Chapter 2 Flashcards
those who did not support ratification of the Constitution
Anti-Federalists
the first basis for the new nation’s government; adopted in 1781; created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government
Articles of Confederation
a legislature with two houses, such as the U.S. Congress
Bicameral legislature
the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution; most were designed to protect fundamental rights and liberties
Bill of Rights
a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together
Checks and balances
a highly decentralized form of government; sovereign states form a union for purposes such as mutual defense
Confederation
the powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution (Article I, Section 8); power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs
Enumerated powers
a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government
Federal system
those who supported ratification of the Constitution
Federalists
a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a two house Congress; representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate
Great compromise
the right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may take away
Natural rights
a plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one vote
New Jersey Plan
a form of government in which political power rests in the hands of the people, not a monarch, and is exercised by elected representatives
Republic
any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government
Reserved powers
the sharing of powers among three separate branches of government
Separation of powers
an agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights
Social contract
the statement in Article VI of the Constitution that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures
Supremacy clause
a collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution
The Federalist papers
a compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting of all a state’s free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress
Three-Fifths Compromise
a legislature with only one house, like the Confederation Congress or the legislature proposed by the New Jersey Plan
Unicameral legislature
the power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress
Veto
a plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower house based on each state’s population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the lower house
Virginia Plan
British colonists in North America in the late seventeenth century were greatly influenced by the political thought of ________.
John Locke
What actions by the British government convinced the colonists that they needed to declare their independence?
Americans believed all people (i.e., white males) possessed the rights to life, liberty, and property. The best way to protect these rights was by limiting the power of government and allowing people to govern themselves.
What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?
Couldn’t impose taxes
In what ways did Shays’ Rebellion reveal the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Shay’s rebellion created pressure because the government wasn’t strong enough to interfere and stop the rebellion so they needed to create a private army to stop it proving weaknesses in the government.
According to the Great Compromise, how would representation in Congress be apportioned?
Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on each state’s population and every state would have two senators.
How many amendments made to Constitution total?
27
seventeenth-century English philosopher, believed that every individual deserved life, liberty, and property (aka natural rights)
John Locke
a promise from King John to his subjects that he and future monarchs wouldn’t do actions that harmed, or could harm, the people of England
Magna Carta
required most paper goods have revenue stamps placed on them
stamp act
imposed taxes on many everyday objects such as glass, tea, and paint
townshend acts
March 5, 1770, many injuries due to Brit soldiers shooting into crowd of colonists
Boston Massacre
December 1773, Sons of Liberty dumped tea from Brit ship
Boston Tea Party
Abolished town meetings, interfered with the colony’s ability to govern itself
Coercive Acts
June 2, 1776; drafted by Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence
each state elected _________ to represent them in Congress
delegates
1786, an uprising of Massachusetts farmers, led by Daniel Shays
Shay’s Rebellion
Fifty-five delegates met in Philadelphia, May 1787, to create a new form of government
Constitutional Convention
all people born in the state to enslaved mothers after the law’s passage would become indentured servants to be set free at age of 28
Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery in 1780
consisted of 2 chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives
The Great Compromise
when did delegates to Constitutional Convention in Philly voted to approve Constitution
September 17th, 1787
essays that addressed a variety of issues that troubled citizens
The Federalist Papers
When did Virginia est. House of Burgess?
1619
__________ made colonists feel as if their liberties were being taken away
direct taxation
date of declaration of independence
June 2nd, 1776
Constitution consists of
preamble and seven articles
Ratification split people into
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
