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Magna Carta gave citizens basic civil 

rights such as the freedom to not have 

their property seized by the king, they 

could not be taxed unless a council of 

prominent men agreed, they could not 

be put on trial by the word of an official 

without witnesses, and their jury that 

decides if they are guilty or innocent 

them would be one that consists of their 

peers.

Jamestown was the first permanent British colony 

in North America, it struggled because of disease, 

but it later thrived by using tobacco as a cash crop.

The House of Burgesses was the first 

representative government assembly in the 

American Colonies.

The Mayflower Compact was the document outlining 

the principles of self government for the first settlers 

in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

The New England colonies consisted of 

Massachustts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and 

Connecticut. Their lives were centered around 

religion and they were ranked by classes. They 

fished, hunted, traded, and built ships to make 

money. 

The middle colonies consisted of New York, 

New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. They 

were skilled craftsmen, they mined, and they 

Farmed (oats, wheat, and barley). They were 

colony called the "melting pot" because of their 

diversity. They had no public schools, but their 

private schools were run by churches. 

The Southern colonies consisted of Virginia, 

Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 

Georgia. They farmed for a living (tobacco, rice, 

and indigo). They had no public schools, very few 

private schools, but if the parents had money they 

would hire a tutor.

The French and Indian war was a conflict in North 

America that was part of the worldwide struggle 

between France and Britain (in this particular war 

they claimed the same land as their own and fought 

over who the land truly belonged to). The allies 

were France and the Indians on one side and 

Britain and the colonists on the other. Britain won.

The Treaty of Paris was the treaty that ended 

The French and Indian War, Britain gained all of 

North America East of the Mississippi River.

The Proclamation of 1763 was an order in which 

Britain prohibited the colonists from settling West 

of the Appalachian Mountains (because the of the 

conflicts between the Native Americans and the 

colonists).

The Sugar Act was an act passed by Parliament 

that stated that a tax would be placed on sugar, 

molasses, and other products. It also called for 

harsh punishment on smugglers.

The Quartering Act was an act passed by 

Parliament that stated that the colonies were 

required to house and supply British soldiers.

The Stamp Act was an act created by Parliament 

that stated that all legal and commercial 

documents were required to carry an official 

stamp showing that a tax had been paid.

The Townshend Acts were s series of laws 

passed by Parliament that suspended New 

York's assembly and established taxes on goods 

brought into the colonies.

The Boston Massacre was a clash between British 

soldiers and the American colonists in which five 

colonists were killed. (The Sons of Liberty later 

called it the Boston Massacre).

The Boston Tea party was a protest that the 

colonists made against the tax on tea by 

dumping 342 chests of tea into the Boston 

Harbor.

The Intolerable Acts were a series of laws 

passed by Parliament made to punish 

Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.

Lexington and Concord were the sites of the 

first battles of the American Revolution. The 

British went to Lexington to capture patriot 

leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The 

British also went to Concord to capture guns 

and ammunition from the patriots. The British 

won, but at a heavy cost.

The Declaration of Independence was a 

document written in 1776 in which the colonies 

declared independence from Britain.

The Battle of Saratoga was a series of battles 

between the British soldiers and the 

Continental Army. It was a turning point in the 

Revolution because America started winning.

The Battle of Yorktown was the last major 

battle of the American Revolution. Britain 

surrendered to America. George Washington 

was the commander and chief of the 

Continental Army .

The Articles of Confederation was a document 

that was adopted in 1777 but was approved in 

1781. It was the first attempt at government 

for the new United States.

The Treaty of Paris was the Treaty that ended 

the Revolutionary War and confirmed America's 

independence.  

The Northwest Ordinance stated how the 

northwest territory would be settled in and 

governed.

The Great Compromise was the Constitutional 

Convention's agreement to establish a 2 house 

legislature, with all of the states having equal 

representation in one house and representation 

based on the state's population in the other.

The 3/5ths Compromise stated that 3/5ths of 

the slave population would be counted when 

setting direct taxes on the states and 3/5ths of 

the slave population would be used to 

determine the representation of the state in 

legislature.

Popular sovereignty is when the people rule; 

the power of the government comes from the 

people.

Republicism is when the government is run by 

elected representatives.

Individual rights state that people have basic 

rights that the government cannot take away.

Limited Government is when the government is 

not all powerful; members of the government 

must follow the law.

Federalism is when the powers of the 

government are divided between the national 

(federal) and state governments.

Separation of Powers is when the power of the 

national (federal) government is separated into 

legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and Balances are when each branch of 

the national (federal) government can limit or 

control the other two branches (to prevent any 

one branch from becoming too powerful).

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