Chapter 6 Flashcards
In what years were the Articles of Confederation in effect?
1781-1787
In what ways were the colonists unable to follow through with the provisions of the Treaty of Paris?
They were unable to stop Britain from maintaining military outposts on the Western frontier and restricting trade
What caused economic weakness within the colonies?
Reduced foreign trade and limited credit because states had not fully repaid war debts
Were the states still engaging in interstate quarrels in this time period? If so, how?
Yes;
The states competed for economic advantage and placed restrictions (like tariffs) on the movement of goods across state lines
What was the importance of the Annapolis Convention (1786)?
It was in this convention that James Madison and Alexander Hamilton persuaded the others that another convention be held in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation;
It was a vital first step towards the making of the Constitution because it showed that the colonists were taking iniatives to bettering the state of their new nation
What demographic were the delegates who were selected to attend the Philadelphia convention?
They were rich, educated, white men;
A good number of them were practicing lawyers;
Limited democracy was still very much present in the colonies
Who was considered the Father of the Constitution?
James Madison
What ended up happening at the beginning of the convention?
The nationalists (people like Madison and Hamilton) wanted to create an entirely new document as opposed to simply rewriting the articles;
What did Roger Sherman of Connecticut propose?
A two-house Congress;
In the Senate, state would have equal representation, but in the House of Representatives, each state would be represented according to the size of its population
What was the compromise Sherman created?
The Connecticut Plan/Great Compromise
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The delegates agreed that each enslaved individual would count as three-fifths of a person for the purposes of state taxation and representation
Did the delegates decide to keep the slave trade around?
Yes;
They wanted it around for at least 20 more years
What was the Commercial Compromise?
Congress was allowed to regulate interstate and foreign commerse, including placing tariffs on foreign exports, but it could not place taxes on exports
Why was an electoral college system instituted in the colonies?
Because the delegates feared that too much democracy may lead to mob rule
How many states of the 13 were needed for the Constitution to be ratified?
Nine
Who were the Federalists?
Supporters of the Constitution and its strong federal government
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
Opponents of the Constitution and its strong federal government
What were the Federalist Papers?
A series of 85 essays that presented cogent reasons for believing in the practicality of each major provision of the Constitution
Who wrote the Federalist Papers?
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Why was it important for Virginia to ratify the Constitution?
Because it was by far the most populous of the original 13 states
How were the Federalists able to win over the Anti-Federalists in Virginia?
By promising a bill of rights
Did Virginia’s vote to ratify the Constitution influence New York to do the same?
Yes;
Also because of Hamilton’s efforts
Did the Constitution need to list the rights of individuals?
Anti-Federalists argued that it should, while Federalists argued that it was unnecesary
How did the Anti-Federalists defend their point that a Bill of Rights was necessary for the Constitution?
They argued that Americans had fought the Revolutionary War to escape a tyrannical government;
The Bill of Rights would offer the necessary protection to safeguard the possibility of such a government from arising in America
How did the Federalists defend their point that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary for the Constitution?
They argued that it was unnecessary because members of Congress would be elected by the people anyways;
Plus, it would be better for people to assume that all their rights are protected than create a limited list of rights that unscrupulous officials may use to their advantage
When did the Bill of Rights start to be formed? When was it adopted?
In 1789;
In 1790
Who wrote the Bill of Rights?
James Madison
What is the first amendment?
US citizens have the right to freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition