Chapter 5 Flashcards
In what three major areas did England influence American colonial government?
Local government, legislative government, limited government.
What factors nurtured the growth of colonial political power during the first half of the eighteenth century?
Official neglect and geographical remoteness
What two events in 1760 brought about changes in British colonial rule that would eventually lead to American independence?
Britain’s huge debt following the end of French & Indian War and the accession of George III to the throne.
What influence did Christian thought have on the Declaration of Independence?
Declaration reflected Christian political thinking that defined natural law that’s synonymous to God’s law
What two significant factors during the American Revolution profoundly molded the nature of the United States government following the war?
- Second Continental Congress functioned as the national government.
- The states resisted yielding their power to tax to the Continental Congress
What was the crucial weakness of the Articles of Confederation?
They have the inability of the national government to enforce its policies.
What two major events focused attention upon the shortcomings of the American Confederation?
- The confederation congress’s inability to effectively deal with interstate commerce disputes on national scale
- Shay’s rebellion which generated the fear of anarchy.
What two key procedural rules, established at the very beginning of the Constitutional Convention, greatly facilitated the progress of the convention?
- A rule of secrecy outside the convention hall
2. The decision to organize as a committee of the whole
What major agreement did the Constitutional Convention reach after only five days of meetings?
The convention would establish a new national government, restructured and redefined with a supreme legislature, judiciary, and executive.
Who is known as the Father of the Constitution?
James Madison
In what three major areas did the Constitutional Convention need to make compromises?
Representation, slavery, commerce
Who were the main leaders among the Anti-Federalists? the Federalists?
- Anti-Federalists - Patrick Henry, George Mason, Edmond Randolph, George Clinton.
- Federalists - Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
What were the two major arguments presented against adoption of the Constitution?
It curbed state power and lacked the Bill of Rights
What were the two most crucial state conventions in the ratification of the Constitution? What factors led to the final approval of the Constitution in these states?
- New York & Virginia
- A few undecided Virginia delegates were swayed by Madison’s promise to help push through the Bill of Rights, and some New York anti-federalists switched sides after the Virginia anti-federalists failed to block the ratification.
In what three major ways colonial governments were influenced by English government?
The terminology of the British local governments, representative legislature, and laws that protected individual rights of limited government.
What actions by England threatened colonial governments and aroused revolution?
England passed a series of taxes and trade restrictions, imposed a peace time colony on the colonists, required colonists to provision the army.
How did Jefferson justify the colonies’ break with England in the Declaration?
Jefferson based his argument on unalienable rights of man established by natural laws. Since the king as repeatedly violated these rights the colonists were justified in seeking independence
On what major issues did the Constitutional Convention agree?
On the need of restructured national government as well on the need of basic principles of limited governments.
Why did the 2nd Continental Congress create a weak confederation? What was the primary weakness of the Articles?
They created a weak confederation because a stronger local government was viewed as a check against tyranny, the power of the state legislature was enhanced, and executive power was weakened. The primary weakness of the Articles was the inability of the national government to enforce its policies
Describe the major issues that required compromise at the Constitutional Convention. Name the compromises.
- How many representatives each state could have; Connecticut Compromise: 2 houses with equal representation in one and proportional representation in the other
- Whether slaves should be counted when determining representation for slave-holding states; 3/5 Compromise
- Who would deal with interstate and international trade; Compromise: congress was given power over foreign and interstate commerce and the legislative was forbidden to impose any export duties on the states or interfere with the slave trade for at least 20 years
Summarize the positions of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
- Federalists were advocates of the Constitution
* Anti-Federalists opposed the new plan of government
In what states did the greatest threat to the ratification of the Constitution exist? What compromise was the deciding factor in the success of ratification?
Virginia and New York; the Federalists compromised by agreeing to send recommendations for amendments in conjunction with ratification
What did Virginia Plan advocate?
Bicameral legislative branch and number of representatives based on population.
Which was the last state to ratify the Articles of Confederation
Maryland
For what two main reasons did people oppose ratification of the Constitution?
Too little power for the states
Didn’t have Bill of Rights
What King ascended the throne in England in 1760?
King George III
What document did the first continental congress send to the king?
Declaration of Grievances
What was the real fear that was created by Shay’s Rebellion?
Anarchy would breakout against the country
What law did the 1765 Stamp Act violate?
Petition of Right
Who led an uprising of farmers in Massachusetts?
Daniel Shays
Levy taxes
True
When pirates ships and crews, navy to fight them
True
Britain kept close watch of American affairs
False
The Articles of Confederation were ratified 2 months after they were introduced
False
All the states had to have at least
False
Colonial newspapers closely followed
False
Essay 1:
What did the Virginia Plan advocate? Which states did it favor?
It advocated a bicameral Congress, with the number of representatives based on state population or on the amount of revenue that a state provided the national government. Since representation under the Virginia Plan was based on state population, it naturally favored the larger states.
Essay 2:
1. What catalytic events shook America and encouraged independence?
- The French and Indian War ended after Montreal, the last French stronghold in North America, surrendered to the British. The French defeat removed a major obstacle from the path of American expansion, and at the same time the war left Britain strapped with a huge debt that Parliament would soon demand that the colonies help shoulder.
- Also in 1760, George III acceded to the throne.
Reasserting the political strength of the crown. His brash efforts, however, combined with an inept group of advisors and parliamentary supporters, would strain and eventually snap the British hold on the American colonies.
