Origins of American Government

Limited Government

the idea that a government’s power is not absolute

Representative Government

a government in which people elect delegates to make laws and conduct government

Charter

a formal constitution

Revenue

money a government collects from taxes or other sources

Embargo

an agreement prohibiting trades

Boycott

an agreement to not buy certain goods

Human rights

rights regarded as belonging fundamentally to all persons

Ratify

to approve

Unicameral

a single-chamber legislature

Tariff

a tax on imported goods

Treaty

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries.

Politics

activities that influence the selection of government officials and government decisions.

Bicameral

relative to a two-house legislative body

Exports

products, goods, resources, or other materials that are sold or sent to another country as part of international trade

Interstate commerce

trade among states

Alexander Hamilton

supported a strong central government, played an instrumental role in establishing a stable financial system.

Thomas Jefferson

wrote the Declaration of Independence, supported a limited government with strong individual freedoms

James Madison

nicknamed “the father of the constitution”, promoted the three-branch system and also supported a strong central government

John Adams

opposed taxation without representation, promoted the establishment of a representative government.

George Mason

also promoted a limited government, also authorized the the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which inspired the Bill of Rights

John Jay

helped write the Federalist Papers in an effort to garner support for the new Constitution, also supported a strong central government.

Roger Sherman

proposed a compromise at the Constitutional Convention that led to a bicameral legislature being established (resulting in the Senate and House of Representatives)

James Wilson

favored people having the power to directly elect Congressional members, also helped effectively argue for ratification if the Constitution