Studied by 104 PeopleTags & Description
Anti-Federalists
Against big national government and ratifying the constitution- wanted states to have more power - ex: Jefferson - argued that the constitution: - gave some ppl too much pwr - gave nat gov too much pwr - does not protect ppl's rights - states will lose pwr - nat courts will overrule state courts Anti-feds eventually ratified the constitution with the compromise of adding the bill of rights
articles of confederation
a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states; it provided a legal symbol of their alliance by giving the central government no coercive power over the states or their citizens - First Constitution of USA - ALLIANCE of states (not union) - National government was a weak congress
Why did the Articles of confederation fail?
- could not raise enough money from states to finance war - states did not have to listen to congress nor their treaties - congress could NOT tax states - congress could NOT draft soldiers - no chief executive or national court system - could not regulate interstate trade
What did the articles of confederation succeed at?
- Land Ordinance of 1785 - created an orderly system for future settlement - provided national gov w some revenue - Northwest Ordinance of 1787 - established system for adding a state - territory w pop. of 60k would become a state - guaranteed freedom of religion and outlawed slavery
Bank of the US
Hamilton's financial plan for the US Big prob: Is it constitutional? - Congress authorizes its creation w the "elastic clause" of the constitution ( the bank was "necessary and proper" to carry out the constitution–collecting taxes–) - Democratic Republicans didn't like this (strict interp) - believed this helps wealthy and not common ppl
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments to the constitution establishes basic rights of Americans - ex: 1st: freedom of speech/religion/etc., 2nd: bare arms, added to the constitution to appease anti-federalists
Census
updates pop.
used to determine representation (# of seats in the house)
electoral college
the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice president
great compromise
aka great Connecticut compromise
created a bicameral legislature.
house of rep: prop to pop. (proportional rep)
senate: 2 per state (equal rep)
bigger states wanted prop rep, smaller states wanted equal rep.
implied powers
political powers granted to the United States government that aren't explicitly stated in the Constitution
indirect taxation
duties, imposts, and excises, which must be uniform throughout the country
interstate commerce
transacting or transportation of products, services, or money across state borders
constitution gave congress pwr to regulate interstate trade
Jay treaty
reaction to Britain attacking American ships during French rev.
American "neutrality" was being ignored
American soldiers were impressed (kidnapped)
Jay's Treaty (1794)
Britain would not pay for damage to US ships
refuse to attack American ships
abandon fur posts on northwest
Americans were MAD abt this treaty
Judiciary Act of 1789
signed into law by Pres.Washington in 1789
established the structure and jurisdiction of the federal court system and created the position of attorney general
deemed unconstitutional by Supreme court in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Land Ordinance of 1785
created an orderly system for future settlement provided gov w rev
(ppl could buy land from gov)
New Jersey Plan
equal state representation
supported by small states: Delaware, Rhode Island, Georgia, NH, NJ
Peace of Paris (1783)
ended the American Revolution and formally recognized the United States as an independent nation
Pickney's treaty (1794)
Washington's foreign policy
agreed to open Mississippi River to US shipping
settled boarders w Spanish Florida
"Right to deposit" (to transfer goods for free to ocean using vessels)
protective tariff
a tariff imposed on imports to protect domestic firms from import competition (raises revenue and protects US industries from foreign comp.)
part of Hamilton's financial plan for revenue
solved issue of America being deep in debt and unable to compete w European manufacturers
Report on the Public Credit
analyzed the financial standing of the United States and made recommendations to reorganize the national debt and to establish the public credit.
Report on Manufactures
Book by Hamilton presented to congress in 1791
Hamilton argued that the nation's primary industry should be manufacturing rather than agriculture
republican government
state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy
rights of the accused
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the rights to:
a public trial without unnecessary delay
a lawyer
an impartial jury,
know who your accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you.
separation of powers
Separation of Fed. gov. into three branches:
legislative branch: makes the laws
executive branch: enforces the laws
judicial branch: interprets the laws
Shay’s Rebellion
armed uprising in Massachusetts in response to a debt crisis and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes
exposed the weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation and led many—including George Washington—to call for strengthening the federal government in order to put down future uprisings.
basically led to the constitution being written
Virginia Plan
Population determines representation (proportional rep.)
supported by large states: virginia, Penn, NC, Mass, Maryland, NY
led to Great Compromise
John Dickinson
Wrote the articles of confederation
George Mason
Anti-federalist,
Renowned for his authorship of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and the Virginia Bill of Rights and Constitution
Thomas Pinckney
Federalist, Negotiated Pinckney's treaty (opened Mississippi river to US shipping, boarders w Florida, “right to deposit”)