1. LAW STUDIES
EOC REVIEW

2. Day 1: ORIGINS OF THE CONSTITUTION!!
Everything you need to know but we haven’t had time to cover yet! 

3. Important Documents & Ideas
DOCUMENTS SS.7.C.1.2
IDEAS SS.7.C.1.1
Magna Carta – established the principle that the power of the English monarch was not absolute, limited the power of the king
English Bill of Rights – free parliamentary elections, right to speedy and fair trial, no cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail
Mayflower Compact –signed by the Pilgrims,1st constitution in the New World, set up a direct democracy
Common Sense – pamphlet written by Thomas Paine calling for independence from England.
Natural rights – life, liberty, property (pursuit of happiness) – John Locke -> Thomas Jefferson put it in the D.o.I.
Social Contract Theory –the state government arose out of a voluntary act of free people, by contract the people agree to give up to the state as much power is needed to promote the well-being of the society “all men created equal”

4. Causes of the American Revolution
SS.7.C.1.3
Change in England’s attitude toward colonies after French and Indian War
King of England Taxing Colonists:
Stamp Act – required tax to be paid on certain documents, stamp placed on document after is was paid
Quartering Act – British soldiers had to be quartered in colonial homes
Declaratory Act – asserted Britain’s right to tax the colonists, specifically to pay debts accumulated during the French & Indian War
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) – in response to the Boston Tea Party, British closed the Boston port, no town meetings allowed, and British soldiers tried in Britain
Boston Massacre – mob of colonists descended upon British soldiers, British fired and killed 5 colonists, considered the first violent act of the Revolution, used in colonial propaganda

5. Colonist Reaction to British Grievances
SS.7.C.1.3
Sons of Liberty – group of Patriots that supported the cause of Independence from Great Britain, helped get the Stamp Act repealed
Boston Tea Party – event in Boston where tons of tea were dumped into the harbor after the British passed the Tea Tax.
Colonists boycotted British goods that had taxes on them.
History of self-government and angry that they had no taxation without representation!
Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson) – English colonies in America declared their independence from Britain

6. Declaration of Independence
SS.7.C.1.4
Declaration of Independence
The Preamble
Why the document was written
The Declaration of Natural Rights
Basic unalienable rights (rights can’t be taken away)
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
The List of Grievances
Complaints against the British King and government
Suspending/dissolving colonial legislatures, cutting off their trade, made war on colonists, hired foreign mercenaries to fight against them, etc.
The Resolution of Independence
Explains what the colonists have previously done to settle their disagreements with the crown.
Claims that the colonists are free and independent from Great Britain.

7. Articles of Confederation
SS.7.C.1.5
First plan of national government after independence from Britain.
Considered a more ‘league of friendship’ than a united country.
Problems with the Articles:
No judicial or executive branch
No army
Congress could not tax or regulate trade
Congress – all states got one vote
All 13 states required to ratify (approve) Articles

8. Shay’s Rebellion
SS.7.C.1.5
Movement by New England farmers desperate to be paid for the service in the Revolutionary War.
No national army to put down the rebellion if it spread.
Illustrated the American government under the Articles was weak
Do they fix the articles or do they chuck them and start from scratch becomes the question!!

9. Federalists VS Anti-Federalists
SS.7.C.1.8
Federalist
Anti Federalists
Start from scratch with a new form of Government
Believed Constitution was strong enough to solve the country’s problems
Strong national government
Supported by wealthy landowners and merchants
There ideas were in The Federalist Papers
Wanted to edit the Articles of Confederation
Opposed Constitution because they believe it too strong
States to have more rights
Supported by small farmers
They wanted to protect individual liberties through the Bill of Rights

10. SS.7.C.1.8