Development Of American Constitutional Government Flashcards
When did Americans declare independence
1776
What did the Americans want to form after they declared independence
A new government
Describe the government that the Americans wanted:
- a republic
* citizens vote for elected leaders to represent them
After independence was declared, what happened to the 13 colonies?
They became 13 independent states
What did each state have?
It’s own constitution, legislature, and an elected governor.
How many states had the bill of rights
8 states
What was Americas first national government
The articles of confederation (1781-1789)
What was the structure of the AOC?
Each state could send between 2-7 representatives to a national congress but each state only had 1 law.
What was the ratio to pass a law
9/13
Describe the powers of the AOC.
The national congress could make laws, settle disputes between states, negotiate treaties.
What did the national congress not have and why
A president, because they didn’t want to recreate a Powerful government like they just faced in the revolutionary war to break away from. Also, they couldn’t tax the states or citizens
Describe the land ordinance law of 1785
States had to cede their claims to lands in the west to the national government
Divide the west
What was the way the national government could make money
Selling western lands since they couldnt tax
What was the purpose of the northwest ordinance of 1787
To give government to the territories
How many residents for a self governing legislature
5,000
How many residents for a US state
60,000
What was outlawed in the north west territory
Slavery
Why was the weakness of the AOC seen as good?
It eliminated tyranny
What led to the constitutional convention of 1787
Shay’s rebellion
Where was the constitutional convention
Philadelphia
Instead of ______ the AOC, the delegates ______ it with the constitution
Revising
Replaced
Where did shays rebellion take place?
Western Massachusetts
Who led the rebellion
Daniel Shays
What were Causes of shays rebellion
Massachusetts taxed its Citizens heavily to pay of the war debts. Farmers couldn’t pay. The western counties had a lack of representation in the state government.
Farmers had to pay in hard currency(coins). Many farmers were sent to debtors prison (jail) or else their farms and land would be foreclosed.
What happened during shays rebellion
- Farmers marched on the courthouse.
- rebels harassed tax collectors.
- daniel shay and his troops try to take over the national arsenal at Springfield.
- Boston militia was sent to stop the rebellion.
What were results of shays rebellion
- the leaders of the rebellion were imprisoned and charged with treason.
- the people of Massachussets voted John Hancock as their new governor.
- the AOC was replaced.
The AOC were intentionally ______ in order to protect state and individual liberties.
Weak
The new constitution was _______ than the AOC
Different
The new constitution:
Gave more power to the national government
Had 3 branches of govt rather than 1 weak congress
The national govt would have more power
Congress would have the power to tax and create a nation currency
The national government would have a president and a Supreme Court.
What was in the Virginia Plan
A bicameral congress
Larger states have more representatives
Adding a president as a national leader and court system (3 branches of gov’t)
What was in the New Jersey plan
A unicameral congress
States are equally represented just like the AOC
No president
This resolved the differences between the large and small states by creating a bicameral congress
The great compromise
Describe the senate
Each state has 2 senators who serve 6- year terms
Describe the House of Representatives
Number of reps is determined by each state’s population size.
If slaves are counted, southern states would have more representatives
3/5 compromise
3 out of 5 slaves would be chosen for representatives
As a compromise for the South, what would continue for 20 more years?
The slave trade
James madison
Helped negotiate many of the compromises that made the constitution possible.
Who was known as the “Father of the Constitution”
James Madison
Popular sovereignty
The people have power by voting for leaders
Limited government
Citizens liberty was still protected
Federalism
The national government shares power with state governments
what was the purpose of the federalist papers
a sales pitch for the constitution
views of federalists on ratification of the constitution
they wanted to because they wanted a stronger government
views of federalists on checks and balances
created it to protects peoples rights
views of federalists on the power of the executive branch
they wanted a strong executive branch
view of anti federalists on the ratification
they didnt want to ratify it because it gave too much power to the national government
view of anti federalists on executive branch
they only wanted a legislative branch
who led the federalists
alexander hamilton
who led the democratic republicans
thomas jefferson
judiciary act of 1789
established the federal court system
hamiltons economic program
financial plan
national govt pays for state debts
whiskey rebellion
7000 farmers marched on pittsburgh to protect whiskey tax
1793 proclamation of neutrality
to protect americans from the fight
washingtons farewell address
warned against political parties
warned against geographic sectionalism
what was the XYZ affair
Adams sent 3 diplomats to france but 3 unnamed french officials demanded bribes
what was the Quasi War
the undeclared war vs france
The alien and sedition acts
made it a crime to criticize the president or any government official
virginia and kentucky resolutions
presented a states rights argument that states could nullify national laws
