american constitution Flashcards
give 7 economic problems facing the confederation 1781-1787
abandonment of the mercantilism system and America imported loads of British goods (£7 million but only sold 1/3)
control over trade were left in states (Massachusetts tried to prevent dumping of British goods in America, many states wanted the articles of confederation to be changed so they could control international and national trade)
congress unable to pay for their soldiers
national debt was $41 million in 1783
Morris wanted a strong national government with powers to set up a national bank but it failed
states failed to meet quotas so the only revenue that congress could achieve was through selling western land
printing off money meant there was high inflation
why was there a weak national government (4 points)
no visible head/leader
13 states had one vote but congress was in session only intermittently and had no fixed abode
head-quarters had to keep moving due to opposition, eventually ending up in New York in 1785
The confederation government had no coercive powers over states or individuals within the states (states didn’t respond to congressional requisirtions)
summarise the 1785 land ordinance act
surveying system for the sale of northwest land
would divide land into 6 square miles townships
land would be sold at an auction for 640-acre lots for $1
summarise the 1787 northwest ordinance act
when territory had 5000 adult male inhabitants, it could elect a legislature with limited powers
it could elect non-voting representative to congress
when the population reached 60,000 it could form a constitutional convention and apply to congress for admission as a state on equal terms with existing states
summarise the social tensions of the 1780s (2 example)
Shays rebellion- 1787 rioting mobs preventing courts from hearing debt cases, riot leader Daniel Shay (bankrupt farmer) led rebels to federal arsenal in Springfield, rebels dispersed by 1000 militiamen and insurgence was put down
the rebellion altered conservatives throughout America that anarchy loomed and a stronger national government was needed
September 1786- governor of New Hampshire called out 2000 militia to disperse of several hundred farmers threatening legislative assemblies for breaking promise on issuing paper money
foreign policy- relations with Britain
Britain clung to forts in the south west after promising to leave in the treaty of Paris, they claimed to occupy forts until America paid British merchants pre-war debts and restored loyalist property, congress tried to get the states to pay taxes for the post-war debts but all of them ignored them
America sent Adams to London to negotiate Britain to evacuate the forts they refused to talk to a federal government since congress couldn’t compel the states to implement treaties
foreign policy- relations with Spain
Spain opposed westward expansion
Spain wanted to make a buffer state with the help of treaties with the Native Americans to help protect their possessions
Spain had control of the Mississippi river and took control of Natchez stopping American navigation of the river
John Jay initiated a treaty with the Spanish in return for limited access to Spanish markets USA agreed to give up the Mississippi for 25 years, the states were furious at this and accused him of treason
why was there a call for a stronger national government (5 points)
many appalled by powerlessness of government in foreign affairs and commercial matters
creditors wanted a government that would stop states giving paper money and increasing inflation
America was now more united than ever after the war happened and growing nationalism (e.g. eagles, stars and stripes on the flag)
interstate disharmony (state boundary, jurisdictional rivalry and western issues were restored by 1783)
tariffs (1782-85 all states but NJ placed duties to make them protected)
summarise the constitutional convention (Philadelphia convention)
met in May 1787
only Virginian and Pennsylvania delegates arrived due to poor weather
Madison had a greater impact than Washington due to his set plan
25th May- 29 delegates arrived from 7 states (every state except from RI), they only represented the elitists
summarise the Virginia plan
national legislature of 2 houses, representation to be proportionate to population (1st house elected by voters, 2nd elected by first house)
number of representatives per states were based on the population
liked by larger states not smaller states
New Jersey plan
single legislature chamber with states having 1 vote
congress enlarged powers including authority to tax and regulate commerce, state sovereignity preserved
summarise the Great compromise
2 representatives from each state
states represented based on size
representation and direct tax would be disturbed according to results of regular census
southerners wanted slaves included in population total for alloting congress seats but left out when deciding direct taxation
convention accepted slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for tax and representation
summarise the characteristics of a federalist
supported by men of power (e.g. merchants and lawyers)
many poor men supported it like merchants
increase federalist power and less state power
commercial trade
elect whoever they wanted
summarise the characteristics of an anti-federalist
small farmers
reduced tax
feared national government, war, tax, aristocrat ideas
low levels of commerical trade
why did federalists have an advantage
solution to pressing problems which faced the nation
federalists had support strong in towns and most favored
support of Washington, Madison and Franklin
what were the powers of the federal government
maintian the army and navy
print and borrow money
make treaties with foreign powers
laws for states to follow
what were the powers of the states
slavery
determine its own suffrage in elections to HOR
regulate interstate or internal trade
what was congress made up of
house of representatives and the senate
2 senators from each state and elected by state legislatures
the house was elected by voters for a 2 year term
what state was the first to ratify itself
Delaware 7th December 1787
what did the election of 1789 do
it gave federalist control of the new government
who was leader of the federal government
Washington chosen by electoral college as president
John Adams vice president
give 7 problems that Washington faced as a new president
the USA was far from united
RI and NC had still not stilled to the union
burdened with colossal debt, had no revenue or machinery for collecting taxes
no judicary department yet
USA had no navy and there was only 672 officers
USA western boarders were open to attack
UK and Spanish troops still occupied national territory
what was the point of the 1st congress
it set out to build on constitutional framework
who was the sectary of the treasury
Alexander Hamilton
who was the sectary of the state
Thomas Jefferson
who was the sectary of war
Henry Knox
give 5 examples of the bill of rights
freedom of speech and practice of religion
right to bear arms
form assembly
prohibited cruel and unusual punishment
reserving powers to the state which weren’t specifically given to federalists government
summarise the judiciary act 1789
established hierachital system of federal courts
(at the top was the supreme court)
beneath was the district courts in each state and 3 circuits of appeal
Washington selected 3 members from north and south to be part of judiciary
when did Hamilton release his first report on public credit
January 1790
what did Hamilton’s first report on public credit consist of
recommended the repayment of domestic and foreign debt ($56 million) should be taken in by the federal government
allowing congress to levy taxes and would instil respect for federal government
who opposed Hamilton’s public credit
domestic debt caused attack by southerners as mostly all the debt was held by northern speculators who brought bonds cheaply
state debt opposed- southern states (except from south Carolina) had provided payments of their debts and objected to paying a share of debts owed by northern states and the fear of federalism power would expand
Madison didn’t support Hamilton as he was a Virginian so it would be political suicide
summarise the 2nd public credit
national debt soared over $80 million
80% of the federal government was needed to service the debt
proposed a tax on distilled spirits and on home commodities
was issued to help raise revenue for national debts
what were the successes of the 2nd public credit (2 reasons)
the value of government bonds rose sharply
the federal government was now able to borrow money both at home and abroad
why did people oppose the 2nd public credit (2 reasons)
Madison opposed the funding scheme which he thought threatened the constitution and state power
1790- Virginian assembly protested that there was no clause in the constitution which authorised the congress to claim state debts
why did people oppose the national bank
Madison said that congress didn’t have the power to charter companies or banks
what were the successes of the national bank
bank notes maintained their value
control over state banks that rose in 1790s
when did the national bank open
1791 in Philedelphia
summarise the report on manufactures
Dec 1791
determined to encourage industralisation through protective tariffs and government subsidies for new industries
congress passed a new tariff act in 1792 for revenue
overall what were the successes of Hamilton’s financial programme
it restored public credit
ensured foreign capital flowed into the USA
increased productivity
overall what were the weaknesses of Hamilton’s financial programme
union was divided
union began to take a political form
southerners feared programme as it strengthened federal government power
