American History Quiz: Founding Principles

The idea that history has a set pattern or direction, moving towards a predetermined endpoint. Imagine a grand plan unfolding, revealing its purpose over time.

The acknowledgment that multiple potential pathways exist during historical events. It means that the future is not fixed, and things could have turned out differently.

The study of how historians approach the past and analyze historical events, including their various interpretations, debates, and biases.

A formal document granting rights and privileges, usually from a sovereign power. It's like a legal contract between the ruler and the people.

A historic treaty that limited the power of the English king and granted certain rights to barons, setting the stage for later legal advancements.

A system where land ownership is tied to duty and service to a lord. Think of knights, vassals, and estates.

A peasant in medieval England, bound to the land and subject to the lord's will.

The establishment of a colony, often associated with the planting of crops and the creation of a sustainable community.

A document that outlined the structure and laws of Jamestown, reflecting principles drawn from the Magna Carta and aiming to establish a new society in the Americas.

A system where land grants were given to people (or those they sponsored) who immigrated to Virginia, encouraging population growth and colonization.

A crucial event marking the arrival of the first African slaves to Jamestown, transforming the colony's labor system and shaping its history.

A period where the English king took direct control of Virginia, shifting power from the Virginia Company to the crown.

The ways in which governments are structured, how power is distributed, and how the limits of authority are established.

A document that lays out the principles and structure of government, defining its powers and limits.

A group of Protestant reformers who sought to purify the Church of England and create a more pure and simple form of worship.

The principle that colonists should have the same rights as British citizens, particularly the right to not be taxed without representation.

The act of protesting against British policies by refusing to buy or sell British goods.

Documents outlining the rights of colonists and protesting against British policies.

A series of agreements made by the colonists to boycott British goods.

The idea that colonists brought their full English rights and liberties with them when they settled in America.

The belief that the power of government comes from the consent of the governed.

The belief that citizens should prioritize civic virtue and guard against tyranny.

An act that forced colonists to house and feed British troops during peacetime.

Acts that imposed taxes on goods imported to the colonies, such as tea, glass, and paper.

A law that regulated the price of tea in the colonies, leading to the Boston Tea Party.

Acts passed by the British Parliament in response to the Boston Tea Party, aimed at punishing Massachusetts.

The act of bringing together a group of people to discuss and address issues.

The first meeting of colonial delegates from all thirteen colonies, held in Philadelphia in 1774.

A petition sent by the colonists to King George III, pleading for peace and a return to previous relationships.

An official statement outlining the reasons for taking up arms against the British.

A British officer who served during the Revolutionary War, Joseph Louis Cook was born to a Wabanaki mother and an African father and was adopted by the Mohawk during the French-Indian War, eventually becoming a leader among the Six Nations. He fought for the British cause.

A proclamation by the Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, in 1775, offering freedom to indentured servants and slaves who joined the British side in the Revolutionary War.

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in January 1776, arguing for American independence from Britain.

A document written by Thomas Jefferson, declaring that the thirteen American colonies were free and independent states, separated from British rule.

A document written by James McPherson, a Scottish writer and politician, criticizing the American Declaration of Independence. He argued that the colonists were misrepresenting facts and logic and that taxation without representation was not a valid argument for independence.

A document outlining proposed changes to the Pennsylvania state constitution, written by John Dickinson. This document called for abolition of slavery and an elected government.

A document written by John Dickinson, expressing his political beliefs and advocating for rights and independence.

The 3/5ths Compromise is a legal compromise in the US Consitution that counted 3/5ths of the slave population in a state for the purpose of representation in the House of Representatives. It was controversial, as it granted political power to slaveholding states without the enslaved people possessing any actual rights.

The Northwest Ordinance established a system for governing and admitting new states, including provisions against slavery, guaranteeing voting rights for settlers, mandating a minimum population threshold for statehood, and establishing a system of labor for those convicted of crimes.

James Wilson, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, defended the Constitution's absence of a bill of rights by arguing that it was unnecessary at the federal level, as the supremacy clause prevented federal government overreach. He also argued that the government's powers should not be limited by a bill of rights.

The Federal Farmer, an Anti-Federalist, argued against the ratification of the Constitution, fearing the creation of a strong central government. He advocated for full and equal representation, access to justice, and a bill of rights to protect individual liberties.

In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that the Constitution's government was designed to control the effects of factions—majority or minority groups that go against the common good—by preventing them from forming in the first place and by preventing any one faction from dominating.

This clause in the 1821 NY Constitution outlined voting requirements for both white men and Black men. While white men needed to meet simple requirements like residency and property ownership, Black men faced additional, significant hurdles.

This petition argued that women should have the right to vote based on principles of democracy, equality, and the right to representation. It was presented two years before the Seneca Falls Convention.

In 1835, the North Carolina Constitution established a strict voting restriction, preventing any person with even a trace of Black or Brown ancestry from voting. This denied voting rights to previously enfranchised free Black men.

Jacob Henry, a Jewish man elected to office in North Carolina, faced attempts to remove him based on his religious beliefs. He argued passionately for religious freedom and the right of all citizens to hold office.

In 1821, Black men in New York gathered to demand their voting rights during the state constitutional convention. They aimed to ensure that their voices were heard and their rights were protected in the new constitution.

The Compromise of 1787 allowed slave importation until 1808, but Congress could regulate the trade to ensure humane treatment.

Pennsylvania's 1780 act aimed to gradually abolish slavery. It stated that all children born after the act would be free, and they would be indentured servants until age 28. Owners were required to provide information about them to the state.

The New York Council of Revision vetoed a gradual abolition act similar to Pennsylvania's. They cited the act's voting provisions, which prohibited voting based on race, as a motive. This reveals the tension between ideals of liberty and racial realities.

In 1790, Pennsylvanians, including Benjamin Franklin, petitioned Congress to end the slave trade and abolish slavery altogether. The debate highlighted southern resistance due to fears of economic and social instability.

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 mandated the return of escaped slaves to their owners, appointing agents to capture and transport them. Obstruction of the process was punishable by fines.

A free Black man, William Hamilton, wrote to John Jay expressing his frustration over the inconsistency between American principles and the continued practice of slavery.

Passed during the Quasi-War with France, the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 aimed to suppress dissent and curtail immigration. They allowed the president to deport suspicious aliens and criminalized criticism of the government.

The 1811 NY election fraud law required Black and mixed-race people to present proof of their freedom and take an oath before voting. This law further limited the political participation of Black people.

The 1818 Connecticut Constitution established a system of government with three branches, guaranteed religious freedom, and promoted public education. It also set property qualifications for voting and defined voter qualifications.

The belief that slavery was primarily a matter for individual states to regulate, reflecting the idea that states held significant power over their internal affairs, including issues of slavery.

The Southern states opposed abolition, arguing that it was an attack on their social and economic fabric. They claimed it interfered with their property rights and threatened racial order.

Proponents of abolition argued it was necessary to prevent rebellion and instability. Some proposed the government buy slaves to free them.

The report on slave importation was initially more comprehensive, but Madison removed most clauses, leaving only provisions regarding humane treatment and preventing foreign involvement in the slave trade. His stance reflected the prevailing notion of slavery as a local matter.

The Constitution's Fifth and Sixth articles, focused on regulating the slave trade, represent the delicate balance struck between pro- and anti-slavery factions. They allowed for humane treatment but did not abolish the institution.