1. FIFTH AMENDMENT “No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” Grand Jury A panel of citizens that is convened by a court to decide whether it is appropriate for the government to indict (proceed with a prosecution against) someone suspected of a crime. Double jeopardy: The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense Self-incrimination: Being forced to testify or provide evidence against oneself Due process: The legal requirement that the state must respect all of the legal rights that are owed to a person i.e. Miranda rights (right to remain silent), 4 th Amendment rights, etc.

2. THE NEW WORLD The first Europeans come to the Americas for exploration, then trade and colonization, then seeking freedom Explorers Christopher Columbus was seeking a new trade route to India when he accidentally discovered the New World in 1492 Later explorers were seeking the 3 Gs God, Gold, and Glory Trade/colonization Colonies were established to support trade Roanoke was established in 1583, and had disappeared by 1590 Jamestown was the first permanent English colony, established in 1607 Freedom Pilgrims came to the Americans looking for religious freedom They landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620 Over the years, many more people came here seeking freedom from various forms of oppression

3. AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR (1775–1783) Fought for many reasons, the biggest being taxation without representation Declaration of Independence Written on July 4, 1776 Lists many of the colonists’ grievances At the end of the war, the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation were not effective because they gave too much power to the states In 1788, the Articles were replaced by the United States Constitution and the new government began operations in 1789.

4. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Adopted on July 4, 1776 Written by Thomas Jefferson Announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as 13 newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by: 1.Listing colonial grievances against King George III 2.Asserting certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

5. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION It was written by the Continental Congress in mid-1776, and an approved version was sent to the states for ratification in late 1777 Every state was as independent as possible with a weak national government. The United States only responsible for the common defense, security of liberties, and the general welfare. States often argued amongst themselves and refused to financially support the national government Problems with the Articles of Confederation No Executive Branch No levying of taxes No regulation of trade No national court system Many complained that the Articles were too weak for an effective government The Articles were replaced by the Constitution in 1788

6. US CONSTITUTION Adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America The Constitution originally consisted of seven Articles, or sections The first three articles explain the separation of powers and the functions of each of the three branches of government Article 1: Legislative Article 2: Executive Article 3: Judicial

7. PREAMBLE TO THE US CONSTITUTION “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

8. BILL OF RIGHTS First ten Amendments to the US Constitution Went into effect as Constitutional Amendments on December 15, 1791 They define our most basic civil liberties like freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, etc.