Chapter 6 Note Cards

Question 1

Weaknesses in the Articles of the Confederation

Answer 1

Who - N/A
What - Nonconforming currencies, couldn’t regulate trade, weak federal gov’t, all states had to agree on amendments
When - Created in 1777
Where - America
Why - It was supposed to act as the first form of gov’t for the newly-formed US, but left lots of loopholes and issues

Question 2

Alexander Hamilton

Answer 2

Who - Alexander Hamilton
What - New York lawyer, aide to George Washington, Founding Father who was upset with the Articles of Confederation, so he fought for the more centralized government in the Constitutional Convention
When - Born mid-1750s
Where - Born in Charlestown, Nevis
Why - N/A

Question 3

New Jersey Plan

Answer 3

Who - Developed by William Paterson
What - A proposal for the structure of the US government, it limits each state to one vote in Congress
When - Proposed during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 (June 15)
Where - Would be implemented in the American colonies
Why - It was built to protect the smaller states so that they could remain powerful

Question 4

Virginia Plan

Answer 4

Who - Edmund Randolph
What - Suggested an entirely new form of national government, where there would be two houses; one would represent states, the other would have members elected by the lower house
When - Proposed on May 17, 1787 (Constitutional Convention)
Where - Would be in the US
Why - The Articles of Confederation made an insufficient government, and it was to protect larger states

Question 5

Great Compromise

Answer 5

Who - Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth
What - Suggested that there would be a single delegate from each state and a chairman to settle disputes; solved the problem of unequal representation (lower house owls be based on state population, upper house had 2 members per state)
When - Accepted July 16, 1787
Where - To be implemented in the US
Why - To make all the states content and to have a better form of national government

Question 6

James Madison

Answer 6

Who - James Madison
What - Virginia Plan, Bill of rights, resolved the issue of state and national government
When - Born 1750s, did lots from the 1780s on
Where - From Virginia
Why - N/A

Question 7

Sovereignty

Answer 7

Who - N/A
What - The authority or power; heavily debated topic when the US government was initially being formed – how to divide the power between state and national government
When - 1780s
Where - US
Why - It was eventually decided that all power should flow from the people to prevent a repeat of the British rule

Question 8

Checks and Balances

Answer 8

Who - Scottish philosopher David Hume gave the idea of checking each other
What - Each branch of government has power over the other two in some way shape or form
When - 1787 (in the 1787 Constitution)
Where - US
Why - This ensured that a single branch could not hold all the power; divided the power among various elements of the government

Question 9

Federalism

Answer 9

Who - Influenced by Montesquieu
What - Government based on two levels; higher for national, lower for states
When - Prominent in the US in late 1700s
Where - US
Why - Federalism was popular because it promoted a strong national government that would unite the country; it also supported economic growth and strengthened relationships with potential allies

Question 10

Separation of Powers

Answer 10

Who - N/A
What - Broke the government into three different branches: executive, judicial, and legislative
When - 1787 (in the Constitution of 1787)
Where - US
Why - To ensure that the government did not become corrupt by a single authority

Question 11

Antifederalists

Answer 11

Who - ex. Samuel Adams, James Monroe, Patrick Henry
What - Believed that federalism would result in a strong (and therefore potentially overpowered) central government and that the states would be left powerless; disapproved of the Constitution lacking a bill of rights
When - Prominent in the late 1700s
Where - US
Why - The antifederalists were worried that a federalist government would yield conditions similar to those under British rule (increasing taxes, dictatorship, favor the wealthy, end individual liberty)

Question 12

Federalists

Answer 12

Who - ex. Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, George Washington
What - Supporters of the Constitution, encouraging a strong central government
When - Prominent in the late 1700s
Where - US
Why - Wanted to better unite the country and have a stronger federal government

Question 13

The Federalist Papers

Answer 13

Who - Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
What - A series of essays preaching the goodness of the Constitution
When - 1787-1788
Where - US
Why - They wrote these papers to counter powerful arguments coming from those who opposed the Constitution (the Antifederalists)

Question 14

Bill of Rights

Answer 14

Who - Written by James Madison
What - The first ten amendments to the Constitution that eliminated the possibility for basic rights to be infringed upon
When - Approved by Congress 1789; approved by states in 1791
Where - US
Why - Legitimize the government in the eyes of opps

Question 15

Hamilton’s Financial Plan

Answer 15

Who - Alexander Hamilton
What - Proposed that the government take responsibility for existing public debt; wanted the government to have the support of the wealthy; wanted permanent national debt; wanted a national bank
When - 1790
Where - US
Why - He wanted to unify the economic side of the country; creating a national bank would allow for loans and universal currency; would make taxes easier

Question 16

Republicans

Answer 16

Who - ex. Abraham Lincoln (much later)
What - Opposed the Federalists; formed committees, societies, caucasus; wanted to create an “apparatus of partisan influence”
When - Late 1790s first formed
Where - US
Why - A response to the growing power of the Federalists (which appeared menacing and tyrannical)

Question 17

Whiskey Rebellion

Answer 17

Who - Farmers against the gov’t
What - These farmers refused to pay a whiskey tax & would instead terrorize the collectors; Washington called out militias of 15,000 and led them to Pennsylvania himself; when they arrived, the rebellion collapsed
When - 1794
Where - Western Pennsylvania
Why - The farmers believed they could act as they did during the Revolution (like they did with the Stamp Act), but Washington wanted to stop any kind of behavior like this at once

Question 18

Neutrality Act

Answer 18

Who - Voted on by Congress (tie broken by John Adams)
What - Made it illegal to declare war upon any country at peace with us
When - 1794
Where - Applies to the US
Why - The neutrality act essentially makes it less likely for the US to indulge in a foreign war, preserving precious resources

Question 19

Pickneys’ Treaty

Answer 19

Who - Thomas Pickney
What - A treaty with Spain that allowed the US to explore the Mississippi River, had Spain fix the Floridian border, and prohibited Native Americans from launching raids across the Floridian border
When - Singed 1795
Where - Applied to the US and Spanish territories in America
Why - Created to settle the US’s conflict with the Spanish

Question 20

John Adams

Answer 20

Who - John Adams
What - Second president of the US; lawyer, diplomat, Founding Father; avoided proper war with France during his presidency
When - 1735 to 1826
Where - From Braintree, Massachusetts
Why - N/A

Question 21

Washington’s Farewell Address

Answer 21

Who - George Washington & Alexander Hamilton
What - Address written for Washington’s retirement from presidency; greatly frowned upon the Republicans; warned against “international entanglements” (jab at Republicans)
When - 1797
Where - US; published in a Philadelphia newsletter
Why - Written to denounce the Republicans and to advise the country after his retirement

Question 22

Alien and Sedition Acts

Answer 22

Who - Created by Federalists
What - Alien: made it more difficult for foreigners to become American citizens; Sedition: allowed the gov’t to prosecute anyone who speaks out against the government, inciting some sort of rebellion (sedition)
When - 1798
Where - US
Why - The Federalists wished to diminish and silence the Republicans, so they created these acts

Question 23

Quasi War

Answer 23

Who - The US & France
What - An undeclared war with France; resulted in the US allying with Britain, but the French chose to conciliate the US & the war came to a peaceful end
When - 1978-1800
Where - Lots on the Atlantic
Why - Once the French began capturing US vessels, a group went to France to negotiate; the French insulted the group & demanded a loan (XYZ Affair), President Adams sent a message to Congress requesting that they prepare for war

Question 24

Revolution of 1800

Answer 24

Who - Election between Jefferson and Adams (also Jefferson and Burr); Election of 1800
What - Throughout the election, the Federalists and Republicans were telling tall tales about the opposing candidate; to determine the Republican candidate (Burr vs Jefferson), there was an agreement that one less person would vote for Burr so that the two wouldn’t tie, but they ended up tying anyway; the decision went to the Federalist Congress, which decided to vote for Jefferson
When - 1800
Where - US
Why - The Federalist Congress determined that Burr was too unreliable to have as a presidential candidate

Question 25

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Answer 25

Who - Written by Madison & Jefferson
What - Used ideas of John Locke to argue that the federal gov’t hd been formed by a contract with the states, which only allowed it certain delegated powers; if the gov’t went out of those powers, the states had the right to nullify the law
When - 1798-1799
Where - US
Why - The Republicans wished to reverse the Alien and Sedition Acts