Vocab Part 2 Flashcards
The author of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, He was also the father of the Federalist party and the fourth President of the United States. He was President during the war of 1812 and was also Vice-President under Jefferson. He was a great statesman but was not a strong president.
James Madison
He emerged as a major political figure during the debate over the Constitution, as the outspoken leader of the Federalists and one of the authors of the Federalist Papers. Later, as secretary of treasury under Washington, He spearheaded the government’s Federalist initiatives, most notably through the creation of the Bank of the United States.
Alexander Hamilton
Although the Anti-Federalists failed to block the ratification of the Constitution, they did ensure that this would be created to protect individuals from government interference and possible tyranny. This was drafted by a group led by James Madison, consisted of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guaranteed the civil rights of American citizens.
Bill of Rights
Led by Alexander Hamilton, they believed in a strong central government, loose interpretation, and encouraged commerce and manufacturing. They were staunch supporters of the Constitution during ratification and were a political force during the early years of the United States. They influence declined after the election of Republican Thomas Jefferson to the presidency and disappeared completely after the Hartford Convention.
Federalists
They rose up as the opponents of the Constitution during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution’s powerful centralized government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that granted most power to the states
Anti- Federalists
Five states sent delegates. They discussed ways to improve commercial relations among the states. After, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton persuaded others that another convention should be held in Philly to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Annapolis Convention
55 white male delegates, most were college-educated and relatively young (early 40s). Most were much wealthier than the average American. They new about law and politics, with many being lawyers and many having helped write their state’s constitutions.
Framers of the Constitution
Held in Philadelphia in 1787, with the original purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. Congress gave its approval and asked all 13 states to send delegates, only Rhode Island decided not to.
Constitutional Convention
A conference hosted by George Washington at his home in Mount Vernon, VA, to discuss what could be done about the country’s inability to overcome critical problems. Representatives from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania attended. They agreed to hold further discussions in Annapolis, MD, so other states could be represented.
Mt. Vernon Conference
A system of government where one branch of government has sufficient power to check the others
Checks and Balances
proposed by James Madison, it favored large states, basing the number of representatives a state was entitled to, on the size of it’s population
Virginia Plan
the counter to the Virginia plan, favor small states, wanted equal representation for each state in Congress regardless of population size
New Jersey Plan
a compromise solution, which provided for a two house Congress; each state would be given equal representation in the Senate; but a larger body, the House of Representatives, each state would be represented by the size of its population.
Connecticut Plan; Great Compromise
the larger of the two houses of congress, it is the lower house, with the number of representatives from each state being based on population
House of Representatives
the smaller of the two houses of Congress, it is the upper house and each state has equal representation in it (2 senators per state)
Senate
the agreement by which the number of each state’s representatives in Congress would be based on a count of all the free people plus blank of the slaves
Three-fifths Compromise
a decision was reached which guaranteed that they could be imported for at least 20 years longer (until 1808), at which time Congress could vote to abolish the practice
Slave Trade
allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, including placing tariffs (taxes) on foreign imports, but it prohibited placing taxes on exports.
Commercial Compromise
the system by which the US president and VP are elected. The states are assigned a number of elections equal to the total of that state’s representatives and senators, who cast votes for the candidates. Thus the president is not directly elected by the people. The delegates at Philadelphia instituted this system because they feared too much democracy would lead to mob rule.
Electoral College System
85 essays that were eventually published as a book, which presented cogent reasons for believing in the practicality of each major provision of the Constitution. The highly persuasive essays were originally published in an NY newspaper and were written by Madison, Hamilton and John Jay.
The Federalist Papers
Congress, the house and senate, the lawmaking body of the government
Legislative Branch
would be used for depositing government funds and for printing banknotes that would provide the basis for a stable U.S. currency.
National Bank
new and developing industries in the US
Infant Industries
the highest court in the land, composed of one chief justice and five associate justices, empowered to rule on the constitutionality of decisions made by state courts
Supreme Court
one of Congress’s first laws, established a Supreme Court with one chief justice and five associate justices. Also provided for a system of 13 district courts and three circuit courts of appeals
Judiciary Act
courts that hear federal cases
Federal Courts
secretary of war under Washington
Henry Knox
attorney general under Washington
Edmund Randolph
new army under General “Mad Anthony” Wayne routed the Miami Indians at this battle, and the British refused to shelter Indians fleeing from the battle
Battle of Fallen Timbers
These consist of four laws passed by the Federalist Congress and signed by President Adams in 1798: the Naturalization Act, which increased the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years; this act, which empowered the president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens; the Alien Enemy Act, which allowed for the arrest and deportation of citizens of countries at was with the US; and the act, which made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials. The first 3 were enacted in response to the XYZ Affair, and were aimed at French and Irish immigrants, who were considered subversives.
Alien and Sedition Acts
An insult to the American delegation when they were supposed to be meeting French foreign minister, Talleyrand, but instead they were sent 3 officials Adams called “X,Y, and Z” that demanded $250,000 as a bribe to see Talleyrand.
XYZ Affair
Warned Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to make permanent alliances, not to form political parties and to avoid sectionalism.
Washington’s Farewell Address
in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, and taxes, Jefferson won the election of 1800 and it was called this because it was a successful transfer from one political party to another done without violence (Federalist to Democratic-Republican)
Revolution of 1800
A treaty which offered little concessions from Britain to the U.S Jay was able to get Britain to say they would evacuate the chain of posts on U.S. soil and pay damages for recent seizures of American ships. This resulted in a vitalization of the Democratic-Republicans and Pinckney’s Treaty with the Spanish.
Jay Treaty
1795 - Treaty between the U.S. and Spain which gave the U.S. the right to transport goods on the Mississippi river and to store goods in the Spanish port of New Orleans
Pinckney Treaty
No entangling alliances, Stay out of their problems, need to grow stronger economically, militarily, and politically before we get involved,Helps pay off economy, allows for open trade
Proclamation of Neutrality
Began in 1789 with some nonviolent restrictions on the king, but became more hostile in 1792 when France declared war on Austria. Seeking help from America, the French pointed to the Franco-American alliance of 1778. Not wanting to get involved for fear of damage to the trade business, Washington gave the Neutrality Proclamation, which made America neutral. This led to arguments between Americans and French. After fighting with the French over such things as the Jay Treaty, the Americans came to peace with France in 1800.
French Revolution
A Federalist who was Vice President under Washington in 1789, and later became President by three votes in 1796. Known for his quarrel with France, and was involved in the XYZ Affair, Quasi War, and the Convention of 1800. Later though he was also known for his belated push for peace with France in 1800. Regarding his personality he was a “respectful irritation”.
John Adams
1) He was a representative of the French Republic who came to America in order to recruit Americans to help fight in the French Revolution. 2) He landed in Charleston SC around 1793 after the outbreak of war between France and Britain. 3) The actions were exposing the new vulnerable government. It also showed how the government was maturing.
Citizen Genêt
A body of executive department heads that serve as the cheif advisers to the President. Formed during the first years of Washington’s Presidency, the original members included the Secretary of State, of the Treasury, and of War. It’s extremely important to the presidency, because these people influence the most powerful man in the nation.
Cabinet
A man from Pennsylvania that led one end of the extreme at the Second Continental Congress. He led a group of moderates, much like himself, that hoped for a quick reconciliation with Great Britian
John Dickinson
Pennsylvania representative at the Constitutional Convention; credited with authoring large sections of the constitution, including the preamble, draftsman
Gouverneur Morris
peace of the Battle of Fallen Timbers; signed in August 1795, confederacy gave up vast tracts of the Old Northwest, in exchange the Indians received $20,000, an annual annuity of $9000, the right to hunt the lands they had ceded, and recognition of their sovereign status
Treaty of Greenville
flared up in southwestern Pennsylvania with homespun pioneer folk who regarded the excise tax as a burden, tarred and feathered revenue officers; Washington summoned the militias of several states and with army of 13000, troops captured/ dispersed Whiskey Boys
Whiskey Rebellion
ability for Americans to transit cargoes to New Orleans without paying duties to Spanish govt
Right of Deposit
established orderly procedures for dividing and selling federal lands at reasonable prices
Public Land Act
1790s were dominated by two Federalist figures around which political parties formed: Hamilton and Jefferson; Hamilton’s federalists supposed his financial programs (loose interpretation of Constitution but strong central government)
Federalist Era
Washington left after two terms of office and set a precedent that was followed by all until FDR
Two-term tradition
supported Jefferson (anti Hamilton programs); southern state support and western frontier, whose political platform protected states’ rights and strict containment of federal power
Democratic- Republican party
Hamilton proposed to pay this off at face value and have the federal government assume the war debts of the states
National Debt
a government tax on imports or exports.Tax on luxury items and alcholic beverages. Led to acts against government such as the whiskey rebellion
Tariffs; excise taxes
Political organizations not envisioned in the Constitution and considered dangerous to national unity by most of the Founding Fathers
Political parties
the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.
Congress
Land squabble between Britain and Spain over Georgia and trading rights. Battles took place in the Caribbean and on the Florida/Georgia border. The name comes from a British captain named Jenkin, whose ear was cut off by the Spanish.
War of Jenkin’s Ear
Land squabble between France and Britain. France tried to retake Nova Scotia (which it had lost to Britain in Queen Anne’s War). The war ended with a treaty restoring the status quo, so that Britain kept Nova Scotia).
King George’s War
Part of the Seven Years’ War in Europe. Britain and France fought for control of the Ohio Valley and Canada. The Algonquins, who feared British expansion into the Ohio Valley, allied with the French. The Mohawks also fought for the French while the rest of the Iroquois Nation allied with the British. The colonies fought under British commanders. Britain eventually won, and gained control of all of the remaining French possessions in Canada, as well as India. Spain, which had allied with France, ceeded Florida to Britain, but received Louisana in return.
French and Indian War
Historic British victory over French forces on the outskirts of Québec (Plains of Abraham). The surrender of Québec marked the beginning of the end of French rule in North America.
Battle of Québec
Used to try offenders for violating various Navigation Acts passed by the crown after the French and Indian War. Colonists argued that the courts encroached on their rights as Englishmen since they lacked juries and placed the burden of proof [on] the accused.
Admiralty Courts
(1765 and after) Boycotts against British goods adopted in response to the Stamp Act and later, The Townshend and Intolerable Acts. The agreements were the most effective form of protest against British policies in the colonies.
Nonimportation Agreements
(1774) Non-importation agreement crafted during the 1st Continental Congress calling for the complete boycott of British goods.
The Association
(April 1775) 1st battles of the Revolutionary War, fought outside of Boston. The colonial militia successfully defended their stores of munitions, forcing the British to retreat to Boston.
Lexington and Concord
intercolonial assembly that met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775; all thirteen colonies were represented; still wanted to just get British acts repealed and wrote new appeals to British people and king, but raised money to create an army and navy
Second Continental Congress
May 1775
Tiny American force under Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold surprised and captured the British garrisons at Ticonderoga and Crown Point in Upper New York.
Gunpowder and artillary for the siege at Boston was obtained.
June 1775 Colonists siezed Bunker Hill (Breed’s Hill).
Americans numbering 1500 soldiers slaughtered the advancing redcoats. Colonists were short on gunpowder and were foced to abandon the hill.
Bunker Hill
German troops that King George III hired when he proclaimed the colonies to be in rebellion on August 1775, angered colonists
Hessians
Washington and an army escaped to Manhattan Island then to Delaware River, British general Howe did not crush American forces speedily, battle continued at Trenton (see Trenton)
Battle of Long Island
1780 Catherine the Great of Russia made this where all the remaining European neutrals maintained an attitude of passive hostility towards Britain
Armed Neutrality
1784, Indians (Senecas, Mohawks, Cayuhas, and Onondagas) forced to cede land because they were allies of George III
Treaty of Fort Stanwix
American privately owned armed ships who were authorized by Congress to prey on enemy shipping- captured 600 British prizes
Privateers
(18th century) to separate an official state church from its connection with the government; following the Revolution, all states disestablished the Anglican Church, though some New England states maintained established Congregational Churches well into the 19th century
Disestablished
(1786) measure enacted by the Virginia legislature prohibiting state support for religious institutions and recognizing freedom of worship; served as a model for the religion clause of the first amendment to the COnstitution
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
the society of Continental Army Officers who formed an exclusive hereditary order; ridiculed by Americas in the 1800s because servitude was unknown
Society of Cincinnati
the notion that democracy depended on the unselfish commitment of each citizen to the public good.
Civic Virtue
public domain recently acquired from the states: northwest of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Great Lakes
Old Northwest
Anglo-American law that said that made it necessary to be specific about every conceivable detail
Common Law
flexible guide to broad rules of procedure, ex. Constitiution
Civil Law
it meant that the federal government would pay off its debts at face value with interest
Funding at par
transfer of debt from one party to another; feder government assumed states’ Revolutionary War debts in 1790
crucial for Hamilton’s plan to have wealthy Americans provide support for national administration
Assumption
