Birth of a Nation Flashcards
Daniel Shays
leader of Shays’s Rebellion
veteran of Revolutionary War
demonstrated weaknesses of national government under Articles of Confederation
federalism
government wherein power is divided and shared between a national government and regional governments
checks and balances
system wherein each branch of government exercises some restraining power over the other branches
judicial branch
branch of government that interprets the Constitution
described in Article 3 of the Constitution
given the vaguest description of the 3 branches in the Constitution
legislative branch
branch of government that makes laws
described in Article 1 of the Constitution
enumerated powers
powers given to the national government alone
amendment
addition or change to US Constitution
reserved powers
powers given to the state government alone
popular sovereignty
idea which states that ultimate political authority rests with the people
executive branch
branch of government that carries out laws
described in Article 2 of the Constitution
Constitution
supreme law of the land
short and vague
can be changed and interpreted differently as times change
1st 3 articles of Constitution
describes the 3 branches of government
James Madison
known as “father of the Constitution”
brought plan for new government to Constitutional Convention
developed the Virginia Plan
Alexander Hamilton
most important supporter for stronger national government
major leader of Federalist Party
George Washington
president of the Constitutional Convention
George Washington’s farewell address
began precedent of only running for 2 terms as President
Thomas Jefferson
author of the Declaration of Independence
Shays’s Rebellion
armed uprising in Massachusetts
many rebels were veterans from Revolutionary War
led by Daniel Shays
significance of Shays’s Rebellion
pointed out weaknesses of national government (unable to stop uprising)
Virginia Plan
Constitutional proposal for an upper house and a lower house
states would be represented in both houses according to population
good for large states
rejected by small states
New Jersey Plan
Constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a unicameral congress
good for small states
rejected by large states
Great Compromise
Connecticut Compromise
plan to create a lower house (House of Representatives) where representation is based on states’ population and upper house (Senate) where each state has 2 members
Three-Fifths Compromise
compromise reached among state delegates during Constitutional Convention
stated that slaves were equal to 3/5 of one person when counting states’ populations
Articles of Confederation (1781-1789)
first constitution of the United States
loose union of 13 states
created by the Second Constitutional Congress
included only one branch (Congress)
powers of federal government under Articles of Confederation
declare war
make peace
conduct foreign relations
borrow money
set value of and issue money
create army and navy
settle disputes between states
pass laws
change the Articles of Confederation
weaknesses of federal government under Articles of Confederation
had no executive or judicial branch
could not pass laws without 9 out of 13 votes
gave 1 vote to each state
needed unanimous vote of all 13 states to make changes to the constitution
could not draft troops
could not collect taxes
had no power to regulate interstate commerce
was composed of representatives appointed by state governments for one year terms
Federalist Papers
series of essays explaining the Constitution and its benefits
Federalists
supporters of Constitution
anti-Federalists
opponents of Constitution
distribution of Federalist Papers
printed in newspapers
authors of Federalist Papers
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
advantage of Federalists (in comparison to anti-Federalists)
more organized
supporters of Federalists
business owners
city-dwellers
key leaders of Federalists
George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
Alexander Hamilton
Federalists’ arguments in favor of Constitution
experience in public office is needed
citizens can vote against leaders they dislike
supporters of anti-Federalists
rural farmers
anti-Federalists’ arguments in opposition of the Constitution
president will have too much power (comparable to a king)
terms in office are too long
term limits are necessary
national government leaders would not understand problems of common people
Constitutional Convention
also known as Philidelphia Convention
held in Philadelphia from May 1787 to September 1787
attended by 55 men from 12 states (Rhode Island was absent)
