The Historical Setting Of The Constitution Flashcards

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1
Q

How many colonies did Britain have on the Eastern seaboard of America?

A

13

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2
Q

Describe democracy within these 13 British colonies

A

It was limited. Each had charters setting out the form of government and the rights of colonists. Each colony has a governor, legislature and judiciary. Each had a property qualification for voting from which women and black ppl were excluded. Despite their shortcomings, the colonies provided a blueprint for what was to come

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3
Q

How did the British government view the colonies?

A

As existing purely for the economic benefit of Britain

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4
Q

Why were colonists angry about the fact that they had to pay taxes to Britain?

A

Because they had no representation in the British parliament

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5
Q

What did Bostonian patriot James Otis say about taxation?

A

“Taxation without representation is tyranny”

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6
Q

How did British actions make revolution inevitable?

A

They tried to tighten their grip over the colonies in the 1770s

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7
Q

What did the 13 colonies do in 1776 and what did this lead to?

A

They signed the Declaration of Independence, leading to war and eventual defeat of the British in 1783

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8
Q

What was the initial vision for the 13 colonies once independence had been achieved?

A

A confederacy of independent states rather than a national government

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9
Q

Define confederacy

A

A league or loose collection of independent states in which the national government lacks significant powers

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10
Q

What were the articles of confederation?

A

The compact between the 13 original states that formed the new nation in 1781. It was replaced by the us constitution in 1789

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11
Q

Explain how the confederation was lacking in power?

A

It had no executive or judiciary and it’s legislature was little more than a talking shop

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12
Q

How did the ex-colonies almost turn their victory into defeat?

A

Because the government created by the articles of confederation was weak. This meant that the colonies may have gained their independence but had failed to form a nation

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13
Q

What did Washington and Hamilton, two key leaders from the war, believe was necessary following independence and why?

A

A strong central government. The states were squabbling rather than cooperating on on issues like currency and commerce, and the leaders feared the reappearance of the British if they remained divided

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14
Q

What happened at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention?

A

55 delegates representing 12 of the 13 states met and concluded that the confederacy was flawed and weak, but were fearful that a government that was too strong could threaten rights and liberties.

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15
Q

What process did the 1787 Philadelphia Convention kickstart?

A

The tentative process of forming a new kind of government that had a strong centre while still preserving states’ rights and individual liberties. The answer was a federal constitution, with the BoR containing lots of intricate checks and balances between the different levels and branches of government

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16
Q

What was the main disagreement at the Philadelphia Convention?

A

There were disagreements over the two plans considered; the New Jersey plan and the Virginia plan

17
Q

How was the impasse at the PC solved?

A

With the Connecticut Compromise

18
Q

What did the Connecticut compromise do?

A

Devised a new federal kind of government where some poltical power rests with the federal government but other, equally important, powers rest with the state government

19
Q

Explain the New Jersey plan

A

Drafted by William Patterson, it proposed a Congress with one chamber that was based on an equal representation of states. This meant it was favoured by states with smaller populations

20
Q

Explain the Virginia Plan

A

Drafted by James Madison, it proposed a Congress of two chambers where states would be represented according to their population. This meant that it was favoured by states with larger populations

21
Q

How did the CC act as a compromise?

A

Drafted by Roger Sherman, it proposed a Congress of two chambers with one based on state population (the house) and one based on equal representation (the senate)