American Revolution (Q1) Flashcards
1
Q
Declaration of Independence Inspiration
A
- Inspired by enlightenment thinkers like Locke
2
Q
Locken First Principle
A
- NL happens through reason
- Liberty, our ability to follow own will
- Right to property and bodily autonomy
3
Q
Thomas Jefferson
A
- Virginia governor
- USA diplomat to France
- Secretary of State
- 2nd VP of the US
- 3rd President
- Sally Hemmings
4
Q
Declaration of Independence
A
- Written as a pamphlet against King George the 3rd, not British Parliament
- All men are equal
- Right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
5
Q
Right to Life
A
- Moral standard to judge all actions
- Right to self-ownership
6
Q
Right to Liberty
A
- Is the right to life and unobstructed action
7
Q
Right to Happiness
A
- Locke, highest form of self-interest
- Not hedonistic pleasure
- All other rights are sustained by this
8
Q
Consent of Governed
A
- All men govern themselves to protect rights
9
Q
Locke Natural Rights
A
- Life
- Inheritance
10
Q
All Men are Equal
A
- Given rights by the creator
11
Q
Notes/Queries on the State of Virginia 1787
A
- Jefferson, 200 copies to inform French officials
- Addresses slavery, never submitted
- Argues races are not equal so we should keep slaves
12
Q
Sally Hemmings
A
- Was J’s slave and wife’s half-sister
- Went with J to Paris to accompany daughter
- Had 8 of his kids
- Stayed enslaved for her kids freedom
13
Q
Jefferson’s Terms
A
- Truth
- Reason, not assumed access
- Nature, not extension of body
- Inalienable rights, select class (WASPs)
- Consent and governance, voting
14
Q
Articles of Confederation
A
- Codified the US government
- Decentralized states with too much power
- No national reserve
15
Q
Shay’s Rebellion
A
-1200-4000 rebelled against confederation
- Mass was against new tax laws
- Feds couldn’t get it together
16
Q
Economic Interests of Confed
A
- Inequality wasn’t as severe as in Europe
- Was due to regional differences, S wealthier
- Led to the Federalists
17
Q
3/5th Compromise
A
- Slaves counted as 3/5ths of a person
- Gave South more power even if they couldn’t vote
18
Q
Ratification Compromise
A
- Feds were pro, anti-feds were against
- Competition to influence the general public
- S pushed Bill of Rights to protect from government interference
19
Q
Constitutional Framework
A
- Power to one branch
- Congress can make laws for its power
- Shared powers and checking power
20
Q
Checks on Power
A
- One branch over another
- Congress can impeach Presidents
21
Q
Ambiguity
A
- Some weird parts of the Constitution
- Some powers are inferred
22
Q
Theory of Founders (Locke)
A
- Locke influenced idea of consent to gov
- Freedom and equality
- Gov protects property as an extension of self-legislating body
- Tacit consent
23
Q
Human Nature and Democracy
A
- Humans are self-interested
- Govs channel self-interest for the greater good
24
Q
Federalist Papers
A
- 85 Essays in 4 papers (meant to be 20)
- James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
- Written under ‘Publis’ in Anti-Fed NYC
25
Alexander Hamilton
- Born in West Indies so couldn't be President
- Wanted US to be in mercantile world trade
26
James Madison
- Wrote first Constitution and Bill of Rights draft
- Fed 10 and 51, pro-factions
- Issues war 1812, did not get Canada
27
Federalist 9
- Written by Hamilton, opposed direct democracy
-Pro-Republicanism/Rep Dem
28
Direct Democracy
- All citizens partake
29
Representative Democracy
- You elect leaders to participate on your behalf
- Leaders can override will of people
- Electoral College was a check on popular power
30
Hamilton's Science of Politics
- Division of powers
- Separation of powers
- Independent judiciary
- Enlargement of orbit where poli revolves
- Rep through voting
31
Federalist 10
- Madison factions are necessary as long as none are a majority
- Remove cause or control effects
- Government to control class-based faction
32
Faction Causes
- Liberty which cannot be taken away
- Self-interest and own opinions which mutually reinforce
- Sourced from unequal prop distribution and religion
33
Mitigating Faction
- Government does it, rep consent and protect prop
- Political parties are factions
- Minor and major factions
- Different states with own interests balance out
34
Minor Factions
- Easy to deal with, challenge the majority, can be voted against
35
Majority Factions
- Problematic because they can't be voted against
- Regional preferences will cancel them out
36
Republic
- A union of discreet democracies
- Will check misguided tyrants
37
1787 Constitutional Convention
- Supposed to be to amend the AoC, instead the first draft of the Constitution was presented
- Anti-Feds were upset
38
Anti-Fed Papers
- Written under 'Brutis' because they saw Federalism as another monarchy
39
NYC and Federalism
- Were anti-fed because they were rich and had trade through a busy port
- Ended up voting against
40
Faction Effects
- Fed 10, can only be controlled by broadening sphere of repub gov
41
Federalist 51
- Madison is pro separation of powers and checks and balances
- Neutrality comes from diff factions cancelling, hence plural gov
- Anti-Hobbes neutral arb
42
Federalist 78
- Hamilton, judicial review
- Jud independence
- Life tenure
- Judicial review
43
Judical Independence
- Fed 78, judge can't be bought/politicized
- Need to be able to check factions
- Loyal only to the Constitution
44
Judicial Life Tenure
- Fed 78, can't be fired so they aren't scared to act
- Perspective on longer time span, not influenced by trends
45
Judicial Review
- Ensure all laws are in accordance with the Constitution
- Judges don't make laws, just ensure the above
