Unit 4 Flashcards
Trials of a New Nation
what were the Articles of Confederation?
the ideal government/our first attempt in having a government for our country
when was the Articles of Confederation ratified?
1781
what does ratified mean?
passed
what were the Articles of Confederation’s weaknesses?
-no executive branch which means no president
-no federal court system
-no power to collect taxes. 1/6 of what the government asked for was actually earned
what was England’s problem with the US?
they laughed at us and knew our government was stupid
what was Spain’s problem with the US?
they were mad because England gave us land
what was France’s problem with the US?
they were mad at us because we aren’t going to pay them back
what were the pirate’s problem with the US?
the took our ships, cargo, and sailors
what were the people out west’s problems?
-Indian attacks
-starvation
-disease
-fires
what was the Land Ordinance of 1785?
a system of surveying the land to sell and farm it
describe a township
-6 by 6 miles square
-had 36 sections that were 1 by 1 mile square
-the 16th section had a schoolhouse
-each section was 640 acres
what were the principles of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (for political development)?
(how to become a state)
-to be a territory you must have 5000 male white adults
-to be a state you must have 60000 people and have an approved constitution
-promise to have no slaves
how old was considered an adult?
21 years
what is a constitution?
written plan of government
each state made its own money. why was this a problem?
every state thought their money was more valuable
what happened in 1786?
Shay’s Rebellion
explain Shay’s Rebellion
Shay and some farmers go to take over the government but they do not win and 10 people die
what problems did the US face in 1787?
-British hate us from the Revolutionary War
-Spanish will not let us use the Mississippi River
-Indians keep attacking us
-Western farmers need roads and protection
-Pirates are steeling our ships
what is the Annapolis Convention?
George Washington calls a meeting at Mount Vernon but only 5 states show up so Alexander Hamilton sends them a nasty letter
after Hamiltion sends them the letter, what happens?
what is the reason for this meeting?
12 states come.
to revise the Articles of Confederation
define revise
to make it better
what happens instead of revising the Constitution?
they remake it completely
how many men were invited to the Constitutional Convention and how many actually show up?
73 men invited and 55 show up
what was the average number at a meeting for the Constitutional Convention?
30 men
what were the 3 major decisions before the meeting really began?
-George W. as chairman
-Secret voting so that people voted for themselves
-Everyone promised no talking to anyone after each meeting because rumors spread
who was at the Annapolis Convention?
-Alexander Hamilton
-George Washington
-James Madison
-Benjamin Franklin
why did the new government have to strong?
to control the states
what was the first plan introduced?
Virginia Plan
what was the Virginia Plan?
-called for the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
-said we would have 2 legislative branches called the House of Representatives and the Senate
what is the HoR and Senate based on?
population
why did the small population states hate the Virginia Plan?
small states would have little voice
what was the next plan called? how was it different from the Virginia Plan?
New Jersey Plan.
All states had the same number of representatives and only 1 legistlative branch
why did the large population states hate the New Jersey Plan?
they said it wasn’t fair
what was the Great Compromise?
the HoR was based on population and the Senate every state gets 2
what was the 3/5 rule?
slaves counted as 3/5 of a person when counting the population of a state
how long is a term of presidency?
4 years
what was the importance of Ben Franklin?
he calmed everyone down when tension got high
who are the Federalists?
liked the Constitution
who are the Anti-Federalists?
didn’t like the Constitution
why didn’t the Anti-Federalists like the Constitution?
there was no Bill of Rights or list of guaranteed freedoms
what is the Bill of Rights?
the first 10 amendments
what are amendments?
changes to the Constitution
how many states approved the Constitution?
12 out of 13
where was the capital?
NYC
what happened of March 4, 1789?
the new government took over.
who was appointed to be the first president?
George Washington
what is the Electoral Collage?
each state gets votes based on population
is the Electoral Collage good or bad?
depends on your opinion
who the the first vice president?
John Adams
