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1215
Magna Carta
Moved from rule of man to rule of law and outlined individual rights the king could not violate. -
Mayflower Compact
Each charter guaranteed colonists the “rights of Englishmen.” -
Petition of Right
Required monarchs to obtain Parliamentary approval before new taxes, and said government could not unlawfully imprison people or establish military rule during times of peace -
King Charles defeated
King Charles is beheaded after a civil war between himself and Parliament -
Iroquois Confederation
British colonies formed an alliance with 6 Native American nations -
English Bill of Rights
Guaranteed free speech and protection from cruel and unusual punishment -
The Enlightenment
Framers of the U.S. Constitution believed in people’s natural rights to life, liberty, and property. -
Boston Massacre
British soldiers fired into crowd and 5 colonists died -
Intolerable Acts
Colonists were forced to “Quarter,” or house, British troops -
First Continental Congress
Repealed the Intolerable Acts and Declared independence from Britain. Britain rejected the declaration. -
Second Continental Congress
Established a Continental Army and Declared Independence from Britain. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, which blamed the King for the colony's issues is signed -
Articles of Confederation
First National Government that gave little to no power to the Federal government, and instead states held most of the power. -
Shay’s Rebellion
Massachusetts farmers rebelled over prospect of losing land -
Constitutional Convention
Drafted a new US Constitution -
Northwest Ordinance
Established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory -
Federalist Paper Gazette
Federalist paper Gazette of the United States published -
Full faith and Credit Clause
Contract in one state must be honored in other states (driver’s license, marriage) -
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments made to the Constitution -
McCulloch v. Maryland
U.S. Supreme Court decision that defined the scope of the U.S. Congress's legislative power and how it relates to the powers of American state legislatures. -
Gibbons v Odgen
Court said only Congress has the right to regulate commerce between states -
Spoils System
Government jobs were given out as political rewards to people who supported the president’s policies or campaign -
Doctrine of Nullification
States had the right to nullify (cancel) national laws that they believed contradicted state interests -
Dred Scott vs. Sandford
Court said that Scott, as an African-American and previously property, was not a citizen -
Doctrine of secession
States had the right to separate themselves from the Union -
Morill Act
System of spending, taxing, and providing aid in the federal system -
Privileges and immunities clause
Citizens of each state should receive all the privileges and immunities of any state where they are currently located -
The Civil Service
Made up of civilians who carry out the work of the federal government -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Ended Chinese immigration to the US -
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Based hiring and promotions on merit and not party affiliation -
Sherman Anti Trust Act
A federal statute which prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace. -
17th Amendment
The people can vote for Senators -
16th Amendment
Gave Congress authority to set a federal income tax. -
Cooperative Federalism
States and national governments worked together to deal with the Great Depression -
Free Exercise Clause
Each citizen is guaranteed the right to hold any religious beliefs they choose -
United States v. Darby
Upheld Fair Labor Standards Act; Commerce Clause allows Congress to regulate employment conditions -
Executive Order 9066
FDR required all people of Japanese descent on the West Coast to report to "War Relocation Centers" (internment camps) -
Korematsu v. the United States
Upheld involuntary internment of ethnically Japanese American citizens -
22nd Amendment
U.S. President can serve up to 10 years or two 4-year terms -
Health and Human Services
Protects health of people -
Devolution
Returning power to the states -
Fiscal Federalism
System of spending, taxing, and providing aid in the federal system. -
Edwards v. South Carolina
187 African-American students gathered at the state capitol to protest racial injustice -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Miranda v. Arizona
Expanded rights of people accused of crimes -
Freedom of Information Act
Allows citizens access to written records kept by federal agencies -
Loving V. Virginia
Struck down all state laws banning interracial marriage -
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
Protects applicants and employees of 40+ years old from discrimination based on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, privileges, etc. of employment. -
25th Amendment
Sets up the formal processes of Presidential Succession -
War Powers Resolution
President must consult with Congress before sending troops -
Harlow v. Fitzgerald
Established the rationale for qualified immunity -
Tennessee v. Garner
Limited police use of lethal force -
Graham v. Connor
Juries must consider if the officer believed force was reasonable -
Americans with Disabilities Act
Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996
Increased border control; easier to deport undocumented aliens, increased penalties for smuggling people into the country. -
Block Grants
Congress gave states authority to manage welfare systems with block grants. -
"Contract With America"
Reduced size of nat. govt. by eliminating federal programs and combining others -
Dept. of Homeland Security
Dept. of Homeland Security was formed to protect the nation from terrorism and natural disaster. -
McDonald v. Chicago
Ruled 2nd Amendment applies to federal, state, and local governments; upheld 2nd Amendment -
Trump v Hawaii
Court ruled a ban on immigration from majority-Muslim countries did not violate the Establishment Clause
