Chapter 2 Flashcards
what is a constitution?
a statement of fundamental principles that governs a nation or an organization
what is an indentured servant?
a colonial American settler contracted to work for a fixed period in exchange for food, shelter, and transportation to the New World
was early America an equal society?
no
what is a compact?
a mutual agreement that provides for joint action to achieve defined goals
how do compacts and covenants relate to the formation of some early American colonies?
some formed through compacts or covenants between the settlers
what is a covenant?
a compact invoking religious or moral authority
how many features of colonial politics propelled the new nation toward its constitution?
6
what are the six features that led to the constitution?
- the colonies were hella far from England
- every colony elected its own legislature
- plentiful land created equal opportunities for ordinary people
- some colonies began with compacts or covenants
- many colonists came to the New World to practice their religion in peace
6 border areas in early America were violent and insecure due to brutal wars with Native Americans
why did the colonists revolt after helping the British win victory over France?
England left ten thousand troops in America to protects the land they just won
England was super in debt after the war ad tried to use the Americans as a bank
what is delegate representation?
representatives follow the expressed wishes of thevoters
what is trustee representation?
representative do what they regard as in the nest interest of their constituents, even if those constituents don’t agree
what is mercantilism?
an economic theory in which the government restrains imports and promotes exports to maintain national power and wealth
was imposing a stamp tax on the colonies a good idea?
nope
how did colonists respond to the stamp tax?
THEY ORGANIZED SIS. they formed the Stamp Act Congress in October 1765 and sent a protest to the king
did the Stamp Act Congress work?
yes, for two years
what came after the Stamp Tax?
the Townshend Acts in 1767
what were the Townshend Acts?
new taxes, led to the Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party?
colonists yeeted tea into the harbor in a big “fuck you” to the English
what was the first continental congress?
a convention of delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies that met in 1774
what was the second continental congress?
a convention of delegates from the 13 colonies that became the acting national government for the duration of the Revolutionary War, drafted the Declaration of Independence
what are the five main ideals in the first part of the Declaration of Independence?
- all people are equal
- their creator endowed them rights that can’t be taken away
- these rights include: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
- people form governments to protect those rights
- governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed
what was the second part of the Declaration of Independence?
colonists’ grievance to King George
what were the three main grievances?
- violations of the right or representation
- a standing army not under civilian control
- loss of an independent court
what is a confederation?
a group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a national government, although each state retains a degree of sovereign authority
what was the first constitution called?
the Article of Confederation
did they work well? why or why not?
no, there was no strong central government bc of PTSD from King George
what were the four problems highlighted by the Articles of Confederation?
- the new republic needed a strong central government if it were to survive
- a vigorous national government needs a stable source of revenue
- different sources of government power should balance one another
- a weak central government left the nation vulnerable
what was the last straw for many national leaders concerning the Articles of Confederation?
Shays’s rebellion
what did leaders do after Shays’s rebellion?
they convened the Constitutional Convention to make a new constitution
what were the five central issues debated concerning the new constitution?
- should the people be involved directly in the government? led to indirect elections
- national vs. state power? Madison v. New Jersey plan
compromised with House and Senate - nature of the presidency? electoral college
- how best to separate powers? checks and balances
- slavery? no answer bc racism
what the preamble do?
WE the people
what did article 1 do?
describes Congress
what did article 2 do?
describes the Presidency
what did article 3 do?
describes the Courts
what did article 4 do?
describes relations between the states
what did article 5 do?
authorized amendments
what did article 6 do?
made the constitution the law of the land
what did article 7 do?
said that the constitution needed to be ratified by 9 states
what is classical republicanism?
a democratic ideal that calls on citizens to participate in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gain, and defer to natural leaders, Anti-Federalists used this to argue against ratification
what were anti-federalists 4 major complaints with the constitution?
- it stripped political control from citizens and placed it in a powerful national government
- president looked too much like a king
- standing armies and navies were a threat to peace and liberty, wanted citizen militias instead
- constitution had no bill of rights
how did the federalists argue for ratification?
the Federalist papers
what is the Bill of Rights?
the first ten amendments to the constitution, listing the rights guaranteed to every citizen
1st amendment?
freedom of religion and speech
2nd amendment?
right to bear arms
3rd amendment?
soldiers can’t force you to let them stay in your home
4th amendment?
no unreasonable search and seizures
5th amendment?
rights for the accused
6th amendment?
certain rights guaranteed in criminal trials
7th amendment?
right to trial by jury
8th amendment?
no excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment
9th amendment?
open to other rights
10th amendment?
any powers not given to federal government are reserved for states and people
what is incorporation?
the process by which the Supreme Court declares that a right in the Bill of Rights also applies to state governments
what is originalism?
a principle of legal interpretation that relies on the original meaning of those who wrote the constitution
what is pragmatism?
a principle of legal interpretation based of the idea that the constitution evolves and that interpretation of the constitution must be put in the context of contemporary realities
