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I t was a charter of liberties, sealed by King John of England that established the principle that everyone including the king is not above the law. It purpose was to protect the rights of powerful barons, it legacy includes fundamental principles of individual liberty and justice that influenced constitutional thought, such as the right to a fair trial and due process of law. The American Founding Fathers drew heavily on the Magna Carta's principles. -
The first representative legislative assembly in the American colonies of Virginia, established to provide a model for self-governance. It had two representatives from each of the 11 boroughs and was composed of male landowners. It influenced the development of legislative bodies throughout the colonies. It continued to be Virginia's legislative body until its last meeting when it declared Virginia's independence from Britain -
A foundational English constitutional document that limited the power of King Charles l by affirming the rights of subjects, such as no taxation without parliamentary consent, no free man should be unlawful imprisoned or detained, no quartering of soldiers in private homes, and no martial law in peacetime. It was drafted by Parliament to address the perceived abuses of King Charles l, who believed in the divine right of kings and tried to rule without their consent. -
A key document from the Glorious Revolution that limited the power of monarch and established the supremacy of Parliament. It established a number of individual rights, such as the right to free elections, freedom of speech in parliament, protection from cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to petition the king, and the right to bear arms for defense.
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A British tax law passed to raise revenue after the French and Indian War and to strengthen the government's control over colonial trade. It lowered the tax on foreign molasses but increased enforcement and taxed other goods like coffee, sugar, and indigo, while establishing vice-admiralty courts to try smugglers without juries The economic impact was unpopular with colonists who argued it was an unfair tax and hurt their economy." No taxation without representation." -
Met in Philadelphia with delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies to coordinate resistance to Britain's Coercive Acts. The delegates, including future presidents John and John Adams, agreed to boycott British goods and sent a list of grievances to King George lll. -
An epic political and military struggle waged when 13 of Britain's North American colonies rejected its imperial rule. Its insurrection carried out by 13 0f Great Britain's North American colonies that ended with a peace treaty. The colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. -
A document where the 13 American colonies declared their separation from Great Britain, officially becoming an independent nation. Adopted by the Continental Congress this document outlines the colonists' grievances against the British Crown and states the principles of the new nation, including the idea that "all men are created equal" and are endowed with unalienable rights to " Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness". -
A pivotal governing body that convened in Philadelphia and managed the American war effort , acting as the de facto government for the colonies. It established the Continental Army appointing George Washington as its commander. The body sought foreign alliances to aid the war effort, particularly with France, which was crucial for securing American victory and it sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George lll as a final attempt to avoid war. -
The United States' first constitution which established a weak central government with most power remaining with the states. This led to significant weakness, as congress could not effectively tax, regulate commerce, or raise a national army, causing economic instability and foreign policy challenges. -
Met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation but ultimately drafted a new constitution, establishing the three-branch government with checks and balances. To resolve disputes between large and small states over representation it created a bicameral congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives and this agreement counted three-fifths of the enslaved population making up the three branches of government-legislative, executive, and judicial. -
The supreme of law of the United States and the fundamental frame work of the nation's system of government. It establishes a government that puts power in the hands of the people and defines the basic rights of U.S. citizens. The constitution separates federal power into three distinct branches to ensure no one branch becomes too powerful, a system known as the separation of powers. Power is divided between the national and state governments, -
He was a Founding Father and the first president of the United States. He was an American general and commander in chief of the colonial armies in the American Revolution. -
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. It spells out Americans' rights in relation to their government. It guarantees civil rights and liberties to individual-like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the federal government to the people or states and it specifies that " the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights shall not be construed to deny by the people. -
U.S. acquisition of 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million, which nearly doubled the size of the United States. It provided the young nation with control of the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans for trade and to prevent a potential conflict with France, while also making the US a continental power. The long term impact was the expansion of slavery into the new territories contributed to the tensions that eventually led to the Civil War. -
A conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain stemming from issues like British impressment of American sailors and restrictions on trade. Events include the British burning of Washington D.C., The American naval victory at Lake Champlain, and the American victory at the Battle of New Orleans and it ended with the Treaty of Ghent with no clear winner, the war boosted the U.S. reputation, led to the national anthem " The Star- Spangled Banner" -
A strong sense of national unity following the War of 1812. This era saw the collapse of the Federalist Party, leading to the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party and i significant reduction in partisan conflict. Events included the national expansion through treaties like he Adams-Onis Treaty(which acquired Florida), the passage of the Missouri Compromise and the establishment of the Monroe Doctrine. The period saw a rise in American commerce and economic growth. -
This act authorizes the President to negotiate removal treaties with Native American tribes. The act was framed as a voluntary exchange, it often carried out through coercive tactics. the impact led to the forced relocation of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations, among others. The Trail of Tears resulted in the deaths of thousands from disease, starvation, and exposure during the arduous journey. The removal opened up land for white settlers and expansion of slavery. -
A series of five laws passed to defuse tensions between free and slave states over territories gained from the Mexican-American War .It admitted California as a free state, allowed Utah and New Mexico territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty. It abolished the slave trade in Washington, D.C. and the buying and selling of enslaved people was prohibited in the capital. The Fugitive Slave Act was strengthened, making it a federal crime to assist escape slaves. -
The 16th President of the United States. He led the U.S. through the American Civil War, defeating the Confederate States and playing a major role in the abolition of slavery. Lincoln is remembered as a martyr and a national hero for his wartime leadership and for his efforts to preserve the Union and appealed to the rebellious states to rejoin the nation. His ominous message: "Shall it be peace, or the sword". He issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves. -
A law passed to help fund the Civil War, establishing the office of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and creating the nation's first progressive income tax. It also levied new taxes on legal documents, medicines, cosmetics, and various businesses like taverns and theaters. The act was a key measure to generate revenue for the Union war effort after initial attempts fell short. Unlike earlier revenue efforts, the act provided frame work for enforcement, including a system for tax collection. -
A U.S. law that gave any citizen or intended citizen the opportunity to claim 160 acres of federal land in exchange for a small filing fee and five years of continuous residence and cultivation. The act significantly accelerated the settlement of the American West. Despite the promise of free land, many homesteaders faced immense challenges, including harsh climate, lack of water and trees, and debt, leading to a high failure rate in some areas and it lead to forced removal of Native Americans. -
An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln it declared that enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union were "henceforward...shall be free". It was a pivotal moment that shifted the war's purpose to include the abolition of slavery and allowed black men to join the Union Army. It didn't apply to the four slave states that remained loyal to the Union, it did not end slavery everywhere in the United States -
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States, though it includes an exception for the punishment of a crime. Ratified in 1865 after the Civil War, it has been a cornerstone of the civil rights legislation and has been used to protect workers from exploitation and human trafficking and coercion of immigrant workers. The clause has been used to justify practices like convict leasing, where African Americans wee arrested for minor infractions. -
He was Union commander in the U.S. Civil War, known for his " March to the Sea" through Georgia and his aggressive, total war" tactics that devasted the Confederacy's ability and will to fight. He was a major architect of modern warfare. -
It was rarified after the Civil War, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people. It also prohibits states from denying any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" and from denying "to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws". These clauses have been fundamental to civil rights litigation, extending Bill of Rights protections to state governments and leading to court cases. -
It was a 1,912 mile railroad that connected the U.S. East and West Coasts, built by the Union Pacific and Central Pacific companies. It revolutionized travel and commerce by cutting cross-country travel for months to about a week, but it also intensified conflicts with Native Americans as it facilitated greater westward expansion by settlers. The construction involved immense challenges, including difficult terrain, severe weather, and hostility from Native Americans and access to tribal lands. -
A foundational U.S. law that prohibits anticompetitive business practices by outlawing contracts, conspiracies, and combinations that unreasonably restrain trade and commerce. It also makes monopolization and attempts to monopolize a felony, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and triple damages for those harmed. The federal government ha the power to take legal action against violators. -
The United States defeated Spain, leading to Spain ceding its territories in the Americas and Pacific. The war was fought over Cuban independence and triggered by sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor. Spain relinquished its control of Cuba, and the U.S. gained Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, which marked the rise of the United States as a world power. Roosevelt became a national hero for leading the "Rough Riders" in the charge up Kettle Hill. -
The federal government power to collect a national income tax without having to apportion it among the states based on population. A supreme court ruling had declared the income tax unconstitutional. It fundamentally changed the way the government is funded, with income taxes now being the largest source of federal revenue and providing funding for everything from national defense to social programs. It grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes on income from whatever source. -
It prohibits the federal and state government from denying a citizen the right to vote based on sex, granting women the right to vote in the United States. The amendment was the results of a decades-long struggle by suffragists who used various methods including lobbying, marching, and civil obedience to achieve the goal. Many women of color were still unable to vote due to decades of discriminatory practices like poll taxes, literacy tests, and other forms of intimidation and racism. -
It was a severe, world-wide economic down-turn that led to the stock market crash and characterized by high unemployment, bank failures and a steep decline in industrial production. It caused wide spread poverty and homelessness, with figures showing U.S. the depression's effects. Unsustainable consumption fueled by credit i the years leading up to the crash. President's Roosevelt's "New Deal" programs were launched to provide relief and stimulate the economy. -
The Social Security Act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, established the U.S. social security system, providing financial assistance for the elderly, unemployed, and other groups. The system is funded through payroll taxes with workers contributing 6.2% and with the employers matching the contributions. The program includes Social Security retirement benefits, unemployment insurance and later programs like Medicare and Disability Insurance. -
A global conflict primarily fought between the Axis powers and the Allied powers. It was the deadliest conflict in human history, causing millions of fatalities, including the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and it involved the use of nuclear weapons. The cause of the war was the invasion of Poland by Germany The war caused a widespread destruction but also led to economic revival in the United States, creating millions of new jobs. -
A surprise military strike by Japan on the U.S. naval base in Hawaii that killed over2,400 Americans and prompt the United States to enter the World War ll the next day. Japanese aircraft carriers launched two waves of attacks, which resulted in the destruction or damages o numerous U.S. warships and planes, mostly notable the USS Arizona killing 1,177 crewmen. It was the deadliest foreign attack event ever in Hawaii. -
A joint declaration of principles by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill that outlined their goals for the postwar world. It established aims for the world after the war, including no territorial gains either nation, self-determination for all peoples, free trade, and a system of general security to prevent future aggression. , and it is also considered a significant step toward the formation of the United Nations. -
A long costly, and divisive Cold War proxy conflict that pitted the communist North Vietnam, supported by the Soviet Union and China, and against South Vietnam and its principal ally, the United States. The war had roots in Vietnam's independence movement against French colonial rule. The U.S., driven by the "domino theory" supported the anti-communist South Vietnamese government to prevent the spread of communism. -
The 35th president of the United States was the youngest person elected and the first catholic. He served at the height of the Cold War, and the majority of his foreign policy concerned relations with the Soviet Union and Cuba. He was assassinated in 1963. -
A landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and in schools, banned unequal voter registration requirements, and had a significant impact on employment discrimination through Title Vll. It ended discrimination in federally funded programs. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the act into law. -
A landmark U.S. federal statue that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson -
A sociopolitical movement in China led by Mao Zedong, to purge the country of bourgeois and traditional elements and re-establish his authority. It involved mass mobilizations, particularly of youth forming the Red Guards, who attacked intellectuals and "Four Olds". The movement led to widespread persecution, violence, the closure of universities, and a devastating impact on China's economy and culture, with deaths ranging from500,00 to 2 million. -
A federal law that prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. It makes it illegal to refuse to rent or sell a home, set different terms, or otherwise make housing unavailable to someone based on these characteristics. -
An American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights movement. He advanced civil rights for people of color in the United States through the use of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience against Jim Crow laws and other forms of legalized discrimination, which most commonly affected African Americans. He was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, 1968. -
A three day music festival on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York, that became a defining moment of the 1960s counterculture movement. Despite being plagued by traffic, overcrowding, and poor sanitation, he event fostered an atmosphere of peace and cooperation, symbolized by its theme, "3 Days of Peace and Music". It was considered one of the most significant events of the 20th century and had a lasting impact on American culture. -
The U.S. space mission that landed the first humans on the Moon on July 20, 1969, Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to walk on the lunar surface, with Armstrong famously declaring it "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". The mission was a major achievement in the Space Race and fulfilled President John F. Kennedy's goal of a lunar landing before the end of the decade. The crew also collected samples, planted a flag, and set up experiments -
A political crisis that began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex and led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974. The ensuing investigation uncovered a wide-ranging cover-up by Nixon's administration, including illegal surveillance, obstruction o justice, and abuse of power. The scandal ended public trust in government and ultimately ended with Nixon becoming the only U.S. president to resign from office. -
Iranian students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and took over 60 Americans hostage. The immediate cause was the U.S. decision to allow the deposed Shah to enter the country for medical treatment. The 444-day crisis ended in 1981 , hours after Ronald Reagan's inauguration and had a significant impact on the U.S. politics and Iran-U.S. relations for decades. The crisis led to freezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets in the U.S. -
A U.S. law that made it illegal for employers to knowingly hire undocumented immigrants, while also providing a pathway to legal status for many un documented individuals who had lived in the country since before January 1, 1982. The act included a conditional legalization program, and increased border security, with the goal of controlling illegal immigration through a multi-pronged approach. It also established requirements for verifying employment eligibility through the creation of the I-9 -
An agreement between the U.S. and Soviet Union to eliminate all land based, intermediate-range nuclear missiles, signed by Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev. The treaty was considered a success for a time, successfully destroying over 2,600 missiles, but was ultimately abandoned after the US accused Russia of violating it with a new missile and formally withdrew in 2019,. The treaty is no longer in force, though other countries continue to develop intermediate -range missiles. -
A landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various areas of public life. It protects against discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications, ensuring that qualified people with disabilities have equal access and opportunities. -
A trade pact signed by Canada, Mexico, and the United States that eliminated most tariffs on goods traded between the three countries. It aimed to boost trade and investment by creating a free-trade zone, but it was also contentious with critics citing job losses and environmental concerns, it included rules for intellectual property protection, investment, trade in service, and government procurement. It lower prices for consumer, and increased competitiveness. -
A federal law that created a comprehensive system for disclosing lobbying activities. It requires lobbyists to register with Congress , file semi-annual public reports on their activities, and prohibits them from offering prohibited gifts to travel to government officials. The act aims to provide greater transparency by creating a publicly accessible list of registered lobbyists and their activities -
A series of four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamist extremist group al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 2,977 victims and 19 hijackers, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers and one into the Pentagon. The U.S. launched the "War on Terrorism" and created the Department of Homeland Security. -
A federal agency established that works to prevent terrorism and protect the United States from threats. Its wide-ranging responsibilities include border and customs enforcement, emergency response to disasters, cybersecurity, and securing national infrastructure. DHS is a large department made up of several operational agencies and plays a role in everything from managing immigration and asylum laws to preventing the flow of illegal drugs. -
The war launched by a U.S.-led coalition, was an invasion to depose Saddam Hussein and dismantle his alleged weapons programs. The invasion was initiated with a "shock and awe" bombing campaign on March 19,2003, followed by a ground invasion the next day. While initial combat operations quickly toppled Hussein's regime, with coalition forces taking Baghdad on April 9, the war evolved into a long occupation and insurgency, with long-term consequences. No weapons of mass destruction were. found -
A catastrophic Category 5 storm that struck the Gulf Coast in August 2005, becoming the costliest hurricane in U. S. history and one of the deadliest. It caused widespread destruction, particularly in New Orleans and along the Mississippi coast, with levee failures in New Orleans leading to devastating flooding. The disaster resulted in over 1,800deaths,billions of dollars in damage, and a massive displacement of people. It led to a major humanitarian crisis. -
An American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States, He became the first African-American to be elected. Before winning the presidency, Obama represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate. he was the third African American to b elected to that body since the end of Reconstruction. In 2009 he was awarded the Noble Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. -
A landmark U.S. health care reform law, signed in 2010 that aims to expand access to health insurance, increase consumer protections, and improve the quality of care while trying to control cost, it includes creating health insurance exchanges, expanding Medicaid eligibility and and prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The subsidies help lower premiums and requires most large employers to offer coverage. -
A terrorist attack when brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev detonated two homemade pressure cooker bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The explosions killed three people and injured more than 200 others, with 17 suffering amputations. The attack prompted a massive manhunt that culminated in a shootout with police, during which Tamerlan was killed and Dzhokhar was later arrested. The brothers were motivated by radical Islamic beliefs. -
A global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, began with an outbreak in Wuhan, China. Soon after, it spread to other parts of Asia and then worldwide in early 2020. The virus spreads vey easily to other people