Chapter 2 Flashcards
Limited government
A system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute
Representative govt
A system in government in which people elect delegates to make laws and conduct govt
Separation of powers
The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of govt
Revenue
The money a govt collects from taxes or other sources
Embargo
An agreement prohibiting trade
Ratify
To approve
Unicameral
A single chamber legislature
Cede
To yield
Ordinance
A law
Interstate commerce
Trade among the states
Extralegal
Not sanctioned by the law
Anarchy
Political disorder
Explain the concepts of American govt that originated in England
Magna Carta
Petition of right- limit- parliament must consent to taxes, no quartering, no marshal law
English bill of rights- monarchs are not absolute, monarchs can’t interfere with parliament, fair trials, no cruel punishment
Representative govt- people elect delegates to run the govt for them, originated in England
Explain Locke’s theory on govt
-when is govt legitimate
In nature before govt, everyone is born free.
People give ho some of their freedoms to the govt for protection and if govt doesn’t protect you, you can overthrow it
What natural rights are people born with according to Locke
Life, liberty, and property
How was democracy different in the colonies than it is today
Only white men who owned property could vote
List the 3 practices of the colonial govt that exist today
Written constitutions
Legislature of elective representatives
Separation between the governor and legislature
Mayflower compact
The pilgrims government.
Great fundamentals
The law for the English colonies
Fundamental orders of Connecticut
The first formal/written constitution in America
The house of burgesses
The first legislature in the us
In Virginia
Why did the colonies exist for the benefit of Great Britain?
For the benefit of Great Britain:
could get natural resources from the colonies
We’re a market for British goods
The colonies were fairly independent because
We’re fairly independent
Because of the distance between them and England
What 2 events changed the relationship between the colonies and Britain
French and Indian war
King George III becomes king
Why did the British begin taxing the colonies
To pay off debt
What was the stamp act
What problems it caused
First direct tax on the colonies
Placed on paper products
Results of the stamp act
Caused them to boycott British goods
Escalated to the Boston tea party as a protest
Intolerable acts were the punishment for the Boston tea party
What was decided at the stamp act congress and the resulting committees of correspondence
Embargo British goods
Committees of c. Groups that wrote eachother to tell about the rebellion
What does ‘no taxation without representation’ mean
Because the colonists didn’t have a representative in parliament, they should not be taxed
What was accomplished at the first continental congress and the second continental congress
1st: discussed how to address britains taxes
2nd: the acting govt during the war.
What is the Declaration of Independence
When was it signed
3 main parts
A document that officially separated the colonies from Great Britain
Signed July 4, 1776
Statement of purpose and basic human rights, complaints against George III, the separation from Great Britain
All people have the right to
Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness
What is the articles of confederation
How is govt set up under it
Some of the benefits
The first American govt It was a strong league of friendship Govt was a unicameral congress Each state got one vote No executive or judicial branches
Benefits-
Could enter into treaties,
make war and peace,
send and receive ambassadors
List 4 weaknesses of the articles
Can’t levy taxes
Can’t regulate trade
To amend had to have approval of all 13 colonies
One more
Explain some of the articles achievements
Northwest ordinance Peace treaty with Great Britain Enlargement of the country Departments of foreign affairs, war, Marine, treasury 'Full faith and credit' clause
Explain some of the issues that arose under the articles, such as shays rebellion
States fought with one another
Couldn’t pay off the debt
Looked weak and terrible
Shays rebellion showed the weaknesses of the articles- Daniel shays was a revolutionary war veteran
Would lead unhappy farmers to close the courts
Tried to take a federal arsenal but was stopped
What was the purpose of the constitutional convention?
Where was it held
Who presided over it
Purpose- to revise the articles
But decided to start over completely with the constitution
Held in Philadelphia
President was George Washington
Who was the father of the constitution
James Madison
Understand that the meetings were kept secret to allow…
Delegates to talk freely
Describe the early agreements that occurred at the convention
Abandon the articles
Limited and representative govt
Legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Limit the states power to coin money or interfere with creditors rights
Strengthen the national govt
Explain the difference between the Virginia plan and the New Jersey plan
Virginia- large state plan, created three branches of govt, a bicameral legislature, representation based on population
New Jersey- small state plan, keep a unicameral legislature, representation Would be equal
What did the Connecticut compromise form
Explain
Compromise of the new jersey and Virginia plans
Creates a bicameral legislature
Senate has equal representation
House of representative is based on population
Formed the modern legislative branch of govt
Explain the basics of three-fifths compromise
The north and the south
South wanted slaves to count for representation but not taxation
North wants them to count for taxation but not representation
Compromise they count a slave as 3/5 of a person for tax and representation
What other compromises came out of the constitutional convention
Interstate trade and foreign commerce
Restrictions on slavery
How to elect president
Presidential term
Know the difference between federa lists and antifederalists
Federalists: supported constitution
Anti-Federalists: did not support constitution
What would get the states to ratify the constitution
The promise of the bill of rights
How many states needed to ratify the constitution?
Needed 9 states to ratify
New Hampshire is the 9th state
Where was the first Capitol of the U.S.?
New York
Who was the first president?
George Washington
