Test 2 Flashcards
Structure of government under the Articles of Confederation
One congress
9/13 votes to pass a law
What powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation
Could wage war and send diplomats
Had to borrow money
No taxing or enforcement of laws
Land Ordinance of 1785
Accomplishment under Article of Confederation
Congress established a policy for surveying and selling the western lands
Allotted specific land for education
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Accomplishment under Articles of Confederation
Congress made laws regarding creating new states in the Ohio River Valley
Granted limited self government
Prohibited slavery in the region
Shays Rebellion
Farmers uprise against high taxes and debts
Stopped the collection of taxes and forced the closing of debtors’ courts
Forced officials to seriously consider problems under the Articles of Confederation
Interstate Quarrels under the Articles of Confederation
Placed tariffs and other restrictions on the movement of goods across state lines
Boundary disputes
The Annapolis Convention
George Washington hosted a conference between Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania in which they agreed that the needed a convention in Annapolis
Only 5 states attended the Annapolis convention, but Hamilton and Madison persuaded others that a convention was needed in Philadelphia
Who didn’t send delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
Rhode Island
They were distrustful of the other states
Father of the Constitution
James Madison
Great Compromise
Combined the Virginia and New Jersey plans to allow a bicameral Congress with equal representation in the Senate and population representation in the House
3/5 Compromise
Counted each slave as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of determining a state’s level of both representation and taxation
Can count slaves, but then are going to be taxed more
What did the Constitutional Congress decide about slaves?
Slaves could be imported for at least 20 years longer. At which time Congress could vote to abolish slavery
Commercial Compromise
Allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign compromise by placing tariffs on foreign imports
Prohibited placing taxes on exports
Why was the electoral college system instituted?
The delegates feared that too much democracy could lead to mob rule
Ratification of the Consitution
Needed 9/13 states to ratify
Massachusetts was the first test. Massachusetts had to postpone the vote but eventually they ratified
All 13 states eventually ratified
Argument of the Federalists (ratifying the Constitution)
Stronger central government was needed to maintain order and perserve the Union
Emphasized the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Argument of the Anti-Federalists (ratifying the Consititution)
Stronger central government would destroy the work of the Revolution and limit democracy
The constitution did not have any protection of individual rights
The Federalist Papers
Persuasive essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay
Presented cogent reasons for believing in the practicality of each major provision of the Constitution
George Mason
An anti-federalist in Virginia who tried to convince people not to ratify the constitution
Arguments for a Bill of Rights
By adding a Bill of Rights Americans were protected from getting their rights removed like what had happened with the British