Studied by 8 people
Shay's Rebellion
Shays's rebellion showed the weakness of the Confederation government and prompted calls for strengthening the federal government to quell upcoming disturbances from many including George Washington
Land Ordinance of 1785
A law that established a plan for surveying the land.
Northwest of Ordinance of 1787
A law that established a procedure for the admission of new states to the union.
Confederation
An alliance permitting states or nations to act together on matters of mutual concern.
What two laws were the Confederation's greatest achievements?
-Land Ordinance of 1785 -Northwest of Ordinance of 1787
James Madison
-Leader of Virginia who called a meeting of state delegates to discuss issues of interstate trade, along with Alexander Hamilton. -He kept a record of the debates that took place at the convention
Roger Sherman
-Political leader from Connecticut -Introduced the Great Compromise -Helped draft the Declaration of independence
Three-Fifths Compromise
Three Fifths state's slaves to be counted as Population
Federalism
Political system of government in which power is divided between national and state governments.
Legislative Branch
Makes laws
Executive Branch
Carries out laws
Judicial Branch
Interprets Laws
Checks and Balances
Prevents one branch from having too much power
Electoral College
Group of electors chosen by the states and cast ballots for the candidates.
Ratification
Official approval. Required the agreement of at least 9 states
Federalists
Supporters of the Constitution's balance of power between the states and the national government.
Anti-federalists
People who were against the Constitution's balance of power (hated having a strong central government)
The Federalist
A series of 85 essays defending the Constitution, appeared in New York newspapers between 1787 and 1788
Bill of Rights
A formal summary of citizen's rights and freedoms. -The 10 amendments
How many amendments are there?
27
Democracy
Government directly by the people
Why did the 18th century Americans disliked democracy?
Believed it put too much power in the hands of uneducated masses, therefore favored a Republic
What state accidentally allowed woman to vote?
New Jersey, neglected to specify gender
What three questions did the delegates have to answer?
-Representation by population or by state? -Supreme power: Can it be divided? -Western Lands: Who gets them?
How many votes do each state get?
1, regardless of population
What did the Articles of Confederation give the new national government?
Power to: -declare war -make peace -sign treaties
Maryland refused the Articles of Confederation until...?
all states turned over their land west of the Appalachian Mountains to the United States
When did the Articles of Confederation go into effect?
1781
May 1787
Delegates from all the states except Rhode Island gathered at the Philadelphia State House
Delegated (enumerated) Powers
Powers granted to the national government by the Constitution
Reserved powers
powers kept by the state
veto
say no, turn down
who did the Bill of Rights not apply to at the time?
-Slaves -Native Americans -Women
who wrote most of the bill of rights?
James Madison
Who took detailed notes at each convention?
James madison
who claimed no to land west of the Appalachian and therefore said no to the Articles of Confederation?
Maryland
what were some problems with the Articles of Confederation?
-lacked unity -needed 13 states -wasn't fair for the big states
what was prohibited north of the Ohio river? (Northwest Ordinance)
Slavery
The Philadelphia Convention
State representatives decide to create a new government rather than fix Articles
Virginia Plan
Plan presented at the constitutional convention that favored large states because representation was based on population.
New Jersey Plan
Plan presented at the constitutional convention that favored small states because state representation was equal.
Great Compromise
Offered a two-house Congress to satisfy both small and big states
Supremacy Clause
Constitution is the supreme law of the land
Concurrent Powers
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
Elastic Clause
Part of the constitution that says Congress has implied powers
Implied Powers
Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution
Impeachment
Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives
George washington
Delegate For: Constitution convention Contributions: He was the first president War general He was able to forge an army and won the war
George mason
Delegate For: Virginia Contributions:
Leader for the patriots in virginia Drafted the constitution fairfax county in the house of burgess
William Paterson
Delegate For: New jersey Contributions:
Collaborated with the supreme court Part of the council of safety Part of the senate
: Benjamin Franklin
Delegate For: Philadelphia Contributions: Drafted declaration of independence Created the join or die inventor
: Alexander Hamition
Delegate For: Constitutional convention Contributions: Helped the great britain in the yorktown battle Wrote an essay for the federalists
Amendments
1st Amendment: Four freedoms Speech Freedom of the Press Freedom of Religion Freedom of assembly Right to Petition
2nd Amendment: Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment: No quartering of soldiers
4th Amendment: Protection from search & seizure
5th Amendment: Right to a criminal case
6th Amendment: Right to a fair trial
7th Amendment: Rights in civil case
8th Amendment: Bails, fines and punishment
9th Amendment: Rights to retained by the people
10th Amendment: Powers retained by the states and the people
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch is called congress and is made up of two house parts House of representatives Senate
The house of representatives
States with the largest populations have the most representatives in the house House members must be at least 25 years old or older to serve House members are elected to a two year term There are 435 members in the house of representatives
The senate
States with the largest populations have the most representatives in the house There are two senators for each states which means of course there are 100 senators Senators must be at least 30 years old Senators are elected to a six year term
The executive branch
The executive branch is headed by the president The president is the commander in chief of the armed forces (Cannot declare war)
The President
The President is elected to a four year term The president can only serve two terms The president must be a citizen by birth The president must be at least 35 years old
The Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch of the federal government is headed by the supreme court Supreme Court justices are nominated by the president and approved by the senate There are 9 supreme court justices who are appointed for life Judicial review
Constitution
Congress has control
Protect natural rights
Congress has right to regulate trade between states
2/3 both houses of congress plus 3/4 of state legislatures
Articles of Confederation
Could not have the power to tax
No executive branch
Could not make states follow the articles
Steps of becoming a state
There were three basic stages for becoming a state:
Congress would appoint a territorial governor and judges.
When a territory had 5,000 voting residents, the settlers could write a temporary constitution and elect their own government.
When the total population of a territory reached 60,000
Note 
Flashcard (28)