Module 2- The Beginnings of American Government Flashcards
Limited govt
Government is not all powerful
Jamestown
First English settlement in north america
Representative govt
Idea that govt should serve will of the people (Republic)
Magna carta
Introduced rights of trial by jury and due process
Due process
Protection against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, and property
Petition of Right
Limited kings power, set out individual rights of people. Limited kings power and gave rights to individuals.
Glorious revolution
Events surrounding William and Marys ascent to throne
English bill of Rights
King needed consent of Parliament to tax people, prohibited army in peacetime, gave freedoms to fair trial/excessive bail/cruel+ unusual punishment. Limited kings power and gave rights to individuals.
King George
King in 1733, Governed Georgia
Charter Colony
Grant of authority from king, each colony established on basis of 1-3 types. Formed by religious dissident. Mostly self governing. Bicameral
Bicameral
Consisting of 2 houses, as a legislature
Proprietary Colony
Colonies organized by a proprieter (given land grant). Unicameral.
Lord Baltimore
Granted land by kind, intended as haven for catholics
William Penn
Pennsylvania granted to him, later aquired Deleware
Unicameral
Consisting of 1 house, as a legislature
3 Basic concepts of govt brought to America
Ordered, limited, representative
Royal Colony
Ruled mostly by the crown, Governed by owner. Stern govorner, bicameral
Majority
Confederation
A “league of friendship” for defense against Native tribes
Albany Plan of Union
Franklins proposed creation of a congress of delegates
Delegates
Representatives for the colonies in congress
Duties
Money from Native Americans
Samuel Adams
Political leader, created committees of correspondence
Roger Sherman
Delegate for Connecticut
John Jay
Delegate for NY
George Washington
Virginia delegate, colonel in French and Indian War
John Adams
Boston lawyer
James Wilson
Pennsylvania delegate, proposed idea that the British govt couldn’t govern colonies
Thomas Jefferson
Joined Virginia delegation, primary author of Declaration of Independence
John Locke
Enlightenment thinkers, believed in natural rights and social Contract theory
Popular sovereignty
People recognized as the only authority
What did England provide the colonies
Colonial defence, foreign affairs, system of money/credit, common market for trade
New England Confederation
Protected from Native American tribes
Albany Meeting
Discussed problems of colonial trade and the danger of attacks by the French and Native Americans
Stamp Act Congress
Made bc British made harsh tax and trade policies. (First time colonies came together to fight Britain)
Committee of Correspondence
Made bc British policies were getting too harsh
First Continental Congress
Focused on nonviolent means of resolving the conflict with Britain, such as boycotts and petitions
Second Continental Congress
more assertive role in leading the colonies towards independence.
Made taxes, alliances, army, navy, gave each state 1 vote
(First national govt of USA)
5 most common features of state govt
Popular sovereignty, limited govt, civil rights + liberties, separation of powers, checks + balances
Articles of Confederation
Plan of govt. Original constitution, ratified in 1781, replaced by constitution in 1789.
Congress still soul power of govt. Congress set up committee for judicial and executive powers
Full faith and credit
Constitutions requirement that each state accepts public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states
Shays Rebellion
Economy worsened, property holders lost land bc of lack of paying taxes and debt
Daniel Shays
Head of Shays’ Rebellion, protested debaters jail
Alexander Hamilton
Wanted assumption of state debt by federal govt and national bank
James Madison
“Father of Constitution”, federalist leader
Things that showed that the Articles were weak
States could refuse to support central govt, States made agreements with foreign countries without Congress approval, states taxed and banned trade with other states, debts went unpaid, each state had their own currency
Framers
Delegates that attended the Philidelphia Convention
Quorum
Enough people need to be present to vote on something
Virginia Plan
first plan of Constitution
New Jersey Plan
Revisions proposed to Virginia plan
Connecticut compromise
Proposed that Congress should have 2 houses
Three- Fifths compromise
Said that 3/5 of all “free people” should be counted for payments to govt
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
Forbade Congress from taxing state exports
George Mason
Opposed constitution bc it didn’t give enough citizens rights
Federalists
People who supported constitution
Anti-Federalists
People who didn’t support constitution
