A rule passed by England that says colonists can't settle west of the Appalachian Mountains

a conflict between Britain and France for control of territory in North America, lasting from 1754 to 1763; the Native Americans fought along with the French

the money that was owed because of the war; Britain begins to tax the colonies to help pay down the debt

A tax passed that lowered the price of sugar to discourage smuggling

First direct tax on the colonies that required a fee for any printed document, like newspapers and marriage licenses.

A tax passed that lowered the price of tea in hopes of saving the East India Company, but upsetting American merchants

Patriots dressed as Native Americans and dumped over an equivalent of $1 million into Boston Harbor

A patriot group that helped enforced boycotts against British goods

A clash between colonial protestors and British troops, resulting in the death of 5 colonists

A gathering of colonial leaders in response to the Coercive Acts that renewed boycotts and called for the formation of militias

those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789

the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between the central (national) government and regional (state) governments

a series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution

Those who favored a stronger national government and supported the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

-no federal leader to lead the country)

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Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting high taxes. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

English philosopher who argued that people have natural rights and should have separation of powers