0002 The Development of the Constitution and the Early Republic (SMR 2.2)

Question 1

What was the government like in Virginia prior to the Revolution?

Answer 1

The House of Burgesses was established in 1619 in Jamestown, based on english law and Magna Carta, elected representatives of the settlers but only white male property owners could vote (this would influence what makes up US citizenry later on.

Question 2

What was the House of Burgesses and what reaction did the King of England have towards it initally?

Answer 2

The House of Burgesses was the government of pre-revolutionary Virginia that was based on English law and the Magna Carta. It was initially not approved by King James I but approved by later Monarchs

Question 3

What was the government like in Plymouth prior to the Revolution?

Answer 3

Self government: Mayflower Compact of 1620: Recognized power of the people, NOT the King, would greatly influence later constitution

Question 4

Who had the first elected legislature in New England?

Answer 4

Plymouth Colony through Mayflower Compact of 1620

Question 5

What was stated in the Magna Carta?

Answer 5

The Magna Carta argued against the divine right of kings, protected English freedoms like church rights, protection from illegal imprisonment, access to justice (habeus corpus), etc. It was esentially the English constitution and would have a great impact on US constitution

Question 6

What was the government like in Massachusetts Bay prior to the Revolution?

Answer 6

Had a charter determined in England by Puritan Church, membership to church was a requirement for being part of the govt.

Question 7

What was the government like in Connecticut prior to the Revolution?

Answer 7

1639: Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, first constitution that recognized no authority other than its own (influenced later US constitution), had two house legislatures who elected the governship

Question 8

What was the name of the first constitution to recognize no authority other than its own?

Answer 8

The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut in 1639

Question 9

What was the government like in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution?

Answer 9

Constitution guaranteed rights and freedoms to women and people of all religions, much more liberal than other colonies (but women were still not able to vote and were not equal in society)

Question 10

How did the age of Enlightenment influence colonial govt?

Answer 10

The scientific ideas of Newton, Descartes and Bacon created society on empiricism, scientific reasoning and natural laws instead of religion which was common in France & Spain. All of a sudden, religion was no longer the holder of knowledge in American society.

Political thinkers like Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire inspired an America that believed in the rights of the people, the role of the govt to protect them/provide for them, and the ability to despose them if they don’t.

Question 11

What is Empiricism and how did it influence America?

Answer 11

theory that all knowledge is derived from evidence of observation and experience, fundamentally defies validity of revealed knowledge of the church, led to concept of lack of religious importance in Americas like present in France & Spain where religion is holder of all knowledge

Question 12

Newton came up with idea of what?

Answer 12

Laws of motion

Question 13

Descartes came up with the ideas of what?

Answer 13

“I think therefore I am” – Discourse on method and evidence of thought

Question 14

Francis Bacon came up with what idea during age of englightenment?

Answer 14

The Scientific Method – scientific knowledge based on inductive reasoning and careful observation

Question 15

Who was John Locke and what was his influence on early colonial govt?

Answer 15

“The Father of Liberalism”– created treatises on government that people have the right to despose (get rid of) the govt which doesn’t protect their rights, their lives, and their property.

Question 16

Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau and what was his influence on early colonial govt?

Answer 16

“Social Contract” theory that the government rules through the general will of the people (similar to Locke’s belief)

Question 17

What two thinkers were the bases for American colonists rebelling agains the British?

Answer 17

Locke & Rousseau who believe it’s the govts responsibility to protect the rights of the people (natural rights for Locke and general will for Rousseau) and if they don’t, the people should overturn

Question 18

Who was Baron De Montesquieu and what was his influence on early colonial govt?

Answer 18

claimed that that Divine Rights of Kings was dangerous, believe in three separate branches of government where power is checked and regulated

Question 19

Who was Voltaire and what was his influence on early colonial govt?

Answer 19

denied the role of religion in public, political life, believed in free speech and free press

Question 20

Who is responsible for translating the enlightenment ideas for the American public?

Answer 20

Benjamin Franklin

Question 21

How did Benjamin Franklin live out enlightenment ideals?

Answer 21

was a writer, printer, scientist, etc. through Almanac, was able to relate ideals to American people and culture, the epitome of enlightenment ideals. Made scientific discoveries like electricity and was artistic, created glass harmonica, formed first public library in Americas and first fire dept in Pennsylvania, he brought enlightenment ideas into practice, known as “First American” for his role as a spokesman, became US Ambassador to France

Question 22

Who was known as the First American?

Answer 22

Benjamin Franklin

Question 23

How did Europe try to control commerce in America

Answer 23

Through Mercantilism, colonies were supposed to increase trade revenue for Britain and the crown. To discourage them from trading with others, they placed tariffs and duties on foreign goods – this caused Americans to engage in smuggling.

Question 24

How did Americans respond to Europe’s Mercantilism and control of commerce?

Answer 24

By smuggling: bribing British officials and ignoring protective laws to import goods from West Indies and others, eventually would weaken British rule in Americas

Question 25

What is Libel?

Answer 25

Libel is a British law that Britain tried to impose on Americans that made printing articles that undermined the govt illegal

Question 26

What trial changed the concept of the press in America and established the basis of American freedom of speech?

Answer 26

The Trial of John Peter Zenger (1733): accused of printing Libel though he writes true information, writes of corruption. Found not guilty by jury of peers: “greater freedom for the press”

Question 27

What concept of religion did the Americas have that were different than that of Europe?

Answer 27

The idea of Secularism: Secularism: God should not be involved in govt. This was emphasized through Englightenment and seen in Quaker’s ideas of equality and religious plurality and the merging of many Anglican and Puritan ideas

Question 28

What was the First Great Awakening?

Answer 28

It was a reaction in the 1730’s against Secularism and Enlightenment as well as a rebellion against traditional church doctrines (aka an in-between)

Question 29

Who were “New Light” ministers

Answer 29

Ministers that brought new denominations and styles of mass worship; emphasis on individual salvation and individual connection to God, reaction of First Great Awakening of 1730’s

Question 30

What were the results of the First Great Awakening in the 1730’s?

Answer 30

The foundation of colleges such as Princeton as well as increased religious tolerances and plurality and questioning of established religious authorities

Question 31

What changes occurred in state constitutions after independence with the Revolutionary War?

Answer 31

1. Changes to primogeniture landholding law
2. An end to a state supported church and church influence on govt
3. Republican ideas inspired by enlightenment

Question 32

What was primogeniture landholding laws and how did they change after the Revolutionary war (1783)?

Answer 32

under British law, anyone who owned land would give inheritance to first born sons, now the father has the right to give to land to whoever he wants or split land amongst children according to his will

Question 33

What were enlightenment ideas the Republicans believed in?

Answer 33

Government’s role is to secure the rights of the people and get its power from the consent of the people, power chosen by people

Question 34

Did Republicans after the Revolutionary war want a weak or central govt and how did they ensure this?

Answer 34

Wanted a weak govt. where the govt didn’t hold all the power.

Ensured this by having frequent elections for the legislature and moving capital cities to to small cities to stop concentration of power.

Question 35

What were the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 35

An agreement among the 13 original colonies and the first plan of govt for newly independent states. It reflected a fear of a strong central government and state’s desire for sovereignty

Question 36

What were some successes of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 36

Americans fought and won Revolutionary War and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Question 37

What was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?

Answer 37

allowed for the creation of new states rather than extension of other states

Question 38

What were some of the failures of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 38

1. Congress could not levy taxes meant lots of national debt, needed to find revenue to pay back France
2. No national executive or judiciary branches, only legislative (was given too much power)
3. 9/13 states needed to pass legislation made it hard to get things done

Question 39

What were some of the major issues that states experienced after the Articles of Confederation were made?

Answer 39

State level problems with managing debt led to conflict between states (Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts in 1787) and inflation causing no value in paper money as federal money was introduced and state money lost value

Question 40

What resulted from the Philadelphia Convention?

Answer 40

Changed articles of confederation to increase control over fiscal issues – > Rhode Island did not attend

Presided over by George Washington and included Benjamin Franklin

Quickly became a secret constitutional convention where no press releases were allowed and this was opposed by many

Question 41

Why were Jefferson and Adams not at Philadelphia Convention and why was this a big deal?

Answer 41

Jefferson and Adams were big arguers for opposing sides but they weren’t there to make arguments because they were US Ambassadors for France & Britain, this could be why things went fairly smoothly and compromised were made

Question 42

What was included in James Madison’s ‘The Virginia Plan’

Answer 42

1. Stated there should be a stronger central government
2. Bicameral legislature: elected by popular vote
   Giving advantage to more populous states, seen by smaller states like Rhode Island / Connecticut as unfair
3. Three government branches (changed from Articles of Confederation)

Question 43

Which plan changed the Articles of Confederation to include three branches of government?

Answer 43

The Virginia Plan by James Madison

Question 44

What was the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?

Answer 44

• Agreed with Virginia Plan except wanted equal representation for smaller states
• Lower body elected by popular vote (direct involvement of the people)
• Upper body “Senate” includes two representatives (state power)

Question 45

What led to every state gaining equal representation with two representatives?

Answer 45

The Great (Connecticut ) Compromise of 1787 also known as the Sherman Compromise

Question 46

What was the State Ratification Process like for the US Constitution?

Answer 46

• Designed to avoid approval in state legislatures
• Needed 9/13 to approve
• Pennsylvania and Massachusetts ratified early on
• Virginia and New York delayed their vote

Question 47

What is the main difference of views between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

Answer 47

Federalists wanted a stronger central govt

Antifederalists believed that a large central govt ignored individual rights

Question 48

What were the Federalist Papers and what did they argue?

Answer 48

• A series of newspaper articles that explained and proposed Federal constitution
• Argued for need for a strong central govt, separation of powers, and systems of checks and balances

Argued against the need for a separate Bill of Rights, claimed constitution already had everything necessary in it

Question 49

What eventually led New York and Virginia to ratify the constitution?

Answer 49

The arguments brought forth in the Federalist Papers

Question 50

Who wrote the Federalist Papers?

Answer 50

John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison

Question 51

Did Federalists argue for or against a Bill of Rights? Why?

Answer 51

Against, they believed the constitution included all necessary information

Question 52

What was the compromise that Antifederalists brought to the Federalists?

Answer 52

Called for Amendments and Bill of Rights to be included to protect individual rights.

Question 53

Who was a Federalist that later became an Antifederalist and why?

Answer 53

James Madison: staunch supporter of central govt, but was ironically asked to write the Bill of Rights, makes a political 180 and become a staunch anti-federalist, joins up with Jefferson to advocate for a not-so-strong central govt

Question 54

Who is deemed as the Father of the Constitution?

Answer 54

James Madison (wrote the Bill of Rights)

Question 55

What were the Bill of Rights and when were they adopted?

Answer 55

First 10 amendments in the constitution that protect individual rights (freedom of speech, religion, press, assemble, right to protest etc.), maintains sovereignty of states, direct response to concerns about the rights of individuals

• Written by James Madison in 1791, 19 were written but only 10 were approved

Question 56

What was the main purpose of the Bill of Rights?

Answer 56

• Specifically designed not to weaken the govt but to protect individual freedoms
• Individual freedom, protection against unfair judicial process, protection against overpowering constitution