Unit 2: Articles of Confederation to the War of 1812 Flashcards
The first set of laws that America operated under from 1777-1789
Articles of Confederation
What provided the model for the Articles of Confederation government?
The Continental Congress
Is a loose alliance of the states
A confederation
What was the goals for the Articles of Confederation?
- To protect the rights they had fought for during the Revolutionary War
- Weak Central Government (authority rested in the states, not in the central government)
The American Revolution was fought to preserve the rights of what?
Their colonial assemblies
What did the states believed rested in their state governments?
Sovereignty
The Confederation government was effective in negotiating what to end the Revolutionary War?
The Treaty of Paris
Were laws that established a method for distribution of the national domain
The Northwest Ordinance
What set the precedent for the creation of new states?
The Northwest Ordinance
What was declared illegal in the Northwest Territory?
Slavery
What is a failure of the Articles of Confederation?
Confederation gov. was too weak to meet the growing needs of the new nation
This event caused Americans to reflect about wanting to have a stronger national government
Shays’s Rebellion
Military Problem:
The national gov. could not tax the states so that meant the national gov. could not raise an army.
Weakness under the Articles of Confederation
How did the Constitution fix the military problem under the Articles of Confederation?
Gave power to the national gov. to levy taxes so they could maintain the army to “maintain domestic tranquility.” (an army)
What was a state conflict under the Articles of Confederation?
- The Confederation government could not resolve conflicts between the states over interstate trade, currency, or boundaries
- There was not a Judicial branch (courts) to resolve these issues
How did the Constitution fix the state conflicts?
- Gave the national gov. the exclusive power to control interstate trade and currency
- A judicial branch was established with the rights to resolve disputes between the states
What were Diplomatic Problems under the Articles of Confederation?
- Enforcing the Treaty of Paris
- International Commerce
- States were attempting to negotiate with foreign powers separately
How did the Constitution fix the Diplomatic Problems?
The national gov. was given the exclusive right to make treaties with foregin powers thus enhancing their ability to protect the United States’ interests diplomatically
Was there constitutional compromise under Diplomatic Problems?
Yes, the federal government would not attempt to limit the international slave trade for at least 20 yrs.
What was made illegal in 1808?
The importation of slaves
What were the Control of States weaknesses under the Articles of Confederation?
States refused to acknowledge the authority and power of the central government
How did the Constitution fix the Control of States?
They set up a federal system (federalism) in which the power government was shared between the states and the national gov.
What was a problem with the Amendments under AoC?
Only could be amended if ALL of states agreed
How did the Constitution fix the Amendments issue?
By including a provision for amendment by 3/4 of the states.
What problem did the AoC have with Separation of Powers?
There was no executive branch of gov. to carry out the will of the national congress or a judiciary to resolve disputes
How did the Constitution solve the issue of Separation of Powers?
The Framers of the Constitution established three branches of government, legislative, executive and judicial, each with its own powers.
What was developed due to the fear that the executive might become too strong?
A system of checks and balances
Limited the power of each of the branches was added
Checks and balances
What problem was with Representation under AoC?
One house where a state delegation had one vote
How did the Constitution fix the issue of Representation?
- Virginia Plan
- New Jersey Plan
- The Great Compromise
Large states wanted to be represented based on population
Virginia Plan
Small states wanted to preserve their power and continue to have one vote per state
New Jersey Plan
Was a bicameral legislature
- Senate: each state has two votes
- House of Rep.: based on pop.
The Great Compromise
What is the issue with the Constitutional Compromise?
Southern states wanted to count slaves while the northern states didn’t want to give the southern states a political advantage.
What was the 3/5 Compromise?
Slaves were to count as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of both representation and taxation.
What problem did AoC have with Authority to Rule?
The common man had very little say in the government
What was the the Constitution’s solution to Authority to Rule?
- Philadelphia convention declared that the authority to govern was granted by “We, the people”
- Framers believed in “no taxation without representation” so they gave the House of Rep. the right to create taxes
Directly elected by the voters of their states and now the common man had a say
House of Representatives
Meant to buffer the impact of the popular will on the election of the president
Electoral college
