In A Nutshell

Grade 8 TEKS on Grade 10 TAKS

Dates

1776178717881791

1861-1865

1776 Declaration of Independence

Stating that the 13 colonies were a free and independent nation

Written by Thomas Jefferson

1787 Constitutional Convention

Gathering of state representatives to revise the Articles of Confederation (1777)

Held in Philadelphia George Washington was president

of Convention

1788 Constitution Ratified

Ratified by 9 of 13 states June 21, 1788 (this constituted a majority)

1791 Bill of Rights Adopted

Consists of the 1st ten amendments to the Constitution

Rights of the Individual: 1st-3rd Rights of the Accused: 4th-8th Rights of the States and People:

9th-10th

1861-1865 U.S. Civil War

War between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy)

1st shots fired at Fort Sumter Confederate General Robert E. Lee

surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865

Lincoln assassinated 5 days later by John Wilkes Booth

People

George WashingtonThomas Jefferson

George Washington

Commander of Continental Army during Revolution

President of Constitutional Convention

1st U.S. President (Father of our Country)

Urged U.S. to maintain neutral foreign policy

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence

3rd U.S. President Supported minimal government Residence at Monticello

Documents

Magna CartaEnglish Bill of Rights

Declaration of IndependenceFederalist PapersU.S. Constitution

Bill of Rights

Magna Carta

1215 King John was forced to sign it British document contained 2 basic

ideas: Monarchs have to obey laws Citizens have basic rights

English Bill of Rights

1689 Signed by William and Mary of

England Document guaranteeing the rights

of English citizens

Declaration of Independence

1776 Written by Thomas Jefferson Listed colonial grievances against

Great Britain and King George Stated that colonies were a free

and independent nation

Federalists Papers

1787 Coauthored by James Madison,

Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay Essays defended the Constitution

and discussed the political theory behind the American system of government

U.S. Constitution

1787 A plan (framework) for the United

States Government Grew out of the Articles of

Confederation Ratified by 9 states June 21, 1788 By all states by 1790

Bill of Rights

1791 Name by which the first 10

amendments to the Constitution are known

Deal with the rights of the individual, the accused, and of the states and people

Principles Limited Government Republicanism Checks and Balances Federalism Separation of Powers Popular Sovereignty Individual Rights 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th Amendments

Limited Government

The government has only those powers that the Constitution gives it

Republic

Instead of directly participating in government, citizens elect representatives to carry out their will

Checks and Balances

Each branch of the government can check or control the actions of the other branches

Federalism

Division of power between the states and the national government

Separation of Powers

Principle by which the powers of government are divided among separate branches:

Executive, Legislative, Judicial

Popular Sovereignty

Idea that people hold the final authority in government

Individual Rights

The basic rights of all human beings are guaranteed in the bill of rights

Freedom of speech Freedom of religion Freedom to assemble peacefully

Natural Rights

Rights so basic that they cannot be taken away

AKA inalienable rights “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of

Happiness”

13th Amendment

1865 Bans slavery

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship to all persons born in the U.S.

15th Amendment

1870 Guarantees voting rights for all

men, regardless of race

19th Amendment

1920 Gives women the right to vote