beginnings of government

what political ideas was the government in the u.s. influenced by in the past?

ordered government, representative government, limited government

what were the three types of english colonies? what was their importance?

charter, royal, propriety; they helped the colonies see wht worked or didn’t work

what major steps led to growing colonial unity?

stamp act congress, albany plan of union, league of friendship

how did colonists organize to protect themselves against britain?

created the first and second continential congress

first continental congress importance

created declaration of rights

second continental congress impact

after revolutionary war; was the first government, had two branches

what were the debates that impacted creating the declaration of independence?

slavery and if it is worth it to fight for independence (questioned if they could do it)

what were the major ideas of the declaration of independence?

unalienable rights, social contract theory, right of resistance to illegitimate government

what debates impact the creation of the articles of confederation?

how representatives would work, power distribution, elections, the slave trade, and the bill of rights

how was the government structured under the articles?

one representative per state and most power resided with the states

who were the main contributors to the articles of confederation?

jefferson, madison, franklin, and washington

how did weaknesses in the articles lead to controversy?

congress did not have the power to tax, regulate trade, enforce laws, no national court system, needed unanimous votes to change anything

who were the framers and what inspired them?

wrote the new constitution, used the theory of natural law (john locke) and the experience of the colonies

compare the virginia and new jersey plan

virginia: bicameral, house of reps and senate, votes based on population

new jersey: unicameral, votes are equal per state

what were the convention’s major debates/compromises?

connecticut compromise, three-fifths compromose, and electoral college

what were the arguments for/against the proposed constitution?

federalists: articles were weak, government needed more power

anti-federalists: wanted bill of rights and limited government power to exist