Vocabulary Matching Exercise: The Origins of the American Republic

Use your vocabulary list as a word bank to complete these matching questions. Write out the word that fits in the blank on your own sheet.

Section One

___1) This representative body in England emerged out of the council of nobles and bishops during the 1200s. Today, this body has the power to make laws.

___2) This document was signed by King John in 1215. It placed limits on the power of the monarchy by establishing basic constitutional freedoms as the basis of limited government.

___3) This document tried to limit the power of the English monarch by withholding funds until certain demands were met by the king.

___4) This political philosophy was put forth by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, who believed the government as an obligation to protect the "natural rights of citizens." If the government failed to do this, the people had the right to overthrow it.

Section Two

___5) Parliament passed these restrictions on American self-rule after the Boston Tea Party. They led to the formation of the First Continental Congress.

___6) This was the hands-off policy of the British government toward its American colonies during the early 1700s.

___7) This was Ben Franklin’s document which called for a colonial confederation to foster cooperation in the areas of taxation, Indian affairs, and defense.

___8) This set of laws was developed by settlers in Connecticut Colony. It helped establish methods for self-government.

Section Three:

___9) It is called the "birth certificate of the United States" and states the case for American sovereignty.

___10) This document was America’s first national constitution. It helped the 13 colonies form a "league of friendship" designed to help them meet certain goals they held in common.

___11) This law outlined a process for new lands to become part of the US, guaranteed religious freedom in those new lands, and it outlawed slavery in the territories.

___12) This list of basic civil liberties was included in seven state constitutions. It was added to the Federal constitution in order to persuade anti-federalists to support the Constitution.

Section 4:

___13) This idea set forth a three branch government and a bicameral legislature with a lower house that had its representation based on population.

___14) This idea favored small states. It called for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for member states. It also called for multiple executives and a lifetime judiciary.

___15) This group argued in favor of ratification of the Constitution. They developed a set of essays that explained why the Constitution’s strong central government was the best choice for the people of the new republic.

___16) This group included such leaders as Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams. They argued against adoption of the Constitution arguing in favor of state’s rights and in defense of individual liberties. Many argued for the addition of a Bill of Rights to the new constitution.