The Constitution and Federalists Flashcards

1
Q

Confederation

A

Close alliance of states

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2
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

Drafted June 7, 1776
Approved 1781
Governmental Charter written by 2nd Continental Congress
States are free, independent, in close alliance

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3
Q

Unicameral

A

Have only one house in a legislative body

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4
Q

Treaty of Paris

A

September 3, 1783
Officially marked the end of the Revolution
UK acknowledged US was a legitimate country
Signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams and British peace commissioners in Paris.
U.S. gained all land east of the Mississippi (except for Florida.)

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5
Q

Northwest Territory

A

Lands north of the Ohio River that passed into US hands after Treaty of Paris

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6
Q

Ordinance of 1784

A
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Create 10 new states out of Northwest Territory
Equal to other states in the union
Ban slavery in region
Give land to settlers
Failed because too far sighted
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7
Q

Land Ordinance of 1785

A

Concentrated on settlement, not politics
Divided lands into townships (36 lots, 1 sq. mi each)
Lots divided into half, quarter, half-quarter, quarter-quarter sections
Sale of lot 16 paid for schools
Cost $1 per acre ($640 per lot)

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8
Q

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A

Government of states
3-5 states
3 stages: Stage 1–completely fed. Gov./Stage 2–5k pop. became territory, elect legislature, had territorial governor (F.G. appointed-veto power)/Stage 3–60k pop. draw up state constitution, admitted into union as state

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9
Q

Hard money

A

Silver/gold currency

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10
Q

Continental Dollars

A

Money printed by the US under the Articles of Confederation
Overprinted, plummeted in value
“Not worth a Continental”–worthless

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11
Q

Newburgh Conspiracy

A

A conspiracy in 1783 by some military officers who wanted to force the US gov to pay them (by force). Some wanted to overthrow the gov. And make Washington king/dictator. Washington convinced the conspirators that this was a bad idea

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12
Q

Shays’ Rebellion

A

Massachusetts 1786
Daniel Shays led rebellion with arms against government
Used force to close courts
Combated and squashed by militia

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13
Q

Annapolis Convention

A

1786 Called by Maryland and Virginia
Trade convention
5 states showed up
Failed unity

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14
Q

Constitutional Convention

A
May-September 1787
12 states (No Rhode Island) met
Revise (scrap) AoC
Make lots of compromises
Create Constitution
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15
Q

James Madison

A

“Father of the Constitution”
Virginian
Provided framework for Constitution in 1787

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16
Q

Virginia Plan

A

Bicameral Congress
Pop. Based
Members of lower house directly elected, members of upper house elected by lower house from state legislature nominees
FG Enforce Laws, elect executive, elect judiciary
Big state bias

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17
Q

New Jersey Plan

A

Unicameral Congress
States have 1 vote
Small state bias

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18
Q

Roger Sherman

A

Created Great/Connecticut Compromise and save Constitutional convention in 1787

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19
Q

Great/Connecticut Compromise

A

Compromise created by Roger Sherman–save CC
Bicameral–Lower house based on state pop. (Direct election), Senate equal for all states (Indirect election, see Virginia plan)

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20
Q

Three-Fifths Compromise

A

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation, but slave states had to pay taxes on them at same rate. Temporarily solved slavery issues for CC.

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21
Q

Limited Government

A

Written Constitution–clearly defined Gov. limits
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Gov. won’t get too powerful

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22
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Gov. divided into 3 branches
Executive–execute and enforce laws
Legislative–Make laws
Judicial–interpret laws

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23
Q

Checks and Balances

A

Thwarts accumulation of power by any one branch

Powers given to branches over other branches, vice versa

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24
Q

Federalism

A

Division of power between national and state levels of gov.

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25
Popular Sovereignty
Source of gov. power comes from people
26
Preamble (of the Constitution)
Introduction to Constitution
27
Electoral College
Group of people from each state that elect the president Number corresponds to representation in congress Usually all electoral votes in a state go to most popular candidate
28
Amendments (to the Constitution)
Changes or additions to the Constitution
29
Federalists
Those who supported the Constitution | Notable members: Hamilton "Publius", Madison, Jay
30
Anti-Federalists
Those against the Constitution Notable members: George Clinton, governor of NY "Cato" "Sidney" "Brutus"
31
The Federalist (Papers)
A volume of papers written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay defending the Constitution Compiled May 1788 Very influential
32
Ratification of the Constitution
1788 Delaware first to ratify Dec. 7, 1787 9 states ratified–law (NY, VI, RI, NC hadn't yet)
33
March 4, 1789
First day of Congress under Constitution
34
February, 4 1789
George Washington unanimously elected president | Inaugurated April 30, 1789
35
George Washington
1st President of the US under constitution Revolutionary War hero President of CC
36
Cabinet
Advisors to pres. | GW–State, Treasury, War
37
Thomas Jefferson
Minister to France Head of State Department 3rd pres.
38
Alexander Hamilton
Federalist, Secretary of the treasury under GW
39
Henry Knox
Rev. War hero | Head of War department under GW
40
Judiciary Act of 1789
Organized 13 district courts (1 per state) 3 circuit courts of appeals Supreme Court justices=6 John Jay–1st Chief Justice
41
James Madison
Federalist, Federalist Papers | Leader in House
42
Bill of Rights
1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution | 1789
43
Report on Public Credit
Hamilton's first proposal–National debt must be paid off
44
Funding
The plan developed by Hamilton that proposed that the FG pay 6% interest back to those whom they owed from the RW. The bonds were recognized as currency (monetizing the debt) $77 million dollars
45
Assumption
The plan dev. By Hamilton US Gov. assume all state debt So. Already paid most of debts–opposed No. Hadn't–bribe w/ location of capital city in south
46
National Bank
Hamilton proposed creation Uniform currency, provide source for business loans Passed Constitutional? Yes–necessary to fulfill end goals of Congress
47
Loose Constructionist
Those who advocated more flexibility in interpreting the Constitution
48
Strict Constructionists
Those who held to closer reading of the Constitution
49
Federalists (political party)
Political Party that claimed to be true keepers of the Constitution Federalist Pro-British
50
Democratic-Republicans (Republicans)
Political Party opposite Federalists "Last line of defense between Federalist 'tyranny' and American Liberty" Anti-federalist bent Pro-French
51
French Revolution
1789 Blood-lusty, Reign of Terror Political crisis–F declared war on Britain (1793) America "obligated to aid" France (Treaty of Alliance 1778)
52
Proclamation of Neutrality
April 1793 US "pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers" Neutral
53
Citizen Genêt
French Ambassador Arrived in Charleston–toured country stirring up pro-french sentiment Overdid it w/ Washington–Cold reception Plotted to raise army to fight Spain in Florida Plotting/personal attacks against W. published–embarrassed F+republicans
54
Jay's Treaty
Treaty between G. Britain and US (1795) Britain stay out of US, pay for damages, like Treaty of Paris US had little bargaining power–no army/navy "Federalist"–Jay burned in effigy
55
Whiskey Rebellion
Frontier farmers were discounted with tax against on alcohol–respond with violence Washington led army to end rebellion Distinguish between necessary exercise of law and oppression
56
Washington's Farewell Address
September 17, 1796 Urged Americans to leave behind party divisions Cultivate commercial ties but not political ones with Europe Outlined US foreign policy up until WWII
57
Quasi War
(Undeclared) war 1797–French attack US–led to creation of US Navy "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."
58
XYZ Affair
1797 French+American diplomats met to discuss peace–French demanded bribe to stop attacking US ships Charles Maurice Talleyrand vs. John Marshal, C.C. Pinckney,Eldridge Gerry–US not pay–formed Navy instead
59
Alien and Sedition Acts
Federalist passed laws that placed restrictions on French, Irish, and other immigrant groups that were mostly Republican. Alien–expanded power to expel/imprison these groups Sedition–No speaking against gov. No riots/other "anti-gov. Activities" Strict fines/penalties
60
Kentucky Resolutions
1798 Written by Jefferson Response to A+S acts Unconstitutional, states could nullify Wanted repeal of A+S acts
61
Virginia Resolutions
``` 1798 Madison wrote Response to A+S acts Unconstitutional, states could nullify Wanted repeal of A+S acts Similar to Kentucky Resolutions ```
62
Judiciary Act of 1801
Act passed by Federalist Congress before newly-elected Republicans that increased the number of Federal Judges.
63
"Midnight Appointments"
Accusation of Adams by Republicans that Adams had stayed up until midnight the night before Jeffersons Inauguration on March 4, 1801, signing commissions for new judges before the Federalists lost power.