Lectures 1-4 (Promises and Limits of American Democracy) Flashcards
When was the Declaration of Independence made?
1776
What are the Articles of Confederation? When were they in place?
First US Constitution.
Served as a bridge between initial govt of the Revolutionary period (Continental Congress) and the federal govt after 1787.
1781-1789
Who wrote the Declaration?
Thomas Jefferson
What are the 3 phases of American Revolution?
Protest and resistance: 1763-1776
War: 1776-1782
Consolidation: 1783-1788
What are the main quotes from the Constitution?
“we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal”
“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
“It is the right of the people to alter or abolish it”
How many original colonies?
13
Who controlled Florida and Louisiana during the 1700s?
Spain
Which people are considered the roots of republicanism?
Cicero
Plutarch
Machiavelli
John Milton
According to Cicero, what were the pillars of a great republic?
Liberty and natural law
What was Plutarch’s belief?
Individual heroes were the primary determinant of the course of history.
What did John Milton believe in?
Antimonarchical rule
When was the Bill of Rights ratified?
1791
When was the Constitution written and then ratified?
Written in 1787
Ratified in 1788
Who was the architect of the Constitution?
James Madison
What was Shay’s Rebellion in 1787?
Brought about by a monetary debt at the end of the war
Centred in Massachusetts
When was the Constitutional Convention?
May-September 1787
What is the 3/5 Compromise?
3 out of 5 slaves were counted when determining a state’s total population for legislative representation and taxation
What was James Madison’s view on the constitutional status of slaves?
“when it views them in the mixed character of persons and of property. This is in fact their true character”
Who were the Federalists? Examples?
A national coalition of bankers and businessmen in support of Hamilton’s fiscal policies.
Hamilton, John Jay, Madison
Who were the Anti-Federalists and what did their agitations lead to?
Coalition of popular politicians who unsuccessfully opposed the strong central govt envisioned in the Constitution.
Led to Bill of Rights
What did the Anti-Federalists fear?
Single national govt, upper-class dominance, inadequate separation of powers, loss of immediate control over local affairs
Which figures were Anti-Federalists?
Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, Monroe, John Hancock
What was the Massachusetts Compromise?
Gathered enough support for the Constitution whilst introducing first amendments
What was the purpose of D.C.?
Being the centre of the US political system
Who architected the city?
Pierre L’Enfant
What was the First Party System?
Jefferson and the Republicans
Hamilton and the Federalists
Who was elected in 1800?
Jefferson and Republicans
When were the Alien and Sedition Acts?
1798
What were the Alien Acts?
Raised the waiting period for naturalisation from 5 to 14 years, permitted the detention of subjects of an enemy nation, and authorised the chief executive to expel any alien he considered dangerous
What was the Sedition Act?
Banned the publishing of false or malicious writings against the government and the inciting of opposition to any act of Congress or the president
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts in response to?
Expected war with France
Aimed at Irish and French immigrants who were mostly pro-French
