Semester Final Study Guide
American Revolution:
Analyze the following events which led to the American Revolution:
a. Tea Act- King George III put a tax on tea, and restricted trade of tea
b. Stamp Act- law requiring all legal & commercial documents to carry an official stamp showing that a tax had been payed
c. Boston Massacre- incident in 1770 in which British troops fired on and killed American Colonists
d. Intolerable Acts- series of laws meant to punish Massachusetts and clamp down on resistance in the colonies
e. Declaration of Independence- document that declared American independence from Britain
Describe the significance of key events of the Revolutionary War:
a. major battles:
Lexington- first battle of the revolutionary war
Saratoga- brought France into the war due to colonists success
Trenton- Washington's first MAJOR colonists victory
b. aid from France- France became an ally and helped Americans win the war
c. surrender at Yorktown- last battle of the Revolutionary War
Describe the impact of the following key individuals on the Revolutionary War:
a. Benjamin Franklin- was an aid to all the states, ambassador to France and helped with aid from Franc
b. Thomas Jefferson- composed the Declaration of Independence
c. George Washington- commander of the Continental Army
d. Thomas Paine- wrote Common Sense & persuaded Americans to fight for independence
e. King George III- ruler of Great Britain
Describe how one nation evolved from thirteen colonies:
a. Constitutional Convention- 1787 meeting at which the US Constitution was written
b. George Washington's Presidency- set a tradition for the following presidents
Foundations of Governments
Describe how the following philosophies and documents influenced the creation of the Constitution:
a. Magna Carta- (great charter) nobles forced King John to sign written guarantee of the Barons rights & privileges
b. English Bill of Rights- gave parliament more power than King/Queen & protected more rights for the people
c. Montesquieu’s separation of power- separate, balance, check
d. John Locke’s theories- natural rights, social contract
e. Mayflower Compact- document that helped establish the practice of self-government
f. Declaration of Independence- declared American independence in 1776
g. Articles of Confederation- plan for a national government that was weak - ratified
Analyze the purpose of the Constitutional Convention:
a. weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation- enact & collect taxes, enforce national laws, amend the articles
b. outcome of the Constitutional Convention- Framers decided to scrap the Articles and created the U.S. constitution in 1787
c. compromises at the convention- Great Compromise (bicameral legislature, based on population and equal representation) & 3/5 Compromise (slave population would count for 3/5 in taxation and representation)
Analyze the struggle between the federalists and the anti-federalists over the ratification of the Constitution:
a. Federalists Papers- ratification essays published in NY newspapers
b. Bill of Rights- the anti-federalists demanded a Bill of Rights be added that protected individual
rights
Describe the following principles on which the constitution (as the Supreme Law of the Land) was founded:
a. federalism- government gives executive power but also power to the people
b. popular sovereignty- a government in which the people rule
c. Separation of Powers- division of basic government roles into branches
d. checks and balances- each branch can check the powers of the other branches
e. limited government- citizens & and powerful leaders alike must obey the law
f. flexibility (i.e., Elastic Clause, amendment process) – the constitution is changeable
Differentiate the role and powers of the three branches of the federal government.
a. legislative- creates laws
b. executive- enforces the laws
c. judicial- interprets the laws
Explain the process of how a bill becomes a law.
1. Introduced in the House or Senate
2. Sent to committee for study and debate
3. If approved sent to floor for a majority vote, if passes then
4. To the Senate or House for same process
5. If passes through both, then conference committee for any final changes,
6. Then back to both floors for another majority vote. If passes
7. To president to either sign or veto
8. Veto can be overridden with 2/3 vote in House and Senate
Explain the electoral process:
The presidential election is decided through the Electoral College. Every state has a certain number of electoral votes based on its congressional representation. The popular votes decide which candidate will receive that states electoral votes. In all states except 2, winner takes all. ELECTORAL VOTES= #of members sent to the HOR+ Senators (2)
Explain how a candidate can be elected president (Bush-Gore) without receiving a majority vote.
You can receive the popular vote from the citizens, like Al Gore, but you must get 270 ELECTORAL VOTES to become the president. So over all it does not matter if you get the popular vote, you need to get 270 electoral votes.
Describe the line of succession to the presidency as stated in the 25th amendment.
1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President pro tempore of the Senate
4. list of cabinet members in order that the position was created
Functions of Government
Explain how the Bill of Rights protects individual rights. List these rights.
a. First Amendment – Guarantees and protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition.
b. Second Amendment – Discusses the right to bear arms.
c. Third Amendment – Prohibits the government from forcing people to house and feed soldiers in their homes.
d. Fourth Amendment – Protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
e. Fifth Amendment – Guarantees that a person accused of a crime will not be denied the right to life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
f. Sixth Amendment – Guarantees the right of an accused person in criminal cases to trial by jury, representation by an attorney, and a speedy trial.
g. Seventh Amendment – Guarantees citizens the right to a trial by a jury in civil cases.
h. Eighth Amendment – Protects accused persons against imprisonment or punishment that is excessive.
i. Ninth Amendment – Declares that people have rights beyond those mentioned in the Constitution.
j. Tenth Amendment – Declares that powers not specifically given to the federal government belong to the states or the people.
Summarize the significance of the following Supreme Court Cases:
a. Marbury vs. Madison- gave the supreme court the Judicial Review, which is the ability to declare constitutionality
b. Plessy vs. Ferguson- SEPARATE BUT EQUAL was okay
c. Brown vs. Board of Education- overturned Plessy. Segregation in public schools is not legal
d. Gideon vs. Wainright- states have to pay for an attorney if you can’t afford one
e. Miranda vs. Arizona- rights have to be read to you
f. Korematsu vs. United States- ruled that in times of war the government has the power to take away your rights