13 Original Colonies

Formed along the East Coast; NOT Florida, Vermont, Maine, or West Virginia

Why colonists came

Religious freedom, escape persecution, economic opportunity

Why independence was declared

Taxation without representation, quartering soldiers, desire for self‑government

Quartering

Being forced to house British soldiers; later banned by 3rd Amendment

Common Sense (Thomas Paine) Pamphlet

convincing colonists to support independence

Declaration of Independence date

July 4, 1776

Main author of Declaration

Thomas Jefferson

Key idea in Declaration

Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

Articles of Confederation

→ Constitution

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government; weak central government; failed

U.S. Constitution ratified

1789; became supreme law of the land

Supreme Law of the Land

The U.S. Constitution

Representative democracy

People elect representatives; most represented = House of Representatives

Federalism

Balance of power between state and federal government

“We the People”

Words establishing self‑government

Rule of Law

No one is above the law

Federalist Papers

85 essays supporting Constitution; Hamilton, Madison, Jay

Anti‑Federalists

Opposed Constitution; wanted stronger state power

Bill of Rights

(Amendments 1–10)

1st Amendment

Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition

Free Exercise Clause

Right to practice any religion or none

2nd Amendment

Right to keep and bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering soldiers

4th Amendment

No unreasonable searches; warrants required

5th Amendment

Due process, no double jeopardy, no self‑incrimination, eminent domain

6th Amendment

Right to fair, speedy trial; right to attorney

7th Amendment

Jury trial in civil cases

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment; no excessive bail

9th Amendment

Rights not listed still protected

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government belong to states

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery

14th Amendment

Citizenship, due process, equal protection

15th Amendment

Voting cannot be denied by race

16th Amendment

Income tax

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment

Prohibition of alcohol

21st Amendment

Repealed prohibition

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

22nd Amendment

Limits president to two terms

23rd Amendment

DC gets electoral votes

24th Amendment

No poll taxes

25th Amendment

Presidential succession rules

26th Amendment

Voting age lowered to 18

Rights only for U.S. citizens

Vote in federal elections, serve on federal jury, run for federal office