Unit 2 Constitutional Foundations

Salutary Neglect

an English policy of relaxing the enforcement of regulations in its colonies in return for the colonies' continued economic loyalty

Stamp Act

1765; law that taxed printed goods, including: playing cards, documents, newspapers, etc.

French and Indian War

(1754-1763) War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won.

First Continental Congress

Delagates from all colonies except georgia met to discuss problems with britain and to promote independence

Treaty of Pairs 1783

Officially ended the Revolutionary War, Britain recognized U.S. independence

Townshend Acts

A tax that the British Parliament passed in 1767 that was placed on leads, glass, paint, and tea

Second Continental Congress

They organized the Continental Army, called on the colonies to send troops, selected George Washington to lead the army, and appointed the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence

Boston Massacre

The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans

Proclamation of 1763

law forbidding English colonists to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains

Tea Act of 1773

Law passed by parliament allowing the British East India Company to sell its low-cost tea directly to the colonies - undermining colonial tea merchants; led to the Boston Tea Party

Common Sense

A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that claimed the colonies had a right to be an independent nation

writ of assistance

court document allowing customs officers to enter any location to search for smuggled goods

Coercive Acts

This series of laws were very harsh laws that intended to make Massachusetts pay for its resistance. It also closed down the Boston Harbor until the Massachusetts colonists paid for the ruined tea. Also forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their own homes.

Sugar Act

law passed by the British Parliament setting taxes on molasses and sugar imported by the colonies

Declaration of Independence

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state.

Intolerable Acts

in response to the Boston Tea Party, 4 acts were passed in 1774, Port of Boston closed, reduced the power of assemblies in colonies, permitted royal officers to be tried elsewhere, provided for quartering of troops in barns and empty houses

Constitution

A written plan of government

3/5 Compromise

-each slave would count for 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation purposes

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Articles of Confederation

the first basis for the new nation's government; adopted in 1781; created an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government

Separation of Powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

delegated powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Ratify

to approve

Confederation

a loose association or league of states

Legislative Branch

Makes laws

Executive Branch

Enforces laws

Judicial Branch

Interprets the laws

Virginia Plan

Proposal to create a strong national government

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Popular Sovereignty

A government in which the people rule by their own consent.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

Great Compromise

A compromise made by the Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Electoral College

A group of persons, called electors, who are selected by the voters in each state. This group officially elects the president and the vice president of the United States.