Chapter 2 Notes Flashcards
A useful starting point for the study of American political system and its founding
The French and Indian War
Key points of French and Indian War?
Colonists identified as British still. The war left Britain in a budget crisis that lead to taxes on colonists.
The French and Indian War led to what?
Townshend Act
Why did the tax on tea remain in the Townshend Act?
To show Colonists that Britain was still in charge
What happened after the “shot heard round the world”?
Colonies called the 1st Continental Congress
Result of colonies calling 1st Continental Congress in Sept. 5 1774?
British troops and colonial minutemen engaged at Lexington in Concord —> Revolutionary War
What happened as a result of the 2nd Continental Congress?
Treaty of Paris
After Treaty of Paris?
The Declaration of Independence
Who wrote Common Sense
Thomas Paine
When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
July 4, 1776
The Declaration of Independence had a heavy influence from who? What values?
John Locke
republicanism, value of self, property, etc
Relatively strong state governments
Articles of Confederation
Who was the first president of the United States in congress assembled?
Samuel Huntington
Showed that the national government was too weak under the articles of confederation?
Shay’s rebellion
The constitutional convention of 1787 established? What was it from?
A two chamber congress. The Great Compromise
Two chambers but both based on state population James Madison
The Virginia Plan
Only one chamber, one state, one vote
The New Jersey Plan
The Constitutional convention of 1787 also included what compromise?
Three-fifths compromise
Who first ratified the Constitution?
Deleware
When did the Constitution become effective? With what ratification?
June 21, 1788. New Hampshire
What two states barely passed Constitution?
New York and Virginia
The people who signed on and wrote the Consitution
Federalists
The people not present and did not support ratification of the Constitution?
Anti- federalists
Promised during the campaign of 1788 and ensured all states would accept
Bill of Rights.
When did the Constitution become “effective”?
June 21, 1788
Before the constitution what experiences did the colonials have with democratic institutions?
English Parliament and colonial charters
The “rights of englishmen” included?
Trial by jury
What act was repealed before the constitution?
Stamp Act
The Declaration of Independence was a call to?
Revolution- liberty, equality, individual rights, self-government, lawful powers
The Declaration of Independence used the philosophies of?
John Locke.
Two philosophies of John Locke?
- Inalienable (natural) rights
2. Social contract
Government has responsibility to preserve rights
Social contract
Who?
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”
“All men are created equal”
Just powers derived from the consent of the governed
Thomas Jefferson
When were the articles of confederation adopted?
Revolutionary War
The Articles of Confederation prohibited Congress from doing what 2 things and created a weak national govt
- Prohibited Congress from interfering in states’ commerce policies
- Prohibited Congress from taxation
What motivated Congress to authorize a convention in Philadelphia to revise Articles of Confederation?
Shays Rebellion
Father of the Constitution
James Madison
What two questions did James Madison have to answer when framing the Constitution?
- Congress, how will we elect representatives?
2. Issue of slavery and slave trade
- Representation based on population number
- Greater power to larger states
Virginia (large-state) plan
- Each state would have one vote
- Equal power to large and small states
New Jersey (small state) plan
The Great Compromise, a two-chamber Congress, is set up like what?
- House of Representatives: proportional representation
- Senate: equal representation
Three fifths of enslaved population counted for apportionment of taxes and political represenation
Great Compromise
Which essays came first? What were the signatures on them?
Anti-federalist papers
- Brutus, Cato
What did the federalists sign their papers as?
Publius
In the ratification debate, what were the Anti-federalists concerned?
The national government would be too powerful and that state self-government and personal liberty would be at risk
Who wrote the Federalists Papers?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
The framers goals
- Government strong enough to meet the country’s needs
- Government not threatening existence of the separate states
- Government not threatening liberty
- Government based on popular consent
- Limit government by stating specific powers in the Constitution
- Total of seventeen powers
Grants of power
- Limit government by stating specific prohibitions in the Constitution
- Constitution difficult to amend
Denials of power
What did Madison’s Federalist No. 10 address?
The problem of overbearing majorities
What was the framers’ special contribution to using power to offset power?
Separate but overlapping government
Separate institutions sharing power
Checks and balances
Congress checked by president, Supreme Court
Shared legislative powers
President checked by Congress, Supreme Court
Shared executive powers
Courts checked by president, Congress
Shared judicial powers
- Limits powers of government
- First 10 amendments to Constitution
Bill of Rights
Courts determine if governmental institution is acting within its constitutional powers
Judicial Review
Who established Judicial Review? From what court case?
Chief Justice John Marshall in Marbury vs. Madison
Why did the framers favor a republic over a democracy?
- Framers feared the overbearing power of the majority in a democracy
- Framers preferred the concept of a republic, where people rule through elected representatives
- Majority rule in a republic is limited to protect minority rights
Limited popular rule:
- People participate indirectly in the process of government through?
- Indirect election of president through?
- Indirect (initially) election of ?
- Federal judiciary is ?
- Election of officials
- Electoral college
- Election of Senators
- Federal judiciary appointed, not elected
Power gained through elections to be exercised in accordance with law and with due respect for individual rights
Constitutional
Provides for majority influence via elections
Democratic
Mix of deliberative institutions, each of which moderates the power of the others
Republic
Who were the founding fathers? (6)
- Washington
- Adams
- Jefferson
- Madison
- Franklin
- Hamilton
Commander in chief of continental army from 1775-1783
Washington
Washington had what political stance?
Not a member of a political party but supported Federalist ideas
First Vice President
Adams
Adams:
- Member of what party?
- First?
- Federalist party
- First VP
Who wrote Thoughts on Gov’t (1776)
Adams
What did Adams have to say about the VP post?
“This is the most unimportant position human ever made”
VP to Adams?
Jefferson
Jefferson:
- Member of what party?
- Wrote what?
- Founded what?
- Democratic-Republican party
- Wrote Declaration of Independence
- Founded UVA
“Father of the Constitution”
Madison
Madison:
- Wrote what? With what pen name?
- Member of what party?
- The Federalist Papers (Publius)
- Democratic-Republican party
Who supported a strong central government?
Hamilton
Hamilton:
- Member of what party?
- Wrote?
- Federalist party
- The Federalist Papers
Who had a role in electing Jefferson president over Aaron Burr - 12th amendment which resulted in a bitter duel?
Hamilton
“All hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately”
Franklin
Franklin:
- Ambassador to ?
- Eldest ?
- France
- Statesman
