APUSH: Chapter 9 [DONE] Flashcards
part 1 of 4
Society of the Cincinnati
Exclusive, hereditary organization of former officers in the Continental Army.
Disestablished
to separate an official state church from its connection with the government *after the Revolution, all states disestablished the Anglican Church
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
measure enacted by the Virginia legislature, which prohibited state support for religious institutions and recognizing freedom of worship
Civic Virtue
Willingness on the part of citizens to sacrifice personal self interest for the public good
Articles of Confederation
First American Constitution that established the US as a loose confederation of states under a weak national Congress –> had no power to regulate commerce or enforce taxes
Old Northwest
territories acquired by the federal government from the states
Land Ordinance of 1785
provided for the sale of land in the Old Northwest and used the proceeds toward repaying national debt.
Northwest Ordinance
Created a policy for administering the Northwest territories; forbade the expansion of slavery into territiores
Shays’ Rebellion
armed uprising of western Massachusetts debtors seeking lower taxes and an end to property foreclosures; this inspired fears of “mob rule” among leading revolutionaries
Virginia Plan “Large-state Plan”
proposal for the new Constitution, which called for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress *favored larger states
New Jersey Plan “Small-state Plan”
Located at the Philadelphia convention, the plan proposed equal representation by state, regardless of population, in a unicameral legislature *they feared large state domination above others
Great Compromise
reconciled the New Jersey and Virginia plans at the constitutional convention, giving states proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.
common law
The U.S. Constitution grew out of the Anglo-American common law tradition and thus provided only a general organization framework for the new federal government *they shortened it up and made it less detailed
civil law
body of written law enacted through legislative statutes or constitutional provisions. *judges must apply the statutes precisely as written, where the law is enforced
three-fifths compromise
determined that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of apportioning taxes and representation; granted disproportionate political power for the Southern slave states
antifederalists
People who opposed the new Constitution because they thought it was antidemocratic, control of the states by the Central government, and feared for individuals’ liberties due to the absence of the bill of rights
federalists
people who fought for the new Constitution; favored a strong National government and argued that the checks and balances in the Constitution would safeguard people’s liberties.
The Federalist (not the people)
collection of essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton which were published during the ratification debate in New York to serve as propaganda for the defense of the Constitution
Who was Lord Sheffield?
Wrote a popular pamphlet in England that said Britain would win back America’s trade and that commerce would naturally follow old channels.
Who was Daniel Shays?
Revolutionary war veteran who led the failed Shays’ rebellion which consisted of poor farmers
What was James Madison nicknamed due to his contributions ? (2)
Nicknamed the “Father of the Constitution” due to his notable contributable idea and he contributed to The Federalist
Describe the political climate of America in the 1780’s? (3)
- Americans had loose confederation
- Weak Congress
- Anarchy; democratic life
what was a major test to the new Republic? (3)
- staying united
- protecting their rights against the government
- defending themselves against foreign foes
where was the struggle to separate religion and government the greatest during this period?
Virginia
How did the post Revolutionary period effect the role of white women? (3)
- Brought on more responsibility
- “Republican Motherhood”
- expectations for them rose
What principal was embodied in most state constitutions?
Fundamental Laws –> The state constitutions were meant to represent fundamental laws [dominated ordinary legislations (Bills of Rights) and was very hard to change]
adopted almost a decade before the federal constitutions, which state constitution remains the longest-lived in the world?
Massachusetts
The articles of confederation were finally approved in…?
1781
What important powers were denied the government under the articles of confederation? (2)
denied power to
- regulate commerce
- enforce tax-collecting program
What were the most significant elements of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
- It was a judicious compromise
- First tutelage (the area would be under the control of the federal government, temporarily), then Equality (when the inhabitants reached 60,000, the Congress MIGHT admit it as a state including the privileges of the 13 states)
Describe the problem with Britain?
British were bitter about war and closed off west indie trade ports from Americans; redcoats still had trading posts on US soil and continued with the fur trading with Indians.
Americans were angered by these grievances and wanted to imposing restrictions on their imports to America, but the Congress couldn’t control commerce.
Describe problem with France?
They wanted the money back that they loaned to the Americans during the war; restricted trade to West Indies ports
Describe the problem with Spain?
They openly disliked the Republic
Schemed with Indians at the Natchez (fort in Spain) to hem in the Americans in the Alleghenies
Describe the problem with Barbary Coast?
Pirates of the North African states were ravaging America’s Mediterranean commerce and enslaved Yankee sailors.
As a result of Shays’ Rebellion, what did Americans begin to think was needed?
They believed that the Confederation needed to be strengthened in order to obtain a stronger central government
On what issue did the major dispute between the supporters and crisis of the Articles of Confederation center?
On how to strengthen the Confederation and how a maximum degree of states’ rights could be reconciled with a strong central government
What was the main reason for bringing together the Constitutional Convention?
Problems with the control of commerce
Motives of the delegates in the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia include…?
- preserve the Republic and the Union
- desired a firm, dignified, and respected government (prevent democracy!)
- ensure security against uprisings or mobs
- curb unrestrained democracy in various states
whose interests were satisfied by the agreement that all tax measures should start in the House?
The Larger states
describe the large-state plan proposed during the Constitutional Convention
larger states wanted a proportional representation in both houses of a Bicameral Congress
What were some of the compromises in the Constitutional Convention?
- electoral college
- three-fifths compromise
- ending slave labor at the end of 1807
what aspect of the new Constitution was probably the most disturbing characteristic to those who opposed it?
It didn’t contain a Bill of Rights
the federalists believe that the sovereignty of the people resided in which branch of the government?
All three of the branches - legislative, executive, and judicial.
Who were some Federalists? What was the pattern among them?
- George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
- Pattern: consisted of higher classes (wealthier, more educated, and better organized)
What is one of the distinctive and lasting paradoxes of American History? How?
- That in the U.S., conservatives and radicals alike have championed the heritage of republic revolution.
- They changed it because the minority triumphed, conservatism was victorious due to safeguards that were put up against mob-rule excesses -> republican gains of the Revolution were conserved and lastly, the congress became Bicameral (including all 3 branches)
Who were some antifederalists? What was the pattern among them?
Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee.
Pattern: consisted of the poorest classes.
