Unit 2: Constitution Flashcards
George Washington
led the convention, trusted and respected by the American people, and kept the delegates on task.
Benjamin Franklin
offered wisdom in helping to write the Constitution, got large and small states to agree on Great Compromise, and was a critic of slavery
James Madison
Father of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation
first US government
Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation
It did not give enough power to the federal government
No Executive Branch or Judicial Branch.
Congress couldn’t tax citizens or pay debt from Rev. War.
Federal government couldn’t raise an army.
Hard to pass laws, each state got one vote.
Great Compromise
solved the disagreement over how states would be represented in the legislative branch
disagreement was solved by having two houses, one favors each side
3/5 Compromise
settled the issue on how slaves would be represented in population
slaves count as 3/5 population,
Natural Rights
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Representative Democracy
citizens elect other people to run the government
We the People
first words in the Constitution.
Popular Sovereignty
government ruled by the people through the elected representatives
Federalism
the idea that federal powers and state powers should be divided, where some powers are shared
Federal Powers
print money, raise an army, sign treaties, and carry on foreign trade
State Powers
oversee elections, decisions for the schools
Shared Powers
tax citizens, build roads, pass laws
