| A | B |
|---|
| Magna Carta | English document signed in 1215; inspiration for American colonists to protest Stamp Act, Sugar Act, Tea Act |
| Mayflower Compact | Pilgrims agreed to form a representative government and to obey the laws |
| House of Burgesses | Colony of Virginia's law making body |
| Sugar and Stamp Acts | attempts by British to raise taxes on the American colonists; led to boycotts |
| Tea Act | Colonists reacted by staging Boston Tea Party |
| Boston Tea Party | American colonists threw British tea into Boston Harbor to protest Tea Act |
| "No taxation without representation" | American colonists claimed that the British were unjustly taxing them |
| Battle of Lexington and Concord | First battle in American Revolution |
| Battle of Saratoga | Victory at Saratoga caused the French to join the Revolution on side of Americans |
| Battle of Yorktown | Battle that led to end of the American Revolution |
| Treaty of Paris (1783) | British recognized the independence of the U.S.A. |
| Articles of Confederation | First government of the U.S.A |
| Federalists Papers | series of articles written in support of proposed U.S. Constitution |
| U.S. Constitution | Ratified in 1787; created the present government of U.S. |
| Bill of Rights | first Ten Amendments to Constitution; guaranteed basic rights |
| Popular Sovereignty | Power of government belongs to the people |
| Limited government | The power of government is limited by law |
| Republicanism | People elect their political representatives |
| Federalism | In this government system, power is divided between national and state governments |
| Separation of Powers | Each of the three branches of government has its own responsibilities |
| Checks and balances | Each branch of government holds some control over the other two branches |
| Individual Rights | Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights |
