HistoryC7BK Flashcards
Define constitution
plan of government
So What? constitution
each state had their own constitution under the Articles of the Confederation, which lead to a weak central government until the states were united under the United States Constitution
Define petition
apply to
So What? petition
When the population of a district equaled the population of the smallest state, the district could petition Congress to become a state.
Define bicameral
legislative systems divided into two houses
So What? bicameral
under the Articles of the Confederation, many states created bicameral systems in order to divide the ruling power; later, the United States Constitution used the part of the Virginia Plan that included two houses
Define ordinance
a law
So What? ordinance
The Ordinance of 1785 created a plan for surveying and selling the land northwest of the Ohio River by dividing the area into townships.
Define republic
a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives
So What? republic
most Americans wanted a republic, but they were not sure how to organize it; the early republic created a central government that was too weak to function effectively
Define clause
condition added to a document
So What? clause
The Northwest Ordinance included a clause that forbid ‘slavery nor involuntary servitude’ in the Northwest Territory.
Define depreciate
to lower in value
So What? depreciate
money issued during the Revolutionary War depreciated until it was nearly worthless, so Congress and the states created their own money, but that too was worthless because they had no gold or silver
Define Articles of Confederation
the first constitution of the United States, adopted in November 1777
So What? Articles of the Confederation
the Articles created a central government that was limited, but was so weak that it could not act efficiently
Define John Adams
colonial leader sent to London in 1785 to discuss British trading issues
So What? John Adams
The British refused to discuss with John Adams because America had not done its part of the Treaty of Paris.
Define depression
a period in which economic activity slows and unemployment increases
So What? depression
the United States had a depression after the Revolutionary War, partly because its central government was to weak to solve problems
Define manumission
the freeing of individual slaves
So What? manumission
slavery became an important issue after the Revolutionary War; Virginia passed a law encouraging manumission
Define proportional
corresponding in size
So What? proportional
the Virginia Plan, from James Madison, had two houses in which the number of representatives for each state was proportional to its population
Define compromise
an agreement between two or more sides in which each side gives up some of what it wants
So What? compromise
the Constitution is a document of compromises
Define Shay’s Rebellion
a rebellion of angry farmers led by Daniel Shays in 1786 that forced western Massachusetts courts to close so that the judges could not take away their lands; they then attacked a arsenal but were scared by a militia; the rebellion convinced many people that a stronger government was needed
Define James Madison
a Virginia planter who created the Virginia Plan for the Constitution
So What? James Madison
the Virginia plan created a legislature with two houses, in both, every state was represented by its population
Define Alexander Hamilton
a New York lawyer who proposed the Constitution Convention
So What? Alexander Hamilton
the Constitution Convention was created to fix the problems of the United States, and took on importance once George Washington agreed to attend
Define Virginia Plan
a plan for a national government with two houses, in both, every state was represented by its population
Define New Jersey Plan
a plan for a national government with one house and one vote for each state, as well as a weak executive branch
So What? New Jersey Plan
the new Jersey plan largely kept the Articles of the Confederation but gave Congress more power
Define Great Compromise
Roger Sherman proposed two houses, one in which each state would be represented by population, the other in which each sate would have two members
So What? Great Compromise
the states agreed to create a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
Define Three-Fifths Compromise
each enslaved person counted as three-fifths of a free person when calculating taxation and representation
So What? Three-Fifths Compromise
Northern states wanted slaves to count for taxation but not representation, while southern states wanted slaves to count for representation.
Define Commerce Compromise
Congress would not ban the slave trade until 1808, but could tax imports (i.e. slaves) but not exports (i.e. cotton)
So What? Commerce Compromise
Northern states wanted to end the slave trade, while Southern states wanted it to continue.
Define Federalism
sharing power between the federal and state governments
So What? Federalism
Federalism is a key feature of the Constitution that restrains the abilities of Congress
Define legislative branch
the law-making branch of a government
So What? legislative branch
Congress is the legislative branch of the United States government
Define executive branch
the branch of government that carries out national law and policy
So What? executive branch
the executive branch was designed to be limited after the experience with British rule, but has the power to lead the armed forces
Define judicial branch
the court system headed by the Supreme Court
So What? judicial branch
the judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws and tries criminal and civil cases
Define checks and balances
each part of the government has ways to limit the other parts so none can become too powerful
So What? checks and balances
checks and balances ensure that power does not become concentrated in a single ruler or group of rulers
Define amendment
changes or additions to the Constitution
So What? amendment
the Constitution is flexible, so it can be modified to fit the needs of the country
Define Electoral College
a special group of voters who are chosen by states to vote for the President
So What? Electoral College
the Electoral College ensures that the states have a part in electing the President
Define John Locke
English philosopher of the Enlightenment
So What? John Locke
believed that all people have natural rights and that the government should be based on a agreement between the people and the ruler to protect the people’s rights and limit the government
Define Baron de Montesquieu
French philosopher of the Enlightenment
So What? Baron de Montesquieu
believed that power should be separated and each ruling body balanced so that no single group or person could have too much power
Define Federalist
supporters of the new Constitution and the new powers it provided
So What? Federalist
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, along with many other political thinkers, supported the Constitution
Define Anti-Federalist
people who opposed the Constitution
So What? Anti-Federalist
wrote their own essays opposing the Constitution and thought that it took away the freedoms that they had fought to win from Britain
Define popular sovereignty
authority of the people
So What? popular sovereignty
the Constitution is based on giving the people power through their representatives
Define enumerated powers
powers that belong only to the federal government
So What? enumerated powers
only the federal government can create money, regulate interstate and foreign trade, maintain the military, and create federal courts
Define reserved powers
powers retained by the states
So What? reserved powers
the states can establish schools, pass marriage and divorce laws, and regulate trade inside the state
Define concurrent powers
powers shared between the federal and state governments
So What? concurrent powers
the right to raise taxes, borrow money, provide for public welfare, and administer criminal justice
Define implied powers
powers not specifically defined in the constitution
So What? implied powers
Congress interprets the elastic clause to mean that it has implied powers that it can use to make laws that adapt to changing needs; Congress uses the commerce clause to regulate areas such airlines, radio, and television
So What? Virginia Plan
smaller states did not like being represented by population and supported the New Jersey Plan instead
