Chapter 6: The Constitution of the New Republic (1787-1800) Flashcards
Annapolis Convention
A conference held in Washington’s home to overcome problems
- Only 4 representatives from 4 states came: Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
- Eventually agreed to meet again in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia Convention
Called upon all 13 colonies/states to send delegates to Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation
- Only Rhode Island backed out because they did not trust the other states
James Madison
The father of the Constitution
- Worked on specific articles in the Constitution
Alexander Hamilton
Worked on fashioning specific articles of the Constitution
- Took control of the Philadelphia Convention
New Jersey Plan
The plan of representation proposed by the smaller states which favored them
Virginia Plan
The plan of representation proposed by the larger states which favored them
Connecticut/Great Compromise
Provided for a two-house Congress
- Each state would have equal representation in the Senate
- In a larger body, the House of Representatives, each state would be represented according to the size of its population
3/5 Compromise
The way that the government resolved how to count slaves
- Each slave was counted as 3/5’s of a person (for tax and representative purposes)
Commercial Compromise
A way by/attempt by Congress to raise revenue
- Allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign tariffs on foreign imports
- Prohibited placing taxes on any exports
Electoral College
Electors assigned to each state
- Electors #’s equal to the number of state’s representatives and senators
- Instituted because the delegates at Philadelphia feared that too much democracy could lead to mob rule
Federalists
A group who supported a strong federal government
- Tended to be most numerous along the Atlantic Coast and in large cities
- George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton
- A stronger federal government was needed to maintain order as well as preserve the Union
Bill of Rights
The most argued for by the Antifederalists and argued against by the Federalists
- Antifederalists: argued that Americans had fought the Revolutionary War to escape the tyranny of a central government, and that the Articles were a tyrannical piece
- Federalists: argued that since members of Congress would be elected by the people and that they did not need to be protected against themselves
- Had 10 Amendments:
1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
2. Right to bear arms
3. People can refuse to quarter soldiers
4. Government cannot carry out unreasonable searches or seizures of people’s property
5. Everyone has the right to a trial, but no double jeopardy
6. Right to a public trial
7. Right to a trial by jury
8. Criminals be treated fairly
9. Any rights not specified are protected
10. All powers not delegated to the federal government belonged to the states and the people
Anti Federalists
Those who opposed a strong Federal Government
- Small farmers and western settlers
- George Madison, Madison Henry , James Winthrop, John Hancock, George Clinton
- A stronger central government would destroy the work of the Revolution, limit democracy, and restrict state’s rights
Cabinet
Advisors with whom the President meets with regularly to discuss major policy issues
- 4 groups: Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of War, and Attorney General
- In Washington’s Presidency:
1. Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
2. Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
3. Secretary of War: Henry Knox
4. Attorney General: Edmund Randolph
Judiciary Act (1789)
One of Congress’ first laws:
- Established a Supreme Court with one chief justice and five associate justices
- Supreme Court (The highest court)
- Empowered to rule on the constitutionality of decisions made by state courts
- Provided for a system of 13 district courts and three circuit courts of appeals
Assumption of Debt
A proposal issued by Hamilton in order to dramatically enhance the legitimacy of the new central government
- The federal government should pay off all the Confederation (state) debts at full value
- To raise money to pay off the debts, Hamilton would issue new securities bonds
- Investors who had purchased these public securities could make enormous profits when the time came for the United States to pay off these new debts
Excise Tax
A tax that is measured by the amount of business done
- To raise enough revenue to pay the government’s debts Hamilton persuaded Congress to pass excise taxes
- WHISKEY!!! (excise tax was put on whiskey and caused a lot of problems = The Whiskey Rebellion)
Bank of the United States
Chartered by the federal government but was privately owned
- As a major shareholder of the bank, the federal government could print paper currency and use federal deposits to stimulate business
Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)
President Washington believed the young nation was not strong enough to engage in a European War
- He issued a proclamation of US neutrality in the conflict
- Caused Thomas Jefferson to resign due to disagreement
Citizen Edmond Genêt
He was the French minister for the U.S. & he objected to Washington’s policy in neutrality
- Broke all the normal rules of diplomacy by appealing directly to the American people to support the French cause
- His conduct was so outrageous that even Jefferson approved of Washington’s request to the French government that they repeal him
Jay’s Treaty (1794)
Chief Justice John Jay was sent to Britain regarding Britain’s offensive practice of searching and seizing American ships and impressing seamen into the British Navy
- Britain agreed to evacuate its posts on the US Western frontier
- Said nothing about British seizures of American merchants
- Very unpopular, however it kept the United States at peace
Pickney’s Treaty (1795)
A treaty made by Spanish minister Thomas Pickney
- Spain agreed to open the lower Mississippi River and New Orleans to American trade
- The right of deposit was granted to Americans so that they could transfer cargoes in New Orleans without paying duties to the Spanish government
Battle of Fallen Timbers
What happened after the US found that the British were supplying the Native Americans with arms and encouraging them to attack the Americans?
- They sent General Anthony Wayne to the Native American tribes in Northwestern Ohio
Whiskey Rebellion (1794)
In Western Pennsylvania the refusal of a group of farmers to pay the federal excise tax on whiskey seemed to pose a major challenge to the viability of the US government under the Constitution
- Rather than pay the tax, they defended their “liberties” by attacking the revenue collectors
- Washington sent troops to squash the rebellion which was successful and some applauded the military action taken by Washington = showed the nation had a strong central government
- Among Westerners Washington’s actions were widely resented
