Term
The American Revolution
A war fought between the American Colonists and British forces because the Americans longed for independence and did not want to live under British control. |
|
Definition
The war between the American colonies and Great Britain (1775-1783), leading to the formation of the independent United States
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Bastille
The Bastille as a fortress in Paris that as used like a prison by the French kings |
|
Definition
midieval fortress used as a prison; french angry
mob broke into it and killed the guards, releasing
the prisoners, but found no weapon
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Boston Massacre
An event in which British soldiers shot at a crowd of unarmed protesters. As a result, five died and many others were injured. |
|
Definition
British army soldiers open fired on a protesting crowd, killing 5 civilian men (March 5, 1770)
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Boston Tea Party
An event in which colonists dumped tea into the Boston Harbor. |
|
Definition
A political protest against the tax policy of the British government that controlled all the tea imported into the colonies (Dec. 1773)
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Bourgeoisie
People who wear long pants. People who do not wear short pants. These people are in the middle class |
|
Definition
the middle class; part of the Third Estate
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Checks and Balances
A system in which the branches check each other to ensure balance of power |
|
Definition
from Montesquieu, a fundamental democratic principle of American government which ensures that one branch does not accumulate too much power
[image] |
|
|
Term
Declaration of Independence
A document stating that the colonies were no longer allied to the British crown and were in fact, 13 independent states. |
|
Definition
An act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies in North America were "Free and Independent States" and that "all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved."
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Estate General
A meeting/assembly reprepresenting the three French estates; the clergy, nobility and the commoners |
|
Definition
the legislative body consisting of representatives of the three estates
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Executive
One of the three branches of government that is responsible for carrying out laws. |
|
Definition
the part of a government that makes sure decisions and laws work well
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Federal Republic
Our system of government is a Federal Government.
We elect officials to make laws and power between the states and the federal states are equal.
|
|
Definition
Created in the U.S. Constitution, it divides the power between the federal (or national) government and the states
[image] |
|
|
Term
French Revolution
The French Revolution as an even that involved the overthroing of the king and other activities.
|
|
Definition
the anticlerical (anti-power of the clergy) and republican revolution in France from 1789 until 1799, when Napoleon seized power
[image] |
|
|
Term
Judicial
Relating to the Judicial Branch and its functions. |
|
Definition
relating to the law, judges, or their decisions
[image] |
|
|
Term
Judicial Review
The act in which the judicial branch reviews the action of another branch |
|
Definition
Power of courts to review decisions of another department or level of government
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Legislature
The branch that creates laws. |
|
Definition
an institution that has the power to make or change laws
[image] |
|
|
Term
Limited Power
A government whose powers are restricted. It has limits. |
|
Definition
a type of government in which its functions and powers are prescribed, limited, and restricted by law
[image] |
|
|
Term
Louis XVI
King of France who was guillotined in 1793 |
|
Definition
well-meaning but weak and indecisive French ruler who inherited the throne deeply in debt; summoned the Estates-General together for the first time in 175 yrs, where citizens aired grievances and ultimately created the National Assembly
[image]
|
|
|
Term
National Assembly
Meeting of delegates to discuss things
|
|
Definition
created by the disgruntled delegates of the french Third Estate, joined by reform-minded clergy and nobles
[image] |
|
|
Term
Popular Sovereignty
Rule by the people/All government power comes from the governed. |
|
Definition
all government power comes from the people
[image] |
|
|
Term
Separation of Powers
The separation of the government functions into three divided branches. |
|
Definition
division of governmental authority among the
three branches of government: executive,
legislative, and judicial branch. The US
Constitution uses this principle in setting up the
presidency, the Congress, and the courts
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Stamp Act
One of the acts imposed onto the colonists in order to pay off expenses from the costly French and Indian War |
|
Definition
a law passed by the British Parliament requiring all publications and legal and commercial documents in the American colonies to bear a tax stamp (1765)
[image] |
|
|
Term
Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly's meeting place |
|
Definition
when the new National Assembly was locked out
of their meeting hall, they assembled in a nearby
tennis court, where they swore to meet until a
Constitution was established
[image] |
|
|
Term
Treaty of Paris
The treaty that ended the Revolutionary war. |
|
Definition
American, French, and British diplomats signed this treaty that ended the Revolutionary war and Britain recognized the independence of the United States of America (1783)
[image] |
|
|
Term
U.S Constitution
The document that lays the foundationof our government. It also lists the rights of men. |
|
Definition
document that replaced the Articles of Confederation, defined the system of government in the newly established America and contains additional amendments when ratified (1787)
[image]
|
|
|
Term
Yorktown, Virginia
The place in hich the British Forces surrendered to Washinton's army |
|
Definition
Where G. Washington forces the surrender of the British army, thereby ending the American Revolutionary war (1781)
[image] |
|
|
