Red Cards Flashcards
House of Representatives
This branch of government is comprised of members that reflect the population of individual states
John Adams
This man was the first Vice President and was later defeated by Thomas Jefferson in the presidential election of 1800
Senate
According to Roger Sherman, in this branch of government “each state should have one vote and no more”
Electoral College
This representative body, not direct popular vote, elects the president
Federalists
This was the name given to those in favor of the constitution and a strong central government. They were usually northern merchants who had close ties with British trade networks
Anti-Federalists
This was the name given to those in opposition to the constitution and in favor of strong states’ rights. They usually hailed from southern farms or western homesteads
Bank of the United States
This institution, supported by Alexander Hamilton, was where the national treasury would keep its deposits. It would keep the funds safe and available as loanable funds. This institution was vehemently opposed by Thomas Jefferson
Democratic-Republicans
This was the new name for anti-Federalists, such as Thomas Jefferson. This group sought to limit the powers of the central government in favor of greater states’ rights, while the Federalists believed in a strong national government whose powers were supreme over the states.
The French Revolution
This war, which took place between 1789 and 1793, challenged America’s sovereignty, since George Washington had to decide where her loyalties would lie. Giving the revolutionaries as they had done for the patriots during the American Revolution would strain the already delicate relationship with Britain. Initially, Americans were pleased about the overthrow of the King and Queen of France, as it seemed an extension of the ideals of the American Revolution. It became clear, however, that this was a very different kind of war that was bloody and ruthless.
Farewell Address
This speech was made by George Washington upon leaving the office I the president in 1797. In it, he warned the infant nation to remain neutral with regard to European affairs, to avoid entangling alliances, and to refrain from the formation of “factions” or political parties.
Whiskey Rebellion
This event took place as a result of the tax which was imposed on the whiskey backwoods farmers distilled to supplement their incomes. Some of these farmers violently protested the tax by tarring and feathering tax collectors or destroying public buildings. President Washington immediately sent a militia to quell this protest
XYZ affair
This event occurred when John Adams sent a delegation to Paris in 1797 in order to negotiate an agreement whereby French vessels would stop seizing American vessels. As the delegation arrive in France, they were approached by three French agents who demanded a large sum of money as a loan and an additional bribe from the American delegation just for the opportunity to speak with French officials. The delegation refused to. comply, and word of the incident quickly spread across the Atlantic. Federalists called for immediate military action. An undeclared naval war, or “quasi war” ensued.
The Convention of 1800
This meeting took place between American envoy’s and French foreign minister Talleyrand and Napoleon. The goal of the meeting was to negotiate a settlement to prevent full-scale war between the United States and France. The meeting ended with termination of the Franco-American Alliance, an agreement whereby the United States would pay for damages inflicted on French vessels, and the avoidance if an all-out war with France.
Virginia Plan
This plan, presented May 29, 1787, by Edmund Randolph and delegates from larger states, called for representation in both houses to be based solely on population or proportional representation
New Jersey plan
This plan asked for equal representation, regardless of the number of citizens of a state, to a unicameral legislative body.
Great Compromise
This proposal by Roger Sherman stated: “The proportion of suffrage in the first branch should be according to the respective numbers of free inhabitants and that in the second branch or senate, each state should have one vote and no more”. Also known as the Connecticut Compromise, this meant large states were appeased by the House of Representatives, comprised of members that reflected the population of individual states. Small states would be appeased by the senate, comprised of membership that was equal regardless of state population
Three-Fifths Compromise
This arrangement state with a conflict regarding geographic proportions. Southern delegates lived in large states with equally large populations of slaves who were not considered citizens. Southerners argued that although slaves could not vote, they still had to be managed by the state and should count as part of the population. Northerners, some of whom disliked the practice of slavery, agreed to this compromise in exchange for the passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The result- southern slaves would be counted as a fraction of a citizen.
Bill of rights
This document, which was designed to protect individual freedoms and state sovereignty, was added to the constitution to appease anti-federalist states that were in opposition to the constitution and in favor for strong states rights.
The Federalists Papers
These documents, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, were meant to encourage ratification of the Constitution in New York. This series of 85 powerful essays urged ratifying conventions to aside emotions when they considered the Constitution. They also refuted common doubts about the possibilities of having a central government effectively rule such vast territory.
The Judiciary Act of 1789
This act established a Supreme Court consisting of one presiding Chief Justice and five associate justices. It also provided for the establishment of 13 district courts and three circuit courts of appeal.
Report on Public Credit
This document, written by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, as out to repair the nation’s failing financial health. Written in 1790, it explained how monetary and fiscal policy should favor the rich so that their good fortune would be spent within the economy and thus stimulate domestic growth.
Report on Public Manufactures
This document, written by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1791, promoted the industrialization of the United States and advocated strong protective tariffs to protect infant industry.
Revenue Act of 1789
The act placed 8 percent tariff on imports, a rate much lower than Alexander Hamilton had desired.
Neutrality Proclamation of 1793
This proclamation came about because of Alexander Hamilton’s desire to maintain trade relationships with the British. Although Thomas Jefferson was a sympathizer to the French and wanted to uphold the provisions of the Franco-American Alliance, President George Washington made this proclamation. As a result, the French and British set out to seize American ships crossing the Atlantic, taking cargo and impressing sailors into military service. These seizures violated the proclamation, forcing Washington to send Chief Justice John Jay in 1784 to negotiate.
Jay’s Treaty
Following the Neutrality Proclamation of 1793, this treaty did not settle the issue of British seizure or impressment of American sailors, but did call for the removal of British forts in the West. The treaty further angered Democratic-Republicans and the French, who increased their harassment if American ships. Spain soon became concerned by a possible cozy relationship between Britain and the United States and sought to clear up any misunderstandings regarding the boundary between Spanish Florida and the new nation
Alien Acts
These laws increased the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 to 14 years, and gave the president power to detain and/or deport enemy aliens in times of war.
Sedition Act
This law made it illegal to criticize the president or Congress, and imposed a heavy fine or a threat of imprisonment upon violators, such as editors of newspapers.
Central government
This government’s power exceeds the power of the states. This idea was strongly supported by James Madison.
Separation of powers
This is the central idea behind having three independent branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches. Although independent, they would each hold each other accountable for their actions. This idea was supported by James Madison.
Factions
This is another term used to describe political parties. It was the fear of leaders such as George Washington that these parties would prevents strong, unified government.
Strict constructionist
This term describes one who believes in the strict interpretation of a document. This term described Thomas Jefferson in relation to the constitution.
Elastic cause
This clause in the contrition granted congress “implied powers” to pass laws that were “necessary and proper” to run the country effectively. Alexander Hamilton used this clause to argue in support of the creation of the bank of the United States.
Compact theory
This belief based on the idea that the federal government was formed because of a compact between states
Lewis and Clark
These explorers were appointed by President Jefferson to explore the vast new United States territory, beginning in 1804. The group traveled a trail that began in St. Louis, Missouri, and too them to the Pacific Ocean on the coast of Oregon. They returned to St. Louis in 1806. By keeping meticulous field notes and drawings of the flora and fauna, as well as detailed accounts of encounters with native tribes, these explorers expanded America’s knowledge of the new territory and warned of the hardships settlers would face moving west.
John Marshall
This man was not only Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but he was also Thomas Jefferson’s cousin and a staunch federalist. During his career, he had ruled a law passed by congress to be unconstitutional, thereby establishing the precedence of judicial review. In this and subsequent decisions by his court, the power of the Supreme Court increased- it could check the authority of both the legislative and executive branches.
