Chapter 2 Flashcards
3 Basic Concepts of Government and what were they?
- Ordered Government
a. Government
regulatesthe affairs of
people
b. Government
maintains
order - Limited Government
a. government restricted
to
do what it can
b. people have unalienable
rights - Representative Government
a. government serves
the will of the people
b. people have a voice in
what the government
does
American Bill of Rights
- No one is above the law
- We all have rights the government must protect
Magna Carta
established that government doesn’t have absolute power - *Cornerstone of US Constitution
Petition of Rights
- Limited the King
- Powers in specific ways (no punishment without trial)
- No martial law during Peace
- Limited tax
English Bill of Rights
- Established the idea that people had natural rights (free speech, religion, fair trial)
3 Types of Colonial Government
- Royal - direct control of the crown (8)
- Proprietary - direct control of the proprietor/owner (3)
- Charter - direct control of the people (2)
Continental Congress
first time the nation united during war for independence
Articles of Confederation
First Constitution of the USA - had a weak central government and strong state governments!
Had one branch of government - Legislative/Congress
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
- No power to tax!
- No power to coin money!
- No power to regulate trade!
- No power to enforce its own laws!
- No power to create an army!
- Amendments (changes to the Articles) only with the consent of all 13 states!
Shay’s Rebellion
Revolt against land/home foreclosures
Why were the Articles of Confederation a failure?
Central government had too little power!!!
Framers
group of delegates sent to Philadelphia
Patrick Henry
“I smelt a rat” - Give me liberty or give me death!
purpose of philadelphia Convention
to rearrange the constitution
Virginia Plan
UNITARY - more central power
New Jersey Plan
FEDERAL - less central power
“Great Compromise”
New constitution
Three-Fifths Compromise
Should slaves be counted as part of the population?
The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
- The South feared that Congress would tax exports to help fund the government!
- Feared they would stop the slave trade
Ratify
official approval of the states
What were the 2 opposing sides in favor/opposing the Constitution?
Federalists - in favor
Anti-federalists - opposed to the new constitution
What was the federalists’ main argument? And who were they led by?
The Central government was too weak
Led by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
Who were the anti-federalists led by?
Patrick Henry
2 Major Complaints of the Constitution
(James Madison later added them)
- It gave too much power to the federal government
- No Bill of Rights (rights of the people)
How much states had to ratify to make the Constitution official?
9 states or 2/3 of the majority
Which state was the first to ratify?
Delaware
What was The Federalist (papers) New York
- Was a series of 85 articles written - to promote the new constitution
- Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay
What was the last state to ratify
North Carolina
President of the Constitutional Convention
George Washington
quorum
Majority
