Key Events and Concepts Leading to the American Revolution

What did the colonists believe about their natural rights?

• They were granted by the government

• They were inherent and being violated

• They were only applicable to landowners

• They were subject to change based on laws

Separation of Powers

• Dividing government responsibilities into distinct branches.

• Combining all government functions into one entity.

• Establishing a single authority for all governmental decisions.

• Creating a system of checks and balances within one branch.

Checks and Balances

• A system to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

• A method to increase the power of the executive branch.

• A way to eliminate the legislative branch's authority.

• A strategy to ensure that the judiciary has the final say in all matters.

Appalachian Mountains

• The boundary set by the Proclamation of 1763.

• A mountain range in the western United States.

• The location of the first successful airplane flight.

• A major river in North America.

What are "natural rights" according to the American colonists?

• Basic rights you are born with, like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

• Rights granted by the government to its citizens

• Privileges that can be taken away under certain circumstances

• Rights that are only applicable to certain groups of people

Tea Act

• A 1773 act that granted the British East India Company the right to ship tea directly to the colonies.

• A law that imposed taxes on all imported goods to the colonies.

• An act that allowed the colonies to trade directly with India.

• A regulation that prohibited the sale of tea in the colonies.

What did the Stamp Act tax?

• Newspapers and legal documents

• Tea and coffee

• Clothing and textiles

• Land and property

Stamp Act Impact

• Increased colonial resentment due to taxation without representation.

• Strengthened colonial loyalty to the British crown.

• Led to the immediate independence of the colonies.

• Decreased trade between the colonies and Britain.

Why did the colonists value natural rights?

• They believed these rights were being violated by British rule

• They thought it was a tradition from their ancestors

• They wanted to establish a monarchy

• They were influenced by the French Revolution

What was the impact of the separation of powers on government?

• It ensured no branch had too much power

• It allowed for a single branch to dominate

• It created a more efficient government

• It eliminated the need for checks and balances