Creating A Functioning Government (1777-1824) Flashcards
Abigail Adams
Wrote letter to her husband reminding them of their help during the war
Showed how women thought they deserved some degree of compensation
Articles of Confederation
First national constitution
Little to no central government - afraid of British tyrannical rule again
Fed. Gov couldn’t tax or regulate trade
Amendments required unanimous consent of all states - could hold each other hostage
Too concerned with preventing too much power in the government
Blacks after the revolution
Many more freed, but created more racist publications and legislation
Led to early “ghettoization” of blacks and other minorities
Problems the Articles caused
Couldn’t levy taxes –> printed more paper money to finance the war –> inflation
British denied US access to West Indian markets –> US helpless
British refused to abandon military posts in the States - couldn’t expel them
Shays Rebellion
August 1786 - January 1787
1500 farmers from Massachusetts matched on Springfield to protest a number of unfair policies, both economic and political. Armed & angry - wake up call for the elite
Government was essentially powerless to stop such rebellions
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Governed the sale of government land to settlers
Contained a bill of rights guaranteeing trial by jury, freedom of religion, and freedom from excess punishment
Abolished slavery in the Northwest Territories
Set specific regulations concerning the conditions under which territories could apply for statehood
Claimed Native American land without consent
Annapolis Convention
Convened by Hamilton
Only 5 delegates showed up
Hamilton was concerned that there was no uniform commercial policy and feared for the survival of the new republic
Constitutional Convention
55 delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss the revision if the Articles of Confederation
Summer of 1787
Virgina plan vs. New Jersey plan
Virginia: wanted an entirely new government based on checks and balances and for the number of representatives for each state to be based on population
New Jersey: modifications and equal representation from each state
Great Compromise / Connecticut Compromise
Blended the Virginia plan and New Jersey plan to have a bicameral legislature and the Constitution
Lower house: HOR elected by people
Upper house: Senate elected by state legislatures
President and VP voted by electoral college
Three-Fifths compromise
Method for counting slaves among the populations of southern states for “proportional” representation in congress, even though those sales weren’t citizens
Each counted as 3/5 of a person
Anti-Federalists (Democratic-Republicans)
Came from the backcountry and opposed the constitution. Saw the federal government as an all-powerful beast. Appalled by the absence of rights - pushed for bill of rights Jefferson and Madison Economy based on agriculture Strict constitution Against national bank Sympathetic toward France
Federalist Papers
Anonymously authored by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
Published in a New York newspaper and widely circulated
Critical in swaying opinion in New York
Federalists
For the constitution Federal power Creation of a national bank Hamilton, Washington, Adams, jay, Marshall Economy based on commerce Loose construction Sympathetic toward Great Britain
Bill of Rights
1791 (2 years after constitution)
- Freedom of religion, speech, petition, assembly, and press
- Right to bear arms
- No quartering soldiers in private homes
- Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
- Right to due process, freedom from self-incrimination, and double jeopardy
- Right to speedy and public trial
- Right to trial by jury
- Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
- Rights not listed kept by the people
- Powers not listed kept by the states or people
George Washington
First president, voted unanimously
Used veto only if a bill was unconstitutional
Created a government with the best minds of it’s time
Very careful and wise - set precedent
Thomas Jefferson
Washington’s Secretary of State
Anti-Federalist
Favored weaker federal government empowered mainly to defend the country and regulate interstate commerce
Alexander Hamilton
Washington’s secretary of the treasury
Federalist
Favored strong central government and weak state governments
Proposed national bank
National Bank
Proposed by Hamilton to help regulate and strengthen the economy
Approved by both houses, Washington considered a veto - unsure of constitutionality
Strict constructionists
Jefferson & Madison
Argued that the constitution allowed congress only those powers specifically granted to it or those “necessary and proper” to the execution of it’s enumerated powers
Said a bank was not necessary
Broad (loose) constructionists
Hamilton & Washington
Said the creation of a bank was an implied power of the government bc the government already had explicit power to coin money, borrow money, and collect taxes
Said government could do anything in the execution of enumerated powers
National debt (Hamilton)
Federal government assumed the states debts (increasing the federal governments power) and repayed those debts by giving the debt holders land on the western frontier
French Revolution
During Washington administration
Jefferson wanted to support it and it’s republican ideals
Hamilton didn’t like revolutionaries
Citizen Edmond Genet
French government representative who came to America to seek it’s assistance after French revolution
Led to neutrality proclamation
Neutrality proclamation
Washington: the US intention to remain “friendly and impartial toward belligerent powers”
Whiskey Rebellion
Instigated by Hamilton’s financial program
Western Pennsylvania
Gamers resisted an excise tax on whiskey
Washington dispatched the militia to break up the rebels
Demonstrated lasting class tensions