Founding Documents Flashcards
What was the PURPOSE of the Deceleration of Independence?
It was our way of formally letting England know that we no longer want to be considered as a part of their country. Its like our break up letter to England. Its so significant because it lists all of things England has done to us that have caused us harm or grievance.
Who wrote the Deceleration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
What were the Articles of Confederation?
Our first official document as a country, it was meant to form our new government
What was it like under the Articles of Confederation?
Very weak central government and all the states were sovereign so like we were untied and there for each other in a way but none of us were connected and ruled by the same laws.
What was Shay Rebellion?
Revolutionary War veterans became farmers after the war and were facing high amounts of debt. Government could not tax under the Articles of Confederation, so veterans/farmers were not getting money they were owed for their military service. So, Daniel Shays led a rebellion of farmers who were about to lose their land in Massachusetts.
What major problem did Shays Rebellion uncover?
Since the government did not have a standing, national army, it was very difficult to put down the rebellion. It exposed many major issues
Lists some major issues from the Articles of Confederation
Single-branch national government, No national executive, No national judiciary to handle disputes between the states, No national currency, no national Army, No taxes, each state had one vote regardless of the state’s population or size, Two-thirds or 9 out of the 13 states needed to pass laws, Could not amend Articles without unanimous support from each state
Federalist Papers
85 essays that were written to try and convince the anti-federalist to support the ratification of the Constitutions.
Authors: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay
Federalist 10
Factions are inevitable but the Constitution controls them
Federalist 51
