Constitutional Convention Flashcards
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(Please)
President (no chief executive). There was no chief executive because the states didn’t want another King like King George III.
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(Don’t)
Debts. Congress didn’t have the power to collect state debts owed to the federal government.
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(Take)
Tax. Congress didn’t have the power to tax citizens and could only REQUEST taxes from states.
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(Cards)
Court. There was no federal court system because it was feared that it would be unfair to the rights of states.
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(And)
Amendments. All 13 states needed to approve any changes to the Articles so all states had a voice.
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(Any)
Army. Congress did not have the power to draft an army because it might take away citizens’ rights.
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(8 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation)
(Ladies)
Laws. 9 out of 13 states were needed to change any laws so the individual power of a state was protected.
What were the Article of Confederation?
The first attempt to end disagreements between states and make a plan for government.
What was the Land Ordinance of 1785?
This addressed the confusion about how to divide up and sell the Northwest Territory.
What was the Northwest Territory?
A region in the USA in the midwest that was given to the USA by the Treaty of Paris
What was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
The rules for the Northwest Territory.
- When a territory has 5,000 free males, it can elect its own legislature.
- when a territory’s population reaches 60,000, it can apply to become a state.
- settlers have the same rights of citizens, and slavery is banned.
Summarize Shay’s rebellion.
The nation’s money shortage was hard on farmers because they could not earn enough to pay their debts/taxes. Judges in Massachusetts then told the farmers to sell their livestock/land to pay for the debts/taxes. The farmers rebel under Daniel Shays and March on the national arsenal to steal weapons. Militia troops finally restored order, but to many, this rebellion was a sign that the nation was falling apart under the Articles of Confederation.
Ancient Greece influence
Ancient Greece gave us democracy.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome gave us a republic where people elect representatives to govern them.
Manga Carta influence
- Limited the ruler’s power
- Written guarantee of Lords and Kings rights
Baron de Mantesquieu influence
Idea: limit government powers
- divide power amongst many authorities
- system of checks and balances
Jean Jacques Rousseau influence
Idea: Social contract
-People will be willing to give up some freedoms for the greater good.
John Locke influence
Idea: Contract theory
- Government is an agreement between the ruler and the ruled.
- Believed in inalienable rights (couldn’t be taken away)
- Life, liberty, property.
What was the original purpose of the Constitutional Convention?
To revise the Articles of Confederation
Who was the “president” of the convention?
Who was the “father” of the convention?
Who was the oldest at the convention?
George Washington
James Madison
Ben Franklin
What did Alexander Hamilton believe about the government?
Hamilton wanted to create a strong, national government.
Who were some important leaders that didn’t attend the convention? Why?
Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry didn’t attend the convention because they feared that a strong national government would endanger the rights of the states.
What was the Virginia Plan?
- Three branches of government (judicial, executive, legislative)
- There were two houses in Congress, and both favored population.
- This plan favored the states with bigger populations
- This plan was proposed by Edmund Randolph.
What was the New Jersey Plan?
- Three branches of government
- There was one house in Congress and each state had one representative.
- This plan favored the smaller states.
- This plan was proposed by William Paterson
What was the Great Compromise?
- Three branches of government
- Two houses in Congress. One equal, and one population based.
- Proposed by Roger Sherman.
What was the 3/5 compromise?
Each slave was counted as 3/5 of a person, but still didn’t have the rights as citizens.
What was the process of ratifying the Constitution?
- 9 out of 13 states had to approve.
- the Constitution was ratified by the people of each state at special conventions.
What did the Federalists believe?
What were the Federalist Papers?
Who were some important Federalists?
- The Federalists believed that the government created by the Constitution was strong enough to bond the states.
- A series of essays written to convince people that the beliefs of the Federalists are correct.
- James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
What did the Anti-Federalists believe?
-President had too much power
-Thought Congress would trouble the country with taxes.
-Thought Judicial branch would overpower state courts.
MAIN REASON:
-Didn’t list the rights of the people
