of the people

the idea that government is authorized by citizens and influenced by what they want

Question 8

federalism

Answer 8

constitutional principle

system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government

distribution of power between central authority

Question 9

checks and balances

Answer 9

constitutional principle

the ability of each branch of government to respond to the actions of the other branches

separation of powers so one branch isnt more powerful than another

Question 10

separation of powers

Answer 10

constitutional principle

the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another

Question 11

the great compromise

Answer 11

promised the creation of a bicameral legislature composed of the house of representatives and the senate. the house of representatives would grant states a number of representatives proportionate to the population, while the senate would grant 2 representatives per state

Question 12

the three-fifths compromise

Answer 12

three out of every five slaves was counted when determining a state’s population for legislative representation and taxation

Question 13

e pluribus unum

Answer 13

meaning “out of many, one” or “one from many”

Question 14

alexis de tocqueville

Answer 14

-frenchman who observed the american way of life and government in action (1830s)
-wrote democracy in america about the strengths and weaknesses of the us’ form of government and how americans differed from the european society they had come from
-5 core values: liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire

Question 15

laissez-faire

Answer 15

“allow to do” policy of minimum government interference in the economic affairs of individuals and society

Question 16

liberty

Answer 16

“freedom from arbitrary and unreasonable restraint upon an individual”

Question 17

egalitarianism

Answer 17

a philosophical perspective that emphasizes equality and equal treatment across gender, religion, economic status, and political beliefs

Question 18

individualism

Answer 18

a philosophy that views people first and foremost as unique individuals rather than as members of a group

Question 19

populism

Answer 19

a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of “the people” and often juxtapose this group against “the elite.” frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment

Question 20

reconstruction amendments- 13th amendment (1865)

Answer 20

abolished slavery

january 31, 1865

Question 21

reconstruction amendments- 14th amendment (1868)

Answer 21

granted citizenship to formally enslaved people. (all people born or naturalized in us)

july 9, 1868

Question 22

reconstruction amendments- 15th amendment (1870)

Answer 22

granted African American men the right to vote

february 3, 1870

Question 23

ku klux klan (KKK)

Answer 23

a secret hate group in the southern us, active for several years after the civil war, aimed to suppress newly acquired rights of African American men

Question 24

jim crow laws

Answer 24

any of the laws that enforced racial segregation in the us south from the end of reconstruction to the mid-20th century

Question 25

grandfather clause

Answer 25

aka “legacy clause” is an exemption that allows persons or entities to continue with activities or operations that were approved before the implementation of new rules, regulations, or laws

Question 26

poll tax

Answer 26

tax that must be paid in order to vote

Question 27

segregation

Answer 27

the legally or socially enforced separation of African Americans from whites, but it is also used in reference to the separation of other ethnic minorities from majority and mainstream communities

Question 28

plessy v ferguson (1896)

Answer 28

ruled that separate-but-equal facilities were constitutional. the plessy v ferguson decision upheld the principle of racial segregation over the next half century

may 18, 1896