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Chapter 2 – Root of American Democracy Study Sheet

Term / Definition
amend / to change
Articles of Confederation / the first constitution of the United States of America
bicameral / a type of legislature that is divided into two parts, or houses
bill of rights / part of a constitution that guarantees certain basic freedoms to its citizens
Boston Tea Party / protest that caused Parliament to pass the Coercive Acts
boycott / forced Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act
charter / a written document granting land and the authority to set up colonial governments
colony / a group of people in one place who are ruled by a parent country elsewhere
common law / system of law based on precedent and customs
compact / an agreement or contract among a group of people
confederation / a group of individuals who band together for a common purpose
constitution / a detailed, written plan for government
Daniel Shays / led an armed uprising of about 1,200 farmers on a federal arsenal
Declaration of Independence / document that explains why the United States should be a free nation
Declaratory Act / stated that Parliament had the right to tax and make decisions for the American colonies
delegates / in government, those chosen to represent the people
First Continental Congress / formed in response to the Intolerable Acts
Glorious Revolution / peaceful transfer of power that changed the idea of government in England
House of Burgesses / the first representative assembly, or legislature, in the English colonies
independence / self-reliance and freedom from outside control
Intolerable Acts / laws restricting the colonists’ rights, including the right to a trial by jury
legislature / a lawmaking body
Magna Carta / document that protected English nobles’ privileges and authority
Mayflower Compact / established a tradition of direct democracy still visible in New England today
mercantilism / theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys
monarch / a king or queen who rules a country
Parliament / lawmaking body in England; drew up the English Bill of Rights in 1689
precedent / a ruling in an earlier legal case that is similar to a current case
ratify / to approve, referring to government laws and documents
repeal / to cancel a law
social contract / the idea that people agree to give up some of their freedom and abide by the decisions of their government in return for the government’s protection
Stamp Act / required colonists to attach tax stamps to newspapers and legal documents
Thomas Jefferson / did most of the work on the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Paine / author of Common Sense
Townshend Acts / laws that levied taxes on basic goods imported to the colonies from Great Britain
Concept
Summarize the sources of American democracy.
Explain British legal influences on the American colonies.
Examine English traditions of limited and representative government.
Describe how colonists transplanted English ideas of government to America.
Analyze the colonists’ path to independence.
Identify the ways the British government tried to tighten control over its American colonies.
Describe the ways American colonist resisted and rejected British control.
Describe the first federal government
Describe how the original states fashioned their constitution.
Explain why the Articles of Confederation were ineffective.