Chapter 2 Gov. Test Flashcards
The colonists who came to the Americas, came with a notion of political government. How were those notions formed, and name and describe the three basic concepts that they knew were important?
Ideas from Asia, Africa and as far back as Ancient Rome helped shape the ideas that would begin to form our nation’s government style. Those notions were Ordered government (local, in-reach government), Limited government (Limit what the government can do), and Representative government(Gov. that represents the people).
Why were the 13 Colonies called the laboratory of government experiment? What were the three types of colonies and what characterized them?
The 13 colonies were called the laboratory of experiment because they were using all different types of government. The three different types of colonies were:
Royal Colony - Direct subjects of the crown
Proprietary colonies - Organized by a proprietor or a person that the King had granted the land to
Charter Colony - Founded by religious dissidents from Massachusetts
What direction did King George III take with the Colonies, and why were the Colonists angry with Britain?
King George III imposed restrictive trading acts, and more new taxes as well. The colonists were angry because they were being taxed beyond belief but they had no say in the government. No taxation without representation.
What were the important developments of the 2nd Continental Congress?
The second continental congress made the declaration of independence. It was also our nations first government for 5 years.
Who was in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence, and what was so unique about the document according to political history?
Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson wrote the declaration of independence. No political system had ever been founded on the idea that the people rule and are not ruled.
What was the reason for the Articles of Confederation? What were its strengths and what were its weaknesses?
The individual state governments were too weak and didn’t work, so they made the articles of confederation. They could borrow money, start wars, raise an army. It’s weaknesses were that they had no power to tax, no national court system, no power to regulate trade between states.
What were the conditions in which the States came together in May of 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania…How did this meeting eventually turn into the Constitutional Convention?
A hesitant group of 7 delegates wrote to the remaining delegates asking them to come to “revise the Articles of Confederation”. This would become the Constitutional Convention.
What were the major differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan? Why were these plans important to the states that sponsored them?
Virginia Plan - Would have representatives based on the population of the state or the amount of money given to the government.
New Jersey Plan - Unicameral house, with each state represented equally.
How did compromise play a role in the finalizing of the Constitution, and what was the “Great Compromise”?
The Senate would be a smaller house and consist of equal representatives. The House would be a larger house and consist of representatives based on the size of each state.
What was the battle between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists? How did the ratification process finish?
The federalists were fighting to ratify the new constitution. The Anti-Federalists thought they shouldn’t ratify the constitution. Once 9 states had ratified the constitution, they still needed to convince Thomas Jefferson to ratify it. Once they swayed him, they got it ratified and that was the new government.
Magna Carta
Barons in England forced King John to sign the document which sought protection against “heavy handed or arbitrary” acts by the king - June 1215
Petition of Rights
Made punishment and imprisonment only allowable by the decision of the jury of the accused peers - 7th June 1628
English Bill of Rights
1689, A list of provisions to limit the abuse of power by the Monarchy.
- Right to a fair trial.
- Freedom of excessive bail.
- Freedom from excessive or cruel punishment
Albany Plan
Proposed by Benjamin Franklin in 1754. A proposal for an annual conference where the 13 Colonies coud: Raise military and naval forces. Make war and peace with native Indians. Regulate trade, tax and duties (tax on imports).
Declaration of Rights and Grievances
A letter that was sent to England complaining about the Stamp act. It was later repealed. - October 14, 1765
