Unit 1 Flashcards
Mayflower Compact
Pilgrims left Britain upon facing religious persecution to Massachusetts desiring a single body politic, and created the Mayflower Compact based in Christian morals and the right to self rule
Factors in creating the US constitution
British rule of the Colonies
American Revolution
Failure of the articles of confederation
Debate over inclusion of the bill of rights
John Lock
Idea: people were born free and equal under god with unalienable right
Natural law
Second treatise of civil government
Thomas Hobbes
Humans live in a state of nature that results in war
Necessity of absolute sovereignty with a social contract
Baron de Montesquieu
Republican form of government with specific limited power granted citizens liberty
Spirit of the Laws
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Free people find a single body politic and serve as the ultimate power
Popular sovereignty
Social contract
Popular sovereignty
the people serve as the ultimate power while the government carries out the laws
Social contract
a theory that addresses the questions of the origin of society and legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual
Republicanism
stresses liberty and individual rights as central values while rejecting monarchy
Republic
elect leaders for a period of time to execute laws for the public interest
Representative Republic
collection of sovereign states gather for national interests, needs, and defense
Committee
one delegate from each state representing at the convention
What 4 democratic ideals are in the founding documents
- Limited government
- natural rights
- Popular sovereignty
- republicanism
Direct Democracy
every citizen voting on every issue with the majority prevailing
Representative democracy
government in which people entrust elected officials to represent them
Pluralist Democracy
how is it represented in the constitution
Various political interest groups try to control the political agenda with compromising
use of compromise to get laws passed
Participatory democracy
how is it represented in the constitution
total participation in politics from everyone
separation of powers with federal and state governments
Elite democracy
how is it represented in the constitution
the richest and most educated hold the power
elected representatives
Federalists beliefs (3)
- supported constitutional structure
- strong federal government
- Full ratification of the constitution
Anti-federalists beliefs (3)
- opposed consolidation of the states
- disliked large republic
- Against strong central government
7 Weaknesses in the AOC
- requires 9 states to agree in order to enact national law
- congress could not tax the people directly
- national government could not raise/maintain an army
- all 13 states must agree to amendment of an article
- no national court system or currency
- federal government had only one branch, congress
- congress couldn’t regulate state commerce
Shays’ Rebellion
In 1786, farmers lost their farms due to mortgage and failure to pay taxes to they demanded the printing of more money, lowering taxes, and suspending mortgages
Virginia Plan
Governor Edmund Randolph proposed a 3-branch system with a national executive, judiciary, and a 2-house legislature
(supported by large states)
New Jersey Plan
Assumed states their sovereignty through a national government with limited and defined powers
(supported by smaller states)
Great Compromise
Roger Sherman created a 2-house Congress with the senate and house, which satisfied seats in a legislature and equal state representation
Extradition Clause
address how states should handle runaway slaves and fugitives
Electoral college
each state has the same number of electors in congress, people voted for these electors
Confederal system
the smaller governments have more power than the larger central government
USA Patriot Act
in response to 9/11 attacks, the government started online information gathering
USA Freedom Act
reduced information gathering
Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Passed by President Lyndon Johnson, improved educational opportunities for low income children
No child left behind act
most could not meet expectations
Improvements for teaching and sanctions for under performing schools
Race to the top initiative
Obama
Offered incentives rather than sanctions for new educational standards
Every student succeeds act
Obama
states are free to set own educational standards while protecting disadvantaged students
