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What two men inspired political thought in the American colonies?
King John and John Locke
What did King John write?
Magna Carta
What did John Locke believe?
People have certain natural rights - life, liberty, and property
What war led to the American Revolution?
7 years war / French and Indian war
What was the 7 years war?
The war between the British and French
Why were colonists unhappy after the end of the 7 years war?
Colonists fought on the side of the British and believed they would be able to settle upon the land on the west of the Appalachian, the British did not allow for it. The British also taxed the colonists to regain money post war.
Does war lead to financial gain or loss?
Loss
What are some of the acts that the British placed upon the colonists?
Sugar act (1764)
Stamp act (1765)
Coercive acts (1774)
What were the coercive acts in response to?
The Boston Tea Party
What was the purpose of the first continental congress?
To express grievances against the British
What was the purpose of the second continental congress?
To establish an army
Who was named Commander in Chief?
George Washington
What happened on July 4th, 1776?
The Declaration of Independence was signed
What system of government was the United States initially?
A confederation
Why didn't the Articles of Confederation work?
Weak central government
What plan was: Bicameral
Population based representation
National government has authority over the states
Virginia plan
What plan was: unicameral
State based representation
National government doesn’t override state authority
New Jersey plan
What was the name of the plan that combined both the Virginia and New Jersey plans?
The Great Compromise / The Connecticut Plan
What were the points of The Great Compromise / The Connecticut Plan?
Bicameral legislature with a senate and house
Which chamber is the upper chamber has equal representation?
The Senate
Which chamber is the lower chamber and has representation based upon population?
The House of Representatives
What is the difference between state representatives and U.S. representatives?
State reps represents the state to the state, where U.S. reps represent the state to the nation
How many senators are per state?
2
What consists of a preamble and 7 articles?
The constitution
What does the constitution establish?
The legislative, judicial, and executive branches
What does the legislative branch do?
Makes laws (Congress)
What does the judicial branch do?
Interprets the laws (courts)
What does the executive branch do?
Enforces laws (the president)
What is another word for the 3 branches of government?
Checks and balances
What was the name of the compromise that allowed states to count 60% of their slave population towards their amount of representatives?
The three fifths compromise
How did the constitution protect slavery?
It postponed the abolition of the foreign slave trade, allowed unrestricted importation of slaves, and the fugitive slave clause
What was the Fugitive Slave Clause?
Slaves that escape can't be free in states where slavery is illegal, are still owned
What clause states that the laws of the national government reign supreme?
The supremacy clause
What is the necessary and proper clause?
Constitutional clause that gives congress the power to make all laws "necessary and proper" for executing its powers
What clause leaves all the gray area in the constitution to the discretion of the states?
Reserved powers clause
National refers to what?
The government of the nation as a whole
Subnational refers to what?
The state governments
What does federalism do?
Portions the power between national and subnational governments. Gives both states and the nation their say in certain subjects
Where are subnational governments represented?
The upper house / senate
What are the 3 branches of government?
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
What apportions the power between national and subnational government?
Federalism
True or false: a federal government can change the written national constitution without the consent of the states
False
How many senators are there per state?
2
What are the 3 systems of government?
unitary, confederal, federal
What is the name of the government system where the subnational government tells the national government what to do?
Confederal
What is the name of the government system where the power goes both ways?
Federal
What is the name of the government system where the national government tells the subnational government what to do?
Unitary
True or false: intrastate is ran by state government
True
True or false: interstate is ran by state government
False
What does article 1, section 9 do?
Restricts the national government from doing anything that causes the deprivation of personal liberty
What are some of the important clauses?
Supremacy clause (article vi)
Full faith and credit clause (article iv)
DOMA
Privileges and immunities clause (article iv)
What are some of the key cases?
Dred Scott v Sandford
(Citizenship)
McCulloch v Maryland
(Taxes)
Gibbons v Ogden
(Interstate commerce)
Which type of federalism is also referred to as "layer-cake federalism"?
Dual federalism
What does dual federalism mean?
It means national government and state government do not mix
Which type of federalism is referred to as "Marble-cake federalism"?
Cooperative federalism
What does cooperative federalism do?
Both state government and national government work together, utilized during the 1930s-1960s
What was the government under FDR called?
New Deal
What was the government under LBJ called?
Great Society
What did the New Deal put in place?
Social Security, unemployment insurance, and protections for organizing in the workplace
What did the Great Society put in place?
Medicare and Medicaid
What does new federalism do?
Power was passed back to the state governments and revenue sharing: grants and mandates
Who brought new federalism to the United States?
Nixon and Reagan
Note 
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