AP U.S History Unit 3: Republic

What were the Articles of Confederation

A lose confederation between the 13 independent states tied together by shared common problems

What were the problems of the Articles of Confederation

• No executive branch

• No judicial branch

• Each state had a single vote - population had no effect

• To pass, all bills needed to have 9/13 states to agree 

• To ammend the articles, it required all 13 states to agree

• Congress couldn’t regulate commerce - tariffs were placed between states

• Couldn’t enforce tax collection properly - no way of actually raising revenue, they had to ask the states for money

Why were the articles of confederation purposely weak

because the Americans were fearful of a return to British despotism, therefore that is why no executive branch was included, and why congress couldn’t levy taxes

What was an advantage of the articles of confederation

it kept the idea of union alive through the early life of the American republic, and was a stepping stone towards the constitution

What was the old Northwest

Land acquired by congress following their victory in the revolutionary war

What was the land ordinace of 1785

Areas of the old Northwest should be sold to help pay off the national debt

What was the Northwest ordinace of 1787

• With land being sold to settlers it established that an area of land would come under the “tutelage” of the federal government" and once it hit 60,000 settlers it would be admitted as a state with equal rights

• Banned slavery in the new states in this region

How was Britain still hostile to America even after losing the revolutionary war

• Refused to send an ambassador to America

• Refused to repeal the navigation acts - this made sure that American trade would default and go through British shipping channels 

• Closed the British West Indies to American traders

• Supported Indian revolts against Americans

• Kept soldiers along the Northern frontier 

  • maintain trade with the Indians

  • Could have been due to America not honouring fair treatment of loyalists and not paying their pre-revolutionary debts

How was Spain hostile to America following the end of the revolutionary war

• 1784 - closed American commerce along the missisippi

• Schemed with Indians to frustrate American pioneers and settlers which led to a lack of order in certain regions and undermined American power

How was France hostile to America following the end of the revolutionary war 

• Demanded payment for supporting the Americans in the revolutionary war

What was a consequence of America being independent of Britain

Didn’t have protection from the royal navy, therefore major raiding by north African pirates took place on American merchant ships

What was the economic crisis in the United States following their victory in the revolutionary war 

They were going broke, losing credit, and states were charging taxes on good from other states

What was Shay’s rebellion and its significance

• A rebellion led by disgruntled veterans in Western Massachusetts, who were angry at their loss of land and economic disparity 

• Significance: While ultimately crushed easily, it alarmed many who were in elite, they viewed the weak articles of confederation allowing a rebellion to take place, and that the idea of liberty could wet the appitite of the peasents, leading to their downfall

• Significance: Conservatives then upplayed the severity of the situation, stating that it affected the union as a whole, to make congress amend the articles 

• Significance: All believed in ammendments to the articles, viewed as weak

  • Conservatives: Worried for their wealthy positions in society

  • Revolutionaries: Better maintain the ideas of the revolution

  • Poor: protection of their liberties 

What was the scenario leading up to the constitutional convention

• Problems over commerce was the main problem that parked this congress

• Virginia called a meeting at Annepolis but no one came - Hamilton stated that a meeting should be held the following year in Phillidelphia to strengthen the articles

• 55 delegates were elected to represent 12 states - Rhode Island sent no delegate

• Washington presided over the congress - Jefferson in France, Adams in England

What type of men were at the constituional congress

Wealthy men, from rich backgrounds 

What did the delegates hope to achieve at the constitutional congress

They hoped to transform the revolutionary ideas into a strong central authority

• Sought to protect Americans abroad - Dey of Algeria

• Wanted control over commerical treaties - hostility of British merchants

• Avoid anarchy and uprising - Shay’s rebellion 

What was the Virginia plan and New Jersey plan

• Virginia plan: The house in the bicameral legislature should be based upon population - represented large state interests

• New Jersey plan: Equal representation of states in a unicameral legislature - represented smaller state interests 

What was the Great Compromise

Represenatation based on population was conceded to the larger states in the form of the house of representatives while equal representation with two delegates per state was conceded to the smaller states in the form of the senate 

Why was the constitution short

Because it was born out of the Anglo-American common law - this made it unnesecary to be specific about every detail

What was the executive branch

Outlined in article 2 of the constitution it established a robust but legally refrained president - has the power to veto any law put forth from congress and can approve budgets 

What was the electoral college compromise

A compromise on electing the president, this meant he was elected indirectly as the electoral college was based upon the states share of electors and population 

What was the Three-fifths compromise

The south wanted slaves to be considered in representation (helping their influence) while the north did not want this (diminish their influence) - therefore they came to the agreement that slaves would represent 3/5 of a person

What was the slave trade compromise

The slave trade was allowed to continue to operate and the importation of slaves was allowed up until 1807, when the central government could ban the practice 

What were three things that conservative delegates kept in mind when at the convention 

• Money and the protection of private property 

• Favoured a stronger government with three branches to keep their interests safe

• Government by anarchy and mob rule could result without a strong central government

How was conservatism present in the constitution

• Judges to be appointed for life by the president - prevents political pressure and ensures they rule by the constitution

• The president elected indriectly - less chance of mob rule 

• Senators chosen indriectly by state legislators

• Direct vote only permitted in the house 

What did the constitution guarantee

Limited government and social contract - the authority of the people was the ultimate guarantee of authority

Why would it be difficult for the constitution to be rattifed and how did the constitutional convention overcome this difficulty 

According to the old articles of confedertion to make an ammendment to the articles all 13 states had to agree, however the convention stipulated that once 9/13 states had agreed to the constitution it would be put into law 

How did the states vote on whether to ratify the constitution or not

Special conventions were elected and organised to debate and ratify the constitution - therefore leadfrogging state governments and going more to the people 

Who were the antifederalists

They opposed a strong central government

They consisted of:

• State rights devotees

• Backcounty dwellers 

• Debtors 

• Poorest classes

Who were the federalists 

Supported a strong central government 

Consisted of:

• Wealthy

• Educated

• Had the support of the influential

What were the main concerns of the anti-federalists in relation to the constitution

• They were worried that states rights were being submerged

• They were also alarmed at the lack of an explicit bill of rights

What was the intital views of many states in regards to the constitution and why did they change 

Many states orignally held anti-federalists views however, with promises by the central government ot ammend the constitution and add a bill of rights many states ratified the document

Which four states were slow to ratify the constitution and why did the finally end up ratifying it

• New York - heated division between the federalists and anti-federalists however, with the publication of the federalist papers, it convinced many of the advantages of a strong federal government

• Virginia - Heated division and debate between the two groups, orignally very anti-federalist but realising they couldn’t prosper without ratification led to Virginia ratifying it

• Rhode Island - only ratified it after realising it could prosper economically without ratifying it 

• North Carolina - only ratified it after realising it could prosper economically without ratifying it 

How did the ratifcation of the constitution both represent a conservative triumph and the continuation of republican and revolutionary ideals

The minority conservatives had overthrown the articles and erected safeguards against mobs while the republican gains of the revolutions persisted 

Through checks and balances and limited government the constitution reconciled liberty with order 

How did the federalists redefine popular sovreignty

Every branch of the new government represented the people

What were some equality movements occuring at the same time as the ratification of the constitution

• States reduced property holding requirments for voting 

• 1784 indentured servants in America were freed

• Employers were called boss instead of master - shift in view

• Hereditary societies were riddiculed 

What occured with the relationship between the church and the state during this period

They became increasingly secularised: Virginia statue for religious freedoms (1784) - guaranteed relgious freedoms in Virginia 

What was occuring with slavery in the northern states

Slavery was outlawed in some of the northern states while some instituted a phased elimination of the practice

Why was the domestic slave trade growing during this period

With the rise of cotton and the banning of the international slave trade

What was the relationship between emancipated African-Americans and whites

They were heavily discriminated against and laws emerged against interaccial marraige

Why was slavery allowed to continue to exist

Because the main concern of the union was preserving it, and the issues of slavery could have divided it

Did the political rights of women change

no

What was the idea of civic virtue and republican motherhood

Civic virtue: democracy depended on the unselfish commitment of each citizen to the public good

Republican motherhood - elevated women to a newly prestigious role as the special keepers of the national concienecss which took hold due to the civic virtue of mothers toward the children - this led to better educational oppurutnites emerging for women in hopes of them cultivating a better mind for their son

With settlers expanding across the appalachian mountains what new states were admitted to the union

Vermont, Kentuckey, Ohio, and Tenessee

With the election of a president in 1789, who was elected and what did he set up

George Washington was uniaminously elected president and set up a cabinet which included: secretary of state, treasury, and war 

What were the first 10 ammendments to the constitution (the bill of rights)

• Freedom of religion, press, speech, assembly, and petition

• Right to bear arms

• No one can be forced to house soldiers during peace time 

• No unreasonable searches and seizures 

• The right to due process

• Right to a public and speedy trial

• Right to a jury

• No cruel and excessive punishments

• The rights protected in the bill of rights aren’t the only rights protected

• Reserves rights not explicitly stated in the constitution for the states

Who wrote the bill of rights

James Maddison

What was the Judiciary act of 1789

Organized the supreme court with one chief justice and five associates, as well as establishing federal district and cirucit courts as well as the office of the attorney general 

What was Hamiltons goal and what was his aim?

To fix the economic troubles of the new union, in doing so he wanted to shape fiscal policy to favour the wealthy who would in turn lend the government money and political support, therefore supporting the federal government 

How did Hamilton plan to secure the loans he needed from the wealthy

He needed to bolster the national credit but couldn’t secure the nessecary debts due to the lack of public confidence in the government so he asked congress to fund his endavour in two ways: Funding at par, and Assumption

What was Funding at par

The federal government would pay off the debts at face value and accumilate interest

What was assumption

Hamilton wanted the federal government to shoulder more debt so he convinced congress to take on the deby incurred by states during the revolutionary war which would help him accumilate more credit as he would take on state creditors 

What was the reaction of states to Hamiltons economic policy

Many states liked this but to states like Virginia (which had payed of their debt) it was seen as further enchaining the states to the union - a compromise was reached - capital in the south for support from Jefferson to pass the bill

Why did Hamilton implement customs duties and excise taxes

Hamilton believed the more creditors to whom the government owed money to the more people there would be with a personal stake in the sucess of his ambitions 

What were the tarrif laws implemented by Hamitlon

Sought to raise revenue by implementing a 8% tariff on dutiable imports - it was also meant to protect agricultural industries which congress was very concenred about - Hamilton viewed industry and manufacturing as the future and needed to be protected but congress ignored him

What was the excise tax implented by Hamilton

Mainly on whiskey in the back counties

Why did Hamilton want a national bank and what form would it take

He wanted a national bank similair to England in which a private institution where the government would be a major stockholder and the federal treasury would get surplus money 

Federal funds would stay in circulation stimulating businesses

The bank would also print a stable national currency 

Why did Jefferson oppose Hamiltons national bank

He viewed it as more encroachment on states rights and the continued binding of the federal government to the state government as well as the fact that Jefferson believed that the federal government didn’t have the authority to set up a national bank as it wasn’t explicitly stated in the constituion 

How was Hamilton able to circumvent Jeffersons claim that the constitution didn’t enable the creation of a national bank

Hamilton responded by drawing on the nessecary and proper clause in the constitution that the government was granted explicit power over collecting taxes and trade, therefore by implied powers congress could establish a national bank to better carry out its goals 

What was the Whiskey Rebellion

In response to Hamiltons excise tax on whiskey a group of rebels emerged in the backcounties, however, when Washington raised an army put down the rebellion they dispersed and Washington granted amnistey to those captured 

What emerged in reaction to Hamiltonian policy

Political parties, the federalists began to form and in opposition the Democratic-Republicans led by Jefferson and Maddison who were worried about the ever growing power of the federal government 

What was the popular reaction to the outbreak of the French revolution

It was met with excitment as it was viewed as an extension of the American revolution

What was the view of conservatives as the revolution became more and more bloody

The conservative federalists grew ever more worried and viewed the Jeffersonian masses as a threat

What was the neutrality procclomation (1793)

Washington delcared neutrality in the conflict between Britain and France due to his belief that the united states was millitarily, economically, and politically weak and needed time to further consolidate its power before asserting its self on the global stage 

What affect did this procolmoation have on Jeffersonians

It alienated many of them 

How was conflict with Britain almost a thing

• Britain didn’t want to exit the lucrative fur trade therefore still maintained forts in positions which had been sceded to the united states, a violation of the peace treaty 

• Britain supplied weapons to Indian tribes (Miami confederation) they hoped to check the ambitions of the Americans - led to American conflicts with the Indians but following the Battle of Fallen Timbers Britain abandoned their allies

• Britain seized American merchant ships and sailors and forced them to work on British ships - this was done by Britain to secure the Atlantic because American trade with the French West Indies undermined British advantage over France 

What was the Treaty of Greenville

Following the conflict with the miami confederation the Americans secured vast amounts of the old northwest in reutrn for monetary compensation, right to hunt, and recognition of their sovreignty 

Why did the Federalists still want to avoid war

Hamilton needed trade with Britain to bolster his economic plan

What was the Jay treaty

A treaty that secured peace with Britain but also saw major concessions made to keep the peace

• Britain promised to evacuate the forts on American soil

• Britain agreed to pay for the ships it had seized 

• Britain demanded that pre-revolutionary debts be paid

What was the reaction to the Jay treaty

• It enraged the Jeffersonians as it was seen as bending to the will of Britain

• It also infurated southerners who had to pay up on debts while the northern federalists recieved compensation for their seized merchant ships

What was the Pickney treaty (1795)

Fears of Anglo-American alliance led to Spanish concessions 

• Free navigation of the Missisippi

• The right to depost at New Orleans and Florida

What was the significance of Washingtons farewell adress 

• Stepped down from office following his second term - set a precedent 

• Warned against long term alliances which could divide the nation

With Hamiltons growing unpopularity who was chosen to replace him as the Federalist candidate in the ensuing election

John Adams 

Who were the High federalists

Led by Hamilton they undermined the power of Adams and favoured war with France

What was the X,Y,Z affair

In hopes of avoiding conflict with France Adams sent three representatives to meet with the French foreign minister, after arriving in France the french spokesman demanded three things

• Uneutral loan of 32 million dollars 

• A personal bribe of 250,000 dollars

What was the significance of the X,Y,Z affair

It was viewed as an outrage in America and sent war hysteria throughout the nation, helped push along war preperations - the navy was expanded, new army authorised (not raised) 

What was the Quasi War

Undeclared war with France which saw mainly conflict between France and America at sea

Even with the new found popularity following the X,Y,Z affair what did John Adams still want

He still wanted peace with France and recieved the new French foreign minister - the High federalists were outraged but the Jeffersonians gave Adams praise 

What was the convention of 1800

Talleyrand wanted peace

• It annuled the 22 year treaty between France and America

• United states agreed to pay damages made by American ships

• Avoided conflict with France and paved the way for the Louisiana purchase 

What were the Alien Acts

• It rased the residence requirments for aliens who desired to become citizens from 5 to 14 years 

• It also allowed the president to deport dangeours foreigners during peace and deport or imprison during wartime 

What were the Sedition acts

• Targeted freedom of speech and the press

• Anyone who impeded the policies of the government or falsely defamed its officals would be liable to fine and imprisonment - many Jeffersonian editors were indicted - ten brought to trial and convicted 

Why didn’t the supreme court strike the sedition act down as unconstitutional 

Because it was filled with federalists who supported the policies of their party 

What was Jefferson and Maddisons response to the Alien and Sedition Acts

To draft the Kentuckey (Jefferson) and Virginia (Maddison) resolution

What was the Kentuckey resolution and by extent the Virginia resolution

Invoking the compact theory - the idea that in creating a federal government the 13 states had entered into a compact regarding its juristiction, therefore the states could be the final judges of whether the federal government had overstepped its original authority - Jefferson argued that the federal government had overstepped its boundaries and in regards to the alien and sedition acts all 13 states could nullify the law (resurectted a idea of the articles of confederation)

What was the popular reaction to the Kentuckey and Virginia resolutions

Largely rejected and condemned but was born out of a worry that democracy was being eroded, Jefferson sought to oppose the federalists 

Who were the federalists: their beliefs and make up

Advocated for a strong central government

• Crush revolts 

• Subordinate sovreignty of states 

• Promote foreign trade 

• Support private enterprise

Federalists contained:

• Merchants

• Manufactuers

• Shippers

• Upper class

• Tories

Who were the Democratic-Republicans: their beliefs and make up

Advocated for a weak central government

• The best governance was the one that governed least

• Power should be retained by the states 

• People could keep an eye on their public servants 

• Strict interpretation of the constitution 

Democratic-Republicans contained

• Agrarians 

• Agricultural south and southwest 

• Lower class

• Southern Plantations 

• Immigrants 

What was the difference between foreign policy between the Federalists and Democratic republicans 

Federalists - Wanted to go outward and trade with the world

Democratic-Republicans - wanted to focus inward on the nations problems 

What was Jeffersons belief in government

He believed in government for all people but not by all people, he didn’t believe in landless and illiterate people participating in government - like slavery