USH Unit 3 Flashcards
Articles of Confederation
Based on the principles of
- State sovereignty (Each state has independence)
Limited government
- Central government is weak
Equal representation
- Each state had one vote in Continental Congress
- led to Financial instability, Lack of unity, Inability to enforce laws
Virginia Plan
Made by James Madison
Legislature of 2 houses
States represented in both houses in proportion to their population (by population)
Smaller states obviously objected
New Jersey Plan
Made by William Patterson
Legislature of 1 house
Equal representation
Congress has more power to tax and regulate commerce
Great Compromise
Legislature of 2 houses
House of representatives
Representation is based on a states population (satisfies the larger states)
The Senate
Each state has equal representation with 2 senators (adressing smaller states)
Slave counts as ⅗ of a free person in both representation and taxation
Federalism
Federalists
wanted stronger + more effective government
Anti Federalists
thought constitution grants too much power to federal government
Which would lead to tyranny
Biggest complaint was that there was no bill of rights
checks and balances
Compromise between Federalists and Antifederalists
3 branches of government have powers to limit and control the actions of the other branches
No single branch becomes too powerful
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments of the constitution
Protects the rights of the people and limits the power of the government
(1st and 10th amendment of the constitution) particularly
Common people wanted it, wealthy people did not
Opinions on slavery at the Constitutional Convention
Slaves should be considered persons in determining representation (southern states)
BUT as property if the new gov levied taxes on the states on the basis of population
How were representatives to be elected or chosen?
HOR
Proportional representation
Senate
2/state appointed by state legislatures
President
4 year terms -> elected by electors
The Federalist Papers
Series of essays supporting the constitution
Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
Thomas Jefferson
Republican
Led republicans with James Madison who switched from federalist
Republicans
More agrarian
Opposed federalists
De-centralization
Whiskey Rebellion
Protest against the Federal government’s imposition of an excise tax on distilled spirits like whiskey
Was shut down by Hamilton with an army of 15,000
Jay’s Treaty
France went to war with britain and Americans wanted nothing to do with it
British seized American ships
This concerned Hamilton because the Americans relied on the British for a lot of things, so war wouldn’t be good
They sent Jay to secure compensation, get British out the US, and form a treaty
BUT HE DID NOT ACHEIVE ALL OF THESE GOALS, ONLY TREATY
Jeffersonian Republicans did not want this treaty because they thought ties to Britain would strengthen the Federalists
XYZ Affair
During Quasi war
Americans were sent to France to negotiate peace
Upon arrival, 3 French agents demanded a loan and a bribe before the Americans could even talk to the French minister
John Adams sent the commisioner’s report but renames the agents X, Y, and Z
This XYZ affair provoked outrage at the French and SUPPORT for the Federalists to respond
Quasi War
Undeclared naval war between US and France
Alien & Sedition Acts
Alien Acts made it difficult for foreigners who want to become American citizens or already are
Sedition act allowed government to prosecute those involved in treason
This allowed Republicans to be unfairly prosecuted by the Federalists
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts
One written by Jefferson and the other written by Madison
Asserted the states rights to declare federal laws unconstitutional
Election of 1800
Federalist John Adams against Republican Jefferson
Jefferson wins and calls this the “Revolution of 1800”
“midnight appointments”
Adams appointed Federalist Judges the night before his inauguration before the republicans took control
To get federalists in high power
What were the competing visions of Hamilton and Jefferson?
Hamilton
National bank
National debt
Avoid war with France
More supportive of Eng
Jefferson
Support the French
Agrarian, less commercial
Oppose Hamilton’s plan
Marbury v. Madison
Background:
William Marbury (midnight appt) – would he get his commission from being a judge
James Madison, secretary of state for Jefferson – can he be forced to hand over the commision?
Judiciary Act (law passed in 1789) gave the SCOTUS power to force Madison to give Marbury his commission.
SCOTUS decision
We don’t have the power. Judiciary Act = unconstitutional
“In seeming to deny its own authority, the Court was in fact radically enlarging it. The justices had repudiated a relatively minor power (the power to force the delivery of a commission) by asserting a vastly greater one (the power to nullify an act of Congress)” (169).
Key Point: JUDICIAL REVIEW established
judicial review
The Supreme Courts ability to review acts of Congress and declare them unconstiutional
What was the Jeffersonian vision for the United States?
Agrarian economy
Simplicity
Limited power of Federalists
