Chapter 2 Vocab

New World

New World

western hemisphere of earth

Benjamin franklin

a brilliant inventor and senior statesman at the Constitutional convention who urged colonial unity as early as 1754

French and Indian war

the American phase of what was called the 7 years war, fought from 1754-1763 between Britain and France with Indian allies

mercantilism

an economic theory designed to increase a nation’s wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade

Samuel Adams

cousin of president John Adams and a early leader against the British; played key role in developing the committees of correspondence and was active in Massachusetts and colonial politics

stamp act congress

a gathering of 9 colonial representatives in 1765 in New York City where a detailed list of Crown violations was drafted; first official meeting go the colonies and first official step toward a unified nation

sons and daughters of liberty

loosely organized groups of patriotic american colonists

crispus Attucks

african-american an first American to die in the Boston massacre

first continental congress

meeting held in Philadelphia in which 56 delegates, except Georgia adopted a resolution in opposition to the Coercive Acts, 1774 (look at dates in refs)

Lexington and concord

“shot heard around the world”

second continental congress

meeting that convened in Philadelphia on may 10, 1775 at which an army was decided to be raised and Washington to be named commander in chief

Thomas pain

wrote common sense

common sense

a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that challenged the authority of the British

Thomas Jefferson

principle drafter of the declaration of independence, 2nd vice president of the US, 3rd president from 1801-1809

Declaration of Independence

document drafted by Tommie j. that declared the right of the American colonies to leave the British

social contract theory

the belief that the gov’t exists based on the consent of the governed

political culture

commonly shared attitudes, behaviors, and core values of how gov;t should operate

articles of confederation

compact between the OG 13 colonies that created a loose league of friendship

critical period

chaotic period from 1781-1789 after American Revolution, with the colonies being governed by the AOC

shays’s rebellion

a rebellion in which an army of 1500 farmers led by Daniel shays marched to forcibly restrain the state court from foreclosing mortgages on their farms

constitutional convention

meeting in 1787 that was first intended to revise the AOC but created the Consitution

George Washington

“father of the nation”, the first president

constitution

document establishing the structure, functions and limitations of a government

virginia plan

framework for constitution favored by large states

new jersey plan

framework for constitution favored by small states

great compromise

final decision of the Constitutional Convention to create a bicameral legislative, with the lower house elected by the people and powers divided between the 2 houses; also made national law supreme

3/5 compromise

agreement at constitutional convention saying that 3/5 of the slave population of each state was to be counted for determining population for representation in the House of Representatives

electoral college

system established by the Con. through which the president is chosen through electors from each state, with as many electoral votes as members of Congress

Alexander Hamilton

a key framer who envisioned a powerful central gov’t, co-authored The Federalist Papers, served as first secretary of the treasury

Montesquieu

French baron and political theorist

federalism

Distribution of constitutional authority between state and national governments

separation of powers

a way of dividing powers of gov’t among legislatives, executive, and judicial branches

checks and balances

Constitutionally mandated structure that gives each of the 3 branches of gov’t some degree of oversight and control of the others

article 1

gives legislative branch its powers

enumerated powers

powers of the national government specifically granted by Constitution

necessary and proper clause

final paragraph of article 1, gives congress the power to pass all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powers

implied powers

powers of the national government derived from the enumerated powers and necessary and proper clause

article 2

gives executive branch its powers

inherent powers

powers that belong to the president because they can be inferred from the constitution

article 3

establishes Supreme Court and defines its jurisdiction

article 4

mandates states honor the laws and judicial cases of other States

full faith and credit clause

ensures judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in another state

article 5

specifies how amendments can be added

article 6

contains supremacy clause

supremacy clause

mandating that national law is supreme over all other laws by the states and/or lower

federalists

those who favored a stronger national government

anti-federalists

those who favored strong state governments

James Madison

a key framer often called “father of the constitution”, coauthored the Federalist Papers

John jay

member of the foundering generation who was the first chief justice, coauthored federalist papers

The Federalist Papers

a series of 85 political essays written by those 3 in support of the ratification of the US Constitution

Bill of Rights

first 10 amendments to the US constitution, which largely guarantee specific rights and liberties