Semester 1 Exam (Chapter 1-3, Economy, The Crossing, American Republic, American Exceptionalism) Flashcards
Religiosity (American Exceptionalism)
Utopian Aspirations, Social Activism, Self-government
Industriousness (American Exceptionalism)
Hard work, Getting ahead Self-reliance
Community Life (American Exceptionalism)
Neighbourliness, Civic Engagement, Social Trust
Egalitarianism (American Exceptionalism)
No aristocracy, Identification with the Middle Class, Equality of human dignity
What was the main cause for the “birth of America”?
Widespread opposition to the British government, class society, and the opposition to the theory that democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy.
What are the 2 parliamentary bodies that create and pass legislation?
Congress, split into:
House of Reps. (435)
Senate (100)
Who is the head of state that signs the legislation into law?
President
How is the House of Reps. elected?
Elected every 2 years through representation by population.
What is the British theory of balance?
The balance between:
Democracy (House of Commons)
Aristocracy (Senate)
Monarchy (Governor-General)
Roles of the President
Has the combined power of the PM, Governor-General, and Commander in Chief.
The President can appoint his cabinet and the Supreme court, with the support of Congress.
They cannot declare war without the support of Congress.
Roles of the Senate
“Second sober thought” that takes a view on subjects best for the country.
Has 6-year terms and has equal representation by state (2 per state).
The casting vote (tiebreaker) is on the Vice President
What is a Veto?
“Italian guy who always says no”
Veto gives the President the power to override a bill.
This can be overwritten by a 2/3 majority vote in Congress.
How does a Bill become a Law?
Starting in the House or Senate:
- Congress/ Senatore introduces a bill
- Referred to a committee/sub-committee
- If the bill is passed, it’s marked up. If not, it’s tabled
- Marked-up bill is put on the House/Senate calendar
- Floor read and voted on.
- Bill is voted by the House/Senate and becomes engrossed
- The engrossed bill is voted by the Conference Committee and becomes enrolled.
- President signs/vetos the enrolled bill.
The keys to making the American system work
Bipartisanship and compromise
What is a Conference Committee?
A temporary committee formed to reconcile differences with the House and Senate bills.
How are Members of Congress elected?
Every 2 years, members are elected within congressional districts.
How are Senators elected?
Every 6 years, 1/3 of the Senate goes up for election.
How is the President elected?
The President is elected through the Electoral College, rather than the popular vote
Equal Representation vs. Representation by Population
Equal Rep: All states have equal seats (Senate)
Rep. by Pop: Number of seats is determined by the population of a state (HoR)
How does the Electoral College function?
Each state has a number of electoral college votes equal to its congressional representation.
Electors are chosen by states to vote for President and VP.
The candidate who wins the popular vote wins all electoral college votes in that state.
Congressional Representation
Members of Congress + Senators
Which 2 states don’t follow the basis of the popular vote on election day?
Maine and Nebraska
Why was the electoral college system started?
Cross-country campaigns weren’t practical.
When and why was the electoral college system criticized?
This system was criticized in 1968 because Richard Nixon won over Hubert Humphrey by a landslide in electoral votes but barely won in the popular vote.
What does the American Republic essentially boil down to, and how is it different from a “pure democracy”?
The Republic ensures that people receive unalienable rights.
This differs from a pure democracy, where the majority can technically vote to take away the rights of minorities.
3 Branches of the American Government
Legislative: Congress
Executive: President, cabinet, gov’t agencies
Judicial: Supreme Court, District Court, Court of Appeals
Checks and balances between the Legislative and Executive Branch
Congress needs to approve presidential nominations, has “the power of the purse”, can override vetos, impeach the president, and remove them from office.
President can veto legislation
Checks and balances between the Legislative and Judicial Branch
Congress can impeach judges and remove them from office, Senate confirms presidential nominations.
The court can declare laws unconstitutional.
Checks and balances between the Executive and Judicial Branch
President nominates judges.
The court can declare presidential acts unconstitutional
What caused Europe to experience economic and cultural expansion late in the Middle Age?
Asian spices travelled to the Mediterranean.
This caused the development of banking systems, commercial, and political power.
What were 3 crucial inventions to America?
Gunpowder: Revolutionized warfare.
Compass: Allowed exploration
Printing with movable type: Allowed faster spreading knowledge.
Constantinople
Captured by Ottoman Turks in 1453, as it was crucial to the overland trade route to Asia.
Islamic rule forbid the use of their trade routes, forcing them to find alt. methods.
What country was the first to dominate the Atlantic Trade?
Portugal, which brought slaves from West Africa to work in sugar plants in Madeira and the Azores.
What did Christopher Columbus propose to European rulers?
Columbus suggested avoiding the African route and instead sail to India, which was ignored.
What happened with Columbus’ not-so-great expedition?
Columbus convinced Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to finance his fleet of 3 ships.
After sailing out in August 1492, he arrived in the Bahamas in October, believing it was China.
He argued that the Natives could be slaves, even though this was a clear failure.
Spain stopped supporting Columbus, but Columbus said “screw them” and continued searching.
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?
The treaty was introduced by Pope Alexander VI, drawing a line from pole to pole.
Spain got most of the Americas, while Portugal got most of the East.
What was the impact of the Conquistadors on the Caribbeans?
These Spanish adventurers occupied the Caribbean in the early 16th century looking for riches.
They killed or enslaved the Aboriginals.
A priest, Bartolome, argued that the Spanish should convert Natives to Christianity, which was opposed.
What was the impact of the Conquistadors on Mexico?
In 1519, Hernan Cortes led 500 soldiers into Mexico, ruled by warlike Aztecs.
They seized the Tenochtitlan ruler Montezuma by allying with Aztec enemies and bringing smallpox with them.
Within 2 years, Mexico City was established and silver mines were made in Mexico and Peru.
New Mexico
In 1598, an expedition north of Mexico was sent to find gold and silver and spread Christianity.
Santa Fe became the capital of New Mexico in 1609.
Immigration rates were low since the Spanish remained small.
13 Colonies
New England Colonies: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire.
Middle Colonies: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York.
Southern Colonies: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia
How was North Carolina established?
ROYAL COLONY
In 1663, King Charles II created a colony between Virginia and Florida called Carolina after his Latin name Carolus.
Virginians settled here making small farms and large tobacco plants.
How was South Carolina established?
ROYAL COLONY
English settlers from overpopulated Barbados founded South Carolina.
They brought over slaves that made up almost half of its population by the end of the 17th century.
How was Georgia established?
ROYAL COLONY
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How was Virginia established?
ROYAL COLONY
In 1607, the Virginia Company explored the cost of Virginia in hopes of profiting from gold and silver.
John Smith created Jamestown on the shore of Chesapeake Bay, and the Algonquin ppl welcomed and supported them at first.
This alliance was short-lived as after Smith left, English started stealing food and Powhatan cut off their assistance.
Peace was temporarily restored when Pocahontas and John Rolfe got married.
After Pocahontas’ deaths, however, English demanded more land, causing conflict.
Algonquin attacks in 1622 and 44 killed hundreds of English, and English disease and warfare almost wiped out the Algonquin.
By 1670, English outnumber Algonquin, and tobacco began being grown for profit.
How was Maryland established?
PROPRIETARY COLONY
In 1632, King Charles I granted 4 million hectares of land on the Chesapeake Bay to William Calvert, which became a proprietary colony.
He encouraged discriminated Catholics to settle in the colony.
This colony was named after the King’s wife, Henrietta Maria.
How was New Jersey established?
PROPRIETARY COLONY
After the founding of New York, a portion along the Delaware River separated to form New Jersey.
How was Pennsylvania established?
PROPRIETARY COLONY
In 1681, King Charles II granted William Penn (son of his friends he owed a debt to) a large tract of land west of the Delaware River.
Penn opened Pennsylvania as a refuge to the Quaker sect, who were being persecuted in English for not paying taxes.
During early development, Penn drafted a constitution protecting religious rights.
He also drew plans for Philadelphia, meaning “city of brotherly love” in Greek.
This colony attracted English and German farmers and its agriculture flourished.
How was Delaware established?
PROPRIETARY COLONY
In 1704, Penn approved the establishment of a second colony along the Delaware River.
How was New York established?
ROYAL COLONY
In the early 17th century, New Amsterdam was established along the Hudson River.
This was created by the Netherlands as a fur trading colony.
Later on, in the 17th century, England and Netherlands competed for trade control.
In 1664, a small English fleet captured New Amsterdam without firing a shot.
King Charles II granted his brother, the Duke of York, the colony and it was named New York.
How was Rhode Island established?
PURITAN REFUGE
A Puritan minister, Roger Williams, was banished for believing in the separation of the church and state, leading to the establishment of Providence.
Later joined by Anne Hutchinson, Williams was granted a royal charter for a new colony, along with other charters allowing complete religious freedom.
How was Massachusetts established?
ROYAL COLONY
In the mid 16th century and early 17th century, England underwent Protestant reformation and Puritans wanted to purify the English church.
In 1620, Pilgrims led by William Bradford sailed to America on the Mayflower and established Plymouth on Massachusetts Bay.
Half of the settlers died due to disease, malnutrition and harsh winters, so they allied with the Wampanoag.
In 1691, Plymouth joined with the Massachusetts Bay and in 1629, Puritans established the Massachusetts Bay Company and planned a large emigration from England.
This immigration immigrated 20 000 Puritans over 15 years.
John Winthrop founded Boston in 1630 and extended it by 100 kilometres within 10 years.
Winthrop only allowed male church member head of households to vote for General Court delegates, becoming a model for future political developments.
Due to Massachusetts’ economic success, there was a higher demand for land making conflict between colonists and Algonquin.
After the English Civil War, Puritans seized English power and had no reason to migrate to America, so Massachusetts diversified into shipbuilding, fishing, overseas trade, and agriculture.
How was Connecticut established?
PURITAN REFUGE
Puritan refugees crossed the Atlantic hoping to flee persecution and find a “godly commonwealth”.
Once in control, they became hostile to any challengers and banished outspoken dissenters.
In 1636, Thomas Hooker didn’t want the power to be limited to church members, so his group went west to the Connecticut River and founded a new colony.
How was New Hampshire established?
PROPRIETARY COLONY
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What was the lost colony and how was it founded?
Roanoke was founded by John White in 1587, who wasn’t assisted by the Natives.
White went to England for help, but to no avail. When he returned in 1590, the colony was deserted with about 100 colonists remaining.
Some say the Native’s killed them, some say they thought they were abandoned and were adopted by local Aboriginals.
