States' Rights Flashcards
How many states formed the original United States of America?
13
In what year was the United States constitution written?
1787
According to the US Constitution, how were powers distributed?
All powers not specifically given to the Federal government belonged to the individual states.
Which line from the US constitution allocates federal and state powers?
“the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, not prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people”
What is sectionalism?
The division of a country into different social, political and economic areas. For example, the issue of slavery divided the United States.
How did many people in the North view the federal government?
They believed in a strong federal government with greater authority than the states.
How did many people in the South view the federal government?
They believed in strong powers for each of the states.
What is the idea of states’ rights?
The idea that the individual states are more important than the federal government.
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts?
Laws designed to protect the US from alien (foreign) citizens. These laws were introduced after a war with France in 1798.
How did Kentucky and Virginia respond to the Alien and Sedition Acts?
They refused to follow these federal laws. This is called nullification.
What is nullification?
When states refuse to follow federal laws that they do not agree with.
How did many northerners respond to the Fugitive Slave Law?
They ignored it. This made slave owners angry.
How did the North and South disagree about new infrastructure (roads etc.)?
Many people in the south didn’t want their taxes to pay for improvements in the north.
What is a tariff?
A tax on imported goods. This makes imported goods more expensive.
What caused the nullification crisis of 1832?
South Carolina declared the tariffs of 1828 and 1832 invalid in that state.
