Chapter 2 Flashcards
3 basic concepts of government:
- Ordered Government
- Limited Government
- Representative Government
Representative gov
- Government should serve the will of the people
- People should have a voice in what the government does
Limited Gov
- Government is restricted to what it can do
- People have rights that the government can’t take away
3 important British documents that led to American freedom:
- Magna Carta
- Petition of Right
- English Bill of Rights
What was the Magna Carta?
Established the principles that the monarchy was not absolute and established the rule of law
Who signed the Magna Carta
Signed by King John
Rule of Law
“The law in charge” - there is a set of limits on government power!!
What is the cornerstone of the US Constitution?
the Magna Carta
Petition of Right
it limited the kings power in specific ways (no punishment w/out trial, no martial law in time of peace, limited taxation etc.)
Who signed the Petition of Right
King Charles I
The English Bill of Rights
est. the idea that people had certain natural rights that couldn’t be taken away by the government (free speech, religion, fair trial, etc)
Who signed the English bill of rights
signed by William and Mary
The two bedrock principles we as Americans live by today are:
- No one is above the law
- We all have rights that the government must protect
3 types of Colonial government (describe)
Royal (direct control of the crown)
Proprietary (direct control of the proprietor/owner)
Charter (direct control of the people)
Early attempts to unite the colonies (5)
- Albany Plan of Union - 1754
- Stamp Act Congress - 1765
- First Continental Congress - 1744
- Second Continental Congress - 1775
- Declaration of Independence 1776
What was the Albany Plan of Union?
Attempt to address colonial trade and unite during the French and Indian War
What was the Stamp Act Congress?
United and Fought to repeal the stamp tax
What was the First Continental Congress?
United and Demanded a repeal of the Intolerable Acts
What was the Second Continental Congress?
- First time all colonies united
- 1st temporary national government during the war for independence
What was the Declaration of independence?
United to form our new nation
Common features of the first state constitutions: (4)
- Popular Sovereignty - people were the supreme source of power
- Limited Government - states not all powerful
- Civil Rights and liberties: people had certain rights that the states must recognize and protect
- Separation of powers and checks and balances: states powers were divided among the three branches and each branch could check/restrain each other
When was The Critical Period
1783-1788
What was the articles of confederation and what was it designed to do?
First constitution of the USA, Designed to have a weak central government and strong state governments
Who wrote the first draft of the Articles of Confederation?
Benjamin Franklin
Who wrote the final draft of the Articles of Confederation?
John Dickinson
Why did they fear a strong central government?
They wanted each state to keep its own sovereignty, freedom, and independence
What was the only branch of gov they had under the Articles of Confederation?
Legislative (congress)
What is a Confederate form of government like?
most power in the local (states) - very little to Central Government - almost like 13 individual countries
Major weaknesses of a Confederate government? (6)
The government (had):
1. No power to tax
2. No power to coin money
3. No power to regulate trade
4. No power to enforce its own laws
5. No power to create an army
6. could make Amendments (changes to the Articles) only with the consent of all 13 states
Shay’s Rebellion
Revolt against land/home foreclosures! /some arrested/ anger led to violence.
Why were the Articles of Confederation a failure?
Central Government had too little power
What was the Annapolis Convention ?
A call for action to solve the problems with the articles of confederation - only 5 states showed up