Chapter 9 Flashcards
What amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
They were the 1st 10 amendments of the Constitution
What is the difference between a law and an amendment?
A law is a bill that gets passed and an amendment is a change to an existing document
How does an amendment get proposed?
It has to be proposed by 2/3 of Congress or 2/3 of the states
How does an amendment then get ratified?
It has to be ratified by 3/4 of the State Leegislatures
What five civil liberties does the 1st Amendment protect?
Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Press, Freedom of Assembly, and Freedom of Petitioning the Government
What does the 2nd Amendment give you the right to own?
It gives you the right to bear arms (own guns)
What does the 4th Amendment protect you from? (Placed as a result of the Sugar Act)
It protects you against unreasonable searches and seizures without probable cause
What Amendment is important for people accused of committing crimes?
The 5th Amendment
According to the 5th Amendment, natural rights cannot be taken away without what?
The due process of law (This means that the federal government must follow the rules of law in the process of arresting, indicting, trying, convicting, sentencing, and incarcerating a person)
What amendment gives you the right to a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury?
The 6th Amendment
What does the 9th Amendment keep the government from doing?
It prevents the government from claiming the Bill of Rights are the only rights Americans have
What was given power in the 10th Amendment for protection?
States could be used as protection from the powers of the federal government
Who were the first President and Vice President in American history?
George Washington becomes the first President of the U.S.
John Adams becomes the first Vice President of the U.S.
What did each department of the Executive Branch deal with?
State Department
Treasury Department
War Department
The State Department handles relations with other nations
The Treasury Department deals with financial matters
The War Department deals with the nation’s defense
Who makes up the cabinet of the President?
Thomas Jefferson-Secretary of State
Alexander Hamilton-Secretary of Treasury
Henry Knox-Secretary of War
Attorney General
Who was the first Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury?
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
What job title did Alexander Hamilton hold?
Secretary of Treasury
What act established a federal court system?
The Judiciary State of 1789
What could federal courts do to state laws if deemed necessary?
Federal Courts could overturn state laws
Who was John Jay?
The first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
What is a national debt?
The amount the government owed
What did Alexander Hamilton want to do with state debts after the war?
Alexander proposed a plan that would have the federal government take care of the state debts form the war
What area in America was against his plan and why did they feel this way?
The Southern States were against this plan because they owed less than the Northern states and would have to pay more than their fare share to compensate
Why did the South agree to accept Hamilton’s plan to lessen the national debt?
The South agreed with Hamilton’s plan in exchange for the U.S. Capital being moved to the south, Washington D.C.
Why did Hamilton feel that it was ok for him to create a national bank?
Because he said it fell within the intent of the Constitution although it was never specifically stated
What is a tariff?
A tariff is tax on imported goods and they were instituted to encourage people to buy American goods
What was Whiskey’s Rebellion?
Whiskey’s Rebellion was a civil uprising against the taxing power of the Federal Government
Why did Washington not want to run for a third term to the Presidency?
Because he did not want the President to turn into a King-like position
What are 3 aspects of the Federalist Party?
Favored a strong Federal Government
Rule by Wealth
Loose interpretation of the Constitution
What are 4 aspects of the Democratic-Republican Party?
State Banks
State Governments
Rule by the People
Strict Interpretation of the Constitution
How did Washington feel about political parties?
Washington also feared the growth of political parties in the U.S. because he felt that the division was a grave danger to the nation
What is favoring one side in a political decision?
Partisan
Before the Election of 1796, what was held for the first time to determine Presidential candidates?
Caucuses
What was the crisis with France involving three agents that tried to get money from America?
The XYZ Affair
Why were three acts created after the XYZ Affair?
The acts were created to help protect the security of the nation and slow immigration
What was the Naturalization Act?
The Naturalization Act required aliens to live in the U.S. for 14 years before being able to apply for citizenship
What were the Alien Acts?
The Alien Acts allowed the President to deport aliens that were considered dangerous
What was the Sedition Act?
Sedition Act – a crime to speak or write false criticisms to try and weaken the gov’t.
What Amendment did the Sedition Act contradict?
The First Amendment
What limits the power of the government and protects the rights of the individual?
The Bill of Rights
