Chapter 9 Flashcards
What limits the power of the gov’t and protects the rights of the individual?
The Bill of Rights
What amendments make up the Bill of Rights?
1-10th Amendments
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 law.
How does an amendment get proposed?
An amendment may be proposed to 2/3 of congress or 2/3 of the states
How does an amendment then get ratified?
It must be ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures
What five civil liberties does the 1st Amendment protect?
Guarantees freedom of speech, religion, assembly, press, and petition the government
What does the 2nd Amendment give you the right to own?
Weapons (right to bare arms)
What does the 4th Amendment protect you from? (Placed as a result of the Sugar Act)
Unreasonable searches and seizures without probable causes
What Amendment is important for people accused of committing crimes?
5th Amendment
According to the 5th Amendment, natural rights cannot be taken away without what?
Due process of law
What amendment gives you the right to a speedy, public trial by an impartial jury?
6th Amendment
What does the 9th Amendment keep the government from doing?
From claiming that the Bill of Rights are the only rights Americans have
What was given power in the 10th Amendment for protection?
The states could be used as protection against the powers of the national government
Who were the first President and Vice President in American history?
President - George Washington
VP - John Adams
What did each department of the Executive Branch deal with?
State - handles relations with other nations
Treasury - deals with financial matters
War - deals with nation’s defense
Who makes up the cabinet of the President?
The Secretary State (Jefferson), Secretary of Treasury (Hamilton), Secretary of War (Henry Knox), and the Attorney General
Who was the first Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury?
State - Jefferson
Treasury - Hamilton
What job title did Alexander Hamilton hold?
Secretary of Treasury
What act established a federal court system?
The Judiciary Act of 1789
What could federal courts do to state laws if deemed necessary?
Overturn them
Who was John Jay?
1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
What is a national debt?
The amount of money the government owed
What did Alexander Hamilton want to do with state debts after the war?
They wanted to combine it into one national debt
What area in America was against his plan and why did they feel this way?
The South because they owed less than the Northern states and would have to pay more than their fair share to compensate
Why did the South agree to accept Hamilton’s plan to lessen the national debt?
They made a compromise and agreed with Hamilton’s plan in exchange for the US capital being moved to the South, Washington DC
Why did Hamilton feel that it was ok for him to create a national bank?
Because creating a national bank fell within the intent of the Constitution
What is a tariff?
A tax on imported goods (instituted to encourage people to buy American goods)
What was the Whiskey Rebellion?
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?
He was tired and believed that we needed a new president with new ideas
What are 3 aspects of the Federalist Party?
Favored a strong government, rule by wealthy, and loose interpretation of the Constitution
What are 4 aspects of the Democratic-Republican Party?
Favored strong state banks, strong state governments, rule by the people, and strict interpretation of the Constitution
How did Washington feel about political parties?
Washington believed that political parties divided people and kept the government from working together
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?
To protect the security of the nation and slow immigration
What was the Naturalization Act?
Required aliens to live in the US for 14 years before being able to apply for citizenship
What were the Alien Acts?
Allowed the President to deport aliens
What was the Sedition Act?
A crime to speak or write false criticisms to try to weaken the government
What Amendment did the Sedition Act contradict?
The 1st Amendment
