Slavery & the Constitution - Period 1 Flashcards
3/5ths Compromise
Compromise allowing slaves to be counted as 3/5ths of a person for representation in the legislative branch and for taxation
Shay’s rebellion
A rebellion lead by Daniel Shay’s over high taxes and loss of land in Massachusetts in 1786. This was significant because it led to the call for a new government.
Explain three principles of democracy found in early state governments?
Bill of Rights, Separation of state and church, and checks and balances (Note: On test, each of these needs to be explained.)
Dunmore’s Proclamation
British Governor of Virginia who declared marital law and promised freedom to slaves who fled from their owners to fight for the British during the revolutionary war.
Who were the loyalists? How did the war effect them?
Colonists who stayed loyal to the king. Most of them fled to Canada and those who stayed were often shunned.
The Great Compromise
Compromise stating that there will be two houses for legislative, the senate and the house of representatives. Every state had two senators and a representative in the house of representatives for every 40,000 people in that state. (Slaves were also counted as 3/5ths of a person.)
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were 85 essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton in 1787. The essays were written to gain support for the new United States Constitution.
What was the constitutional convention? When was it? Who attended it? What was its purpose?
The Constitutional Convention was a convention that was held in Philadelphia during 1787. Representatives/people from every single state but Rhode Island attended this convention. Initially, the constitutional convention was designed so that edits and changes could be made to the Articles of the Confederation. What ended up happening was that the representatives decided to scrap the Articles and to create the Constitution, which we still use today.
How did the constitution become the law of the land? (In other words, how was it ratified?)
9 out of the 13 states needed to ratify it. Each state called a special convention to accept or reject the new constitution.
3 ways three constitution was a better plan for government.
Checks and Balances, Printed money, regulated tax and trade, Bill of rights, Improved power between central and state govt., strong central govt., President to lead, etc. (Note: On test, each of these needs to be explained.)
The Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance was in 1787. It was the process of turning a territory into a state.
What were two ways that the early US failed to live up to republican ideals.
Women couldn’t vote or own property. African Americans were considered to be property and couldn’t vote
Shay’s rebellion- What, Where, When, Why significant?
A rebellion led by Daniel Shay who helped poor farmers against taxes and no paper money. This was in Massachusetts in 1786. This was significant because it led to a call for a new government.
What were the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation was the first form of government that ruled the Americas from 1781 - 1787.
What were three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
One weakness was that it did not allow the United States to have a very strong and central government so all the states acted as independent countries. Another issue with the Articles of Confederation was that the government could not impose taxes on states and people. One last weakness was that under the Articles, there were different types of currencies. These currencies were bad for the economy and made trade difficult.
