The Historical Setting Of The Constitution Flashcards
How many colonies did Britain have on the Eastern seaboard of America?
13
Describe democracy within these 13 British colonies
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
How did the British government view the colonies?
As existing purely for the economic benefit of Britain
Why were colonists angry about the fact that they had to pay taxes to Britain?
Because they had no representation in the British parliament
What did Bostonian patriot James Otis say about taxation?
“Taxation without representation is tyranny”
How did British actions make revolution inevitable?
They tried to tighten their grip over the colonies in the 1770s
What did the 13 colonies do in 1776 and what did this lead to?
They signed the Declaration of Independence, leading to war and eventual defeat of the British in 1783
What was the initial vision for the 13 colonies once independence had been achieved?
A confederacy of independent states rather than a national government
Define confederacy
A league or loose collection of independent states in which the national government lacks significant powers
What were the articles of confederation?
The compact between the 13 original states that formed the new nation in 1781. It was replaced by the us constitution in 1789
Explain how the confederation was lacking in power?
It had no executive or judiciary and it’s legislature was little more than a talking shop
How did the ex-colonies almost turn their victory into defeat?
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
What did Washington and Hamilton, two key leaders from the war, believe was necessary following independence and why?
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
What happened at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention?
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.
What process did the 1787 Philadelphia Convention kickstart?
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