creating a republic flashcards
Articles of Confederation
The Article of Confederation bound together the government. Decided that every state had their own gov’t. It consisted of 6 key rules/ laws:
Western Lands: The states give up their rights to western lands.
Votes & Passing Laws: Each state gets a vote in the Confederation Congress. 9 states needed to pass a law, 13 to amend a law.
Taxation: Only the states have rights to impose taxes. Congress can only request money from the states.
Native American Affairs: Congress is in charge of dealing with Native Americans in regards to peace, war, and alliances.
Armies & Trade: Congress had no power to raise an army or conduct trade.
Courts: No federal courts.
***These were not effective, and didn’t have a central gov’t
Shay’s Rebellion
In the fall of 1786, Daniel Shays led farmers with rifles into multiple Massachusetts courthouses and demanded the end of debt hearings. The Mass. gov’t asked Congress for help, but the other states refused to give money and soldiers, and this just showed how bad the gov’t was to respond to domestic crisis.
Representative gov’t
This is a system of gov’t where citizens elect representatives to vote on laws on their behalf.
Direct Democracy
Where citizens vote on every law themselves.
What were the Articles of Confederation, and how did they come to fail?
The Articles of Confederation was a plan that all states would have a local gov’t that had an alliance. They came to fail when they didn’t have a centralized gov’t so when Shays rebellion happened, The gov’t was caught off guard, and failed to do anything.
The Framers
The Framers of the Constitution were delegates to the Constitutional Convention who helped draft the Constitution of the United States. Some were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington.
Majority rule
A doctrine by which a numerical majority of an organized group holds the power to make decisions binding on all in the group.
Federalism
The framers wanted local, state, and national government to share governing power.
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise
Ultimately, the delegates vote for two chambers of the Legislative Branch.
House of Representatives.
Rep #s based on state population.
Senate.
Two senators for every state.
Constitutional Convention Who
“The Framers”
Delegates from 12 different colonies
Ex: Washington (President of Convention), Franklin, Jefferson, Madison.
Everyone except RI
Constitutional Convention what
An official meeting to discuss the implementation of a new Constitution to govern the United States of America.
Constitutional Convention When
Summer 1787
Constitutional Convention Where
Independence Hall, Philadelphia
Constitutional Convention Why
The Articles of Confederation were too weak, and they needed to be replaced if the nation was to succeed long term.
The Electoral College
States granted specific amount of electors (congress reps + senate reps). Think of it like points.
Citizens of each state vote for president.
Electors then cast their votes for who their citizens have chosen. The candidate is then awarded the points of the state.
Candidate with the majority of electors (points) wins presidency!
Three Fifths compromise
Enslaved people will count towards three fifths of a person in the state pop.
Executive gov’t
Carries out laws
Prez:
Commander-In-Chief (Military Leader)
Head of State (Dealing with other nations)
Day to Day Operations
Enforce Laws
Cabinet:
Vice President (Head of Senate / Second in LoS)
Attorney General (Head of Justice Department)
Secretary of War/Defense (Military advisor)
Secretary of Treasury (Economics / Finance)
Legislative gov’t
makes laws
Impose Taxes
Declare war
Conducting public projects and services
Two Chambers
The House of Representatives
Rep #s determined by state population
The Senate
2 senators per state
Judicial gov’t
Evaluates laws
Supreme court (and other federal courts)
Interpret whether laws are constitutional or not.
Nine justices (One Chief Justice)
Justices appointed for life
Checks and Balances
How different branches of government prevent the other branches from becoming too powerful
First Amendment
freedom of speech, religion, petition, and press
Second Amendment
The Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Fourth Amendment
The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their private property.
Fifth Amendment
The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes. It states that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury. A person cannot be tried twice for the same offense (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation. People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law (fair procedures and trials).
Eighth Amendment
The Eighth Amendment bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment.
