Founding of the Nation Flashcards
Enlightenment
age of reason, time when people started using observation.
Declaration of Independence
America’s letter telling England that were going to start our own country.
Natural Rights
life,liberty,property and was a Enlightenment idea
Social Contract
governments are created to protect natural
rights, if they don’t, people can start a new
government
enlightenment idea
Sovereignty
the right to rule
Popular Sovereignty
the right to rule comes from the people
synonym–democracy
Grievance
a reason for a complaint
Northwest Ordinance
document created to govern the
Northwest Territory
established several precedents for the US
Constitution
Territory
an piece of land that is controlled by the
U.S., but that is not a state
Northwest Territory
big piece of land that the US acquired after
the revolution
what is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, & Michigan
Bill of Rights
List of protections from the government
written into the US Constitution
1st 10 amendments to the US Constitution
Amendment
a change to a written document
there are 27 Amendments to the U.S.
Constitution
13th Amendment
Ended Slavery
Constitution
a list of what the government can and
cannot do
Democracy
government run by the people
based on majority rule
Republic
democracy where elected officials make
decisions on behalf of the people
Republicanism
representative democracy
form of government the U.S. has
Monarchy
government run by a king or queen
Articles of
Confederation
America’s first constitution
Failed because federal government was too
weak
Provision
a condition or requirement in a legal
document
Legislate
To make laws
Federal Government
national government (over entire country)
Federalism
national & state governments share power
Federalists
supporters of the U.S. Constitution
didn’t want a bill of rights
