| A | B |
|---|
| Popular Sovereignty | People are the source of the government's power |
| Limited Government | The Constitution limits the actions of government by specifically listing powers it does and does not have |
| Republicanism | People elect their political representatives |
| Federalism | In this government system, power is divided between the 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 |
| Bill of Rights | First ten amendments to U.S. Constitution; states the fundamental rights of the people |
| New England Colonies | These northern colonies' economies were based on fishing, trading, lumbering, and self-sufficient farms |
| Middle Colonies | These colonies were the "bread basket" of the colonies; noted for their religious diversity |
| Southern Colonies | These colonies depended on "cash crops" from their planations for their economic success |
| Articles of Confederation | First national government of the United States of America; created a weak national government |
| Magna Carta | English document of the 13th century that limited the king's power |
| English Bill of Rights | 17th century English document that established the primacy of Parliament over the king |
| Federalists Papers | Composed of 85 essays written in support of a strong national government and a republican form of government |
| Olive Branch Petition | Document sent to King George III by Second Continental Congress proposing an end to all violence and a lifting of the Coercive Acts |
| Stamp Act | A tax on almost all printed materials |
| Mayflower Compact | Document signed by Pilgrims inwhich they agreed to form a representative govenment and obey its laws |
| Boston Tea Party | an incident in which Samuel Adams led a band of colonists on board tea ships and dumped the tea into the harbor |
| Boston Massacre | an incident in which, in the confusion of an ice and rock-throwing crowd before the Cstons House in Boston, a group of Brisitsh soldiers killed 5 colonists |
| Coercive Acts | Series of orders issued by the British government that closed the port of Boston; allowed for the quartering of British soldiers in colonists' homes |
| Common Sense | Pamphlet published by Thomas Paine in which he argued for separation of the colonies from England |
| Declaration of Independence | Written by Thomas Jefferson; official document declaring the independence of the American colonies |
| Land Ordinance of 1785 | Law passed U.S. government under Articles of Confederation; established a system of townships inthe Northwest Territory |
| Loyalist | American colonist who opposed independence |
| Patriot | American colonist who support movement for independence |
| Navigation Acts | British trade laws that regulated economic activities in the colonies |
| Northwest Ordinance of 1787 | Act of Congress under the Articles of Confederaton that provided a method for statehood for territories in the north and west |
| Treaty of Paris 1783 | Document by which the British recognized the independence of the American colonies |
| Abigail Adams | Spoke in favor of equal rights for women |
