Documents, Amendments, and Ideas…Oh My! Founding Principles Documents, Amendments, and Ideas…Oh My!

Founding Fathers Collective term for me like John Adams, John Jay, John Hancock, Benjamin Rush, Jonathan Trumball, Charles Carroll

1776 Declaration of Independence was signed. Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson in Signed by members of the Continental Congress; Listed colonial grievances against King George III And breaking from Britain; when our nation began

1787 Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia and wrote a new government for the U.S.; The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation; Created strong central government and supreme law

Limited Government Principle that powers of government are restricted by the Constitution.

Federalism Power is divided between the state and national governments; limiting central power

Republicanism Idea that voters hold the sovereign power and elect representatives to exercise power for them.

Checks and Balances Idea that each of the three branches of government exercises some control over the others, sharing power among them.

Each branch of government has responsibilities and limitations Separation of Powers Each branch of government has responsibilities and limitations

Popular Sovereignty Authority for government flows from the people and they rule through their representatives.

Alexis de Tocqueville French political thinker who wrote Democracy in America and identified five values crucial to America's success as a democratic republic: (1) liberty (2) egalitarianism, (3) individualism, (4) populism and (5) laissez-faire.

Suffrage Right to vote

United States Bill of Rights Amendments 1-10 Guaranteed individual freedoms Settled grievances listed in Declaration of Independence

Right to keep and bear arms Amendment 2 Right to keep and bear arms 

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. Amendment 1 Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

Established prohibition Made alcohol illegal in the U.S. Amendment 18 Established prohibition Made alcohol illegal in the U.S.

Amendment 21 Ended Prohibition

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. Amendment 4 Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments. Amendment 8 Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.

Amendment 5 Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy.

No quartering of soldiers Amendment 3 No quartering of soldiers

Passed after the Civil War (Reconstruction) Amendment 14 guarantees rights as citizens, equal protection, due process; applies Constitution to the states Passed after the Civil War (Reconstruction)

Powers reserved to the states. Amendment 10 Powers reserved to the states.

Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial. Amendment 6 Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.

Direct election of senators Amendment 17 Direct election of senators

Right of trial by jury in civil cases. Amendment 7 Right of trial by jury in civil cases.

Limits a president to two terms; passed after FDR’s presidency Amendment 22 Limits a president to two terms; passed after FDR’s presidency

Other rights of the people. Amendment 9 Other rights of the people. 

Amendment 15 Establish black male suffrage; Passed after the Civil War (Reconstruction)

Amendment 13 Abolished slavery in the United States Passed after the Civil War (Reconstruction)

Abolished poll tax as a voting restriction Increased democracy Amendment 24 Abolished poll tax as a voting restriction Increased democracy

Gave women the right to vote Increased democracy Amendment 19 Gave women the right to vote Increased democracy

Provided for a federal income tax Amendment 16 Provided for a federal income tax

Connected to military recruiting for Vietnam Conflict Amendment 26 Reduced voting age to 18 Connected to military recruiting for Vietnam Conflict Increased democracy