American Pageant Chapter 7-10

bill of rights

Set of amendments passed to protect individual rights

judiciary act of 1789

In 1789 Congress passed this Act which created the federal-court system. The act managed to quiet popular apprehensions by establishing in each state a federal district court that operated according to local procedures.

alexander hamilton

1789-1795; First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

tariffs

a tax on foreign goods brought into a country

funding at par

Alexander Hamilton's idea on how to improve U.S. credibility, and unity. The federal government would take on all of the states debts, as well as its own. It would pay the debts off at face value, then it pay interest. Together, it was a huge 54 million dollar debt.

whiskey tax

Part of the excise taxes, the whiskey tax added a tax on whiskey at seven cents a gallon This helped pay of some of the debt., Part of the excise taxes, the whiskey tax added a tax on whiskey at seven cents a gallon This helped pay of some of the debt.

bank of the united states

created by Alexander Hamilton, designed to stimulate business, keep money in circulation, and get the United States out of debt. it would handle tax receipts, amoung other govt funds, & print and issue paper money

tenth amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

strict interpretation

A way of INTERPRETING the Constitution that allows the Federal Gov't to ONLY do those things SPECIFICALLY mentioned in the Constitution. based on the 10th Amendment

elastic clause

the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers

loose interpretation

A way of INTERPRETING the Constitution that allows the Federal Gov't to take actions THAT the Constitution doesn't forbid it from taking. based on the elastic clause.

whiskey rebellion

In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion

federalist party

founded by alexander hamilton, it was a political party created in the 1790s that wanted to strengthen the federal government and promote industry and trade

democratic-republicans

founded by thomas jefferson in the 1790s, its goal wsa to keep the federal govt as weak as possible, promote a strict interpretation of the constitution, and promote agriculture and farming (as opposed to industrialization/

french revolution

an uprising of the people that led to the end of the French monarchy and the beheading of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. america happy until violence ensues under the reign of terror

neutrality proclamation

a 1793 statement by President Washington that the United States would not support or aid either France or Britain in their European conflict

citizen edmond genet

representative of the French revolutionary government, tried to enlist Americans in the French army

general anthony wayne

crushed northwest indians at battle of fallen timbers on august 20, 1794

treaty of greenville

indians give up claim to land in ohio country

jay's treaty 1794

Britain promised to evacuate the chain of posts on U.S soil, and pay damages for the recent seizures on American ships. Britain forced John Jay to give ground by binding the U.S to pay depts. still owed to Britain on pre-Revolutionary Account.

pinckney's treaty

agreement made between spain and the u.s., where the u.s. got the northern part of florida and free access to the mississippi river

washington's farewell address

says to remain neutral, isolationist, avoid permanent allies-choose temporary ones

john marshall

appointed chief justice by John Adams

talleyrand

the French foreign minister, whom which three American dipolmats seek to reach an agreement with, they are stopped by the French X, Y, and Z dipolmats and are asked for a bribe to speak with Talleyrand. Causes XYZ affair.

xyz affair

1798 - A commission had been sent to France in 1797 to discuss the disputes that had arisen out of the U.S.'s refusal to honor the Franco-American Treaty of 1778. President Adams had also criticized the French Revolution, so France began to break off relations with the U.S. Adams sent delegates to meet with French foreign minister Talleyrand in the hopes of working things out. Talleyrand's three agents told the American delegates that they could meet with Talleyrand only in exchange for a very large bribe. The Americans did not pay the bribe, and in 1798 Adams made the incident public, substituting the letters "X, Y and Z" for the names of the three French agents in his report to Congress.

convention of 1800

Treaty between France and the United States that annulled their alliance, while America agreed to pay damage claims of American shippers.

alien laws

Laws in which residence before citizenship changed from five years to fourteen, and the President was given power to deport (in times of peace) or imprison (in times of war) dangerous immigrants

compact theory

popular amoung the English political philosophers in the eighteenth century. In America, it was supported by Jefferson and Madison. It meant that the thirteen states, by creating the federal government, had entered into a contract about its jurisdiction. The national government was the agent of the states. This meant that the individual states were the final judges of the national government's actions. The theory was the basis for the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions passed in 1798. The compact theory was used to try to stop the Federalist abuses like the Alien and Sedition Acts.

nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.

hamiltonian federalists

Well to do merchants, large planters, investors, concentrated in urban areas. Supremacy of natl govt. Broad interpretation of the Constitution. Criticized as pro-ENG. Favored commercial/ind development.

Who, in 1775 formed the first anti slavery society?

The Philadelphia Quakers.

What prevented the complete abolition of slavery during the years of the American Revolution?

Fears that a fight over slavery would have fractured the fragile national unity.

What differentiated the American constitution from the British Constitution?

The British Constitution was a collection of laws, customs, and presidents while the American Constitution was a contract that defined the powers of government.

What is republican motherhood?

A popular sentiment of the American Revolutionary period that revered women as homemakers and mothers and the cultivators of good republican values in young citizens.

Following the revolution, what kinds of sovereign behaviors did the individual states exhibit?

They each coined their own money, raised their own armies and navies, erected tariff barriers, and, in the case of Virginia, engaged in their own foreign treaties.

What was the first written constitution in America and when was it adopted?

The Articles of Confederation was adopted in 1777 (but wasn't ratified by all thirteen states until 1781)

Who held out until 1781 to ratify the Articles of Confederation?

It was Maryland! The larger states (New York and Virginia) were able to sell off land to pay war debt and Maryland wanted some of New York. The problem was solved by giving some of New York to the Federal Government for the 'common benefit.'

What were Congress's two biggest handicaps during the early days of the Constitution?

1. It had no power to regulate commerce, and 2. It had no means for enforcing its tax-collection program.

What was the location of the early American Congress?

Philadelphia

According to the Northwest Ordinance what was necessary for a territory to become a state?

60,000 inhabitants

What did the Northwest Ordinance say about slavery?

The ordinance forbade slavery in the Old Northwest.

What was the Old Northwest?

A huge area northwest of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. It is now occupied by part of Minnesota, and all of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan

What was the Land Ordinance of 1785?

It dictated that the area known as the Old Northwest should be divided into townships six miles square with each of those divided into thirty six one mile areas. These one mile areas were sold off to raise money for the federal government with each 16th s

What were some of the unfriendly things that the British did to the colonies following the war.

The refused American trade ships; blocked American access to the West Indies; tried to annex Vermont; and curried favor with Indians that were hostile towards the colonists.

What important colonial route did Spain control?

Entrance to the mouth of the Mississippi.

What did France want from American following the Revolution.

The French wanted the colonies to pay off the money they borrowed to fund the Revolution?

Where did the pirates that ravaged American shores come from?

North Africa, especially Algeria attached American shores and frequently enslaved Yankee soldiers.

What was Shays Rebellion? and when did it happen?

In 1786 Captain Daniel Shays led a group of impoverished Massachusetts farmers who were losing their farms in foreclosures marched on the state government to demand that they issue paper money.

How was Shays Rebellion resolved?

Wealthy Massachusetts residents quickly put together an army and there were several battles with the Massachusetts army emerging as the victor?

What were the legislative ramifications of Shays Rebellion?

It frightened the wealthier colonists. Debt relief laws (that Shay wanted) were put into place, but also it heralded in a stronger Federal Government which was achieved via a new Constitution.

Society of the Cincinnati

A secret society formed by officers of the Continental Army. The group was named for George Washington, whose nickname was Cincinnatus, although Washington himself had no involvement in the society.

What is Primogeniture?

med evil concept of seniority by birth; state of being the first-born child; right of the eldest child (to inherit the entire property of one or both parents) began to dissipate in the 1800's

What was the Congregational Church?

A church grown out of the Puritan church, was established in all New England colonies but Rhode Island. It was based on the belief that individual churches should govern themselves. The Congregational Church become more popular than the English Anglican

What was the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom?

Written in 1776 by Jefferson and Madison it argued that the concept of compulsory religion is wrong, no forced religious worship or ministry and no discrimination on account of his opinions or belief but free to believe what they wish, and that these righ

What did James Madison write regarding slavery vs the union?

wrote in 1778 "Great as the evil (slavery) is a dismemberment of the union would be worse"

What is Civic Virtue?

notion that democracy depended on unselfish commitment to the public good

What was the Continental Congress?

A first meeting of ambassadors from the territories that called for a republic where states govern

What was special about the New Jersey's 1776 Constitution?

Gave women the right to vote for a time

What were the Articles of Confederation?

A written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states, this document, the nations first constitution, was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781during the revolution. the document was limited because states held most of the powe

What was the Constitutional Convention?

A meeting of delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which produced the new U.S. Constitution

What is a fundamental law?

Laws of basic and lasting importance which may not easily be changed.

What is the House of representatives?

the number of representatives would be based on the state population.

What is the Senate?

upper house of the legislature, each state elects two

What is the Executive branch?

the branch of the United States government that is responsible for carrying out the laws

What is the Electoral college?

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president

What was Virginia's Large State Plan for the new government?

It said that the arrangement in Congress should be based upon a state's population.

What was New Jersey's Small State Plan for the new government?

It centered on equal representation in Congress without regards to a state's size or population.

What was the final result of the small state plan and the large state plan?

The final compromise û known as ôö û was a Congress composed of two parts

What were Federalists?

The Federalists favored a strong Federal Government. In general they were wealthier than the Anti-federalists, more educated, and better organized.á They also controlled the press. George Washington and Benjamin Franklin were Federalists

What were Anti-Federalists?

The Anti-federalists were led byáSamuel Adams,áPatrick Henry, andáRichard Henry Lee.á The followers consisted of states' rights devotees, back country dwellers, and one-horse farmers - in general, the poorest class.

Virtual Representation

British claimed tht the colonists were represented by the House of Commons, colonists claimed they were not because they did not choose their representitives

"No taxation without representation"

colonists did not like being taxed when they felt they had no say in British government, and Britain refused to recognized their local governments

Admiralty Courts

juryless courts in British colonies that held jurisdiction over maritime activities

Baron von Steuben

foreign advisor who helped train American soldiers during the revolution

Boston Massacre

colonial agitators provoked British troops with rock-filled snowballs, soldiers shot into the crowd, became an important piece of anti-British propaganda

Boston Tea Party

group of colonists disguised as Indians boarded ships in Boston Harbor and dumped the tea into the ocean, led to Boston Port Act

Boston Port Act

response to Boston Tea Party, outlawed use of Boston harbor until damages were paid to the crown

Boycott

First Continental Congress called for a boycott of all British goods in 12 of 13 colonies, showed a growth in unity

Charles Townshend

British Prime Minister, convinced Parliament to pass the Townshend Acts

Committees of Correspondence

organized by the Sons of Liberty to spread spirit of resistance

Crispus Attucks

slave killed in the Boston Massacre, became an icon of the anti-slavery movement

Declaration of Rights

drafted at a Virginia Convention, proclaimed the inherit rights of man

Declaratory Act

issued to confirm the British government's right to pass acts which were legally binding to the colonists, used to save face when the colonies refused the Stamp Act

English Whigs

Parliament party who contested the Tories, took control of the government until King George III took the throne

Enumerated Products

gods not produced by the mother country, could only be shipped from the colonies to England or other English colonies

First Continental Congress

response to the Intolerable Acts, called for a complete boycott of all British goods in 12 of 13 colonies, showed better colonial unity

Gaspee Incident

schooner was beached in Rhode Island, upset Americans because it was one of the last customs racketeering ships, burned down by locals, showed how militant the colonists were becoming

George Grenville

Prime Minister, architect of the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, his methods of taxation and crackdown on smuggling were widely disliked by Americans

George Washington

commander in chief of the Continental Army

Hessians

German mercenaries hired by the British to put down the rebellion in the colonies, showed the colonists that the British had only military action in mind, as a solution to current problems

External Taxation

placed on an item coming into the colony

Internal Taxation

direct tax paid by the consumer

Intolerable/Coercive Acts

composed in response to colonial rebellion, included Boston Port Act, Massachusetts Government Act, Administration of Justice Act, Quartering Act, and Quebec Act

John Adams

Federalist, second president of the US, responsible for the Alien and Sedition Acts which hurt the popularity of the Federalists and himself, prevented all out war with France after the XYZ Affair

John Hancock

won his fortune by smuggling, rebel ring leader at Lexington and Concord

Lord North

Prime Minister during the Revolution, passed the Intolerable Acts and supported the king to the extent that Britian was ruled only by the king

King George III

king of Britian during the revolution, Declaration of Independence was directed specifically at him

Letter from a Farmer in Pennsylvania

written by John Dickinson, united the colonies against the Townshead Acts

Lexington and Concord

first battles of the revolution, militias were massacred at Lexington but won at Concord

Loyalists

also called Tories, American colonists who were loyal to Britain and the king