Articles of Confederation and Constitution Flashcards
Articles of Confederation
A loose union, no power to tax, amendments to the articles required 13/13 votes and bills required 9 votes
Shays Rebellion Causes
MA passed a heavy direct tax that required payment in specie not paper money. Farmers in western MA hit hard.
Shays Rebellion
Led by Daniel Shays farmers didn’t have a lot of access to specie. Asked MA legislature to stop states from auctioning/foreclosing farms due to not be able to pay tax. They said no. Farmer rebelled.
Alexander Hamilton
Wanted the constitution. wanted to change and strengthen central government
James Madison
“Father of the Constitution”, took best notes of constitutional convention
Constitutional Convention
Was supposed to only revise AOC, instead, produced constitution
George Washington
Unanimously elected president, overlooked constitutional convention, did not speak opinion,
The Great Compromise
(Connecticut Compromise). Bicameral Legislature (two houses). Upper house is senate is equal. Lower house is house of reps is based on population
Constitution
First 10 amendments are bill of rights. States federal laws/rights of US
3/5 compromise
For representation for every 5 white men, 3 slaves are counted.
Legislative branch
Congress, makes all laws
Executive Branch
President, enforces laws
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court, interprets laws
Bicameral
two house Congress, Upper (senate), Lower (house of representatives)
Senate
equal
House of Rep
Based on population
Enumerated powers
the powers granted to the Federal government, and specifically Congress
Implied powers
political powers granted to the United States government that aren’t explicitly stated in the Constitution.
Supremacy Clause
Federal Law is more important than any state law. Federal Law has more power.
Checks and Balances
The seperation of power in government, each branch has a ‘check’ on each other to be sure one branch doesn’t have too much power.
Separation of Power
The division of power in government, into three branches
Democracy
People have the power/say in government. Power rests with the people
Republic
Political power rests with the public through their representatives (Senate and House of reps)
Veto
a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.
Amend
To change/fix (documents)
Faction
a small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.
Federalists
a person who supports a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority. (The Federalist Party was a conservative and nationalist American political party and the first political party in the United States. It dominated the national government under Alexander Hamilton )
Anti Federalist
political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution.
Federalist Papers
Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison. Written to promote he ratification of the Constitution of the United States
Ratify/Ratification
to confirm by expressing consent, approval.
Bills of Rights
The first 10 amendments of the Constitution. States Americans’ rights in relation to their government.
Individual’s Rights
rights that are required to live a free and fair life and cannot be interfered with or denied by the government or other individuals
Federalism
Power is shared between a central state (National govt.) and smaller states that make it up.
Electoral College
The process in which a president is elected. Electoral votes depend on the population of the state.
