Ap exam foundational documents and laws Flashcards
The declaration of independence
The Declaration of Independence, created by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776,
declares the British Colonies in North America to be a free and independent country. Authored
by Thomas Jefferson and others, the Declaration of Independence relies heavily on the
concepts of Natural Rights, Popular Sovereignty, and Social Contract Theory
what are natural rights?
Natural rights are inherent rights that are believed to be necessary for all humans and include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, which enshrines individual freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press
what is popular sovereignty
Popular sovereignty is a concept that by nature the power to govern is in the hands of the people. The democratic government is BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE
what is the social contract theory
The social contract theory is the theory that people willingly give over to the state the power needed to maintain order, and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizens. (the state is the servant of the people and not the other way around)
what is republicism
Republicanism is a form of government in which the power is held by the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
What are the articles of confederation?
what powers did the AOC create
one branch government (congress), equal representation from each state in congress, all laws must be passed with a super majority 3/4, Congress has the power to create a national currency, borrow money in the name of the
United States, declare war, raise an army, and establish relations with foreign countries
what did the articles of confederation not have
an executive branch, a national judiciary, the power to tax, the power to compel states to obey national laws or contribute funding, any power that was not “expressly delegated” or specifically written in the articles
what was shays rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion was an uprising of farmers in western Massachusetts to protest economic conditions, high taxes, and abusive debt and tax collections.
what did shays rebellion reveal
Shays’s Rebellion exposed the weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation and led many—including George Washington—to call for strengthening the federal government in order to put down future uprisings.
what was the Philadelphia convention also known as the constitutional convention of 1787
This convention was called to revise the AOC. However, the convention soon abandoned the articles, drafting a new constitution with a much stronger national government
what was the grand committee
a committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation (the issue of how to apportion representatives in the national legislature)
what was the Virginia plan
this was a plan proposed by the large states that created congress to have tow houses both based on population
what was the New jersey plan
this plan was proposed by the small states, and created Congress with one house based on equal representation from each state.
what was the Connecticut Compromise also known as the Great Compromise
this compromise created a bicameral, or two-house legislature, with the House of Representatives being based on population and the Senate being based on equal representation from each state.
