history democracy unit part 2 test flashcards

articles of confederation

initial governmnent

confederate system of government

a political system in which independent states form a nation but retain their power under a weak central government 

A weak national government

most powers remained at the state level

emphasized each state would retain sovereignty, freedom, and independence

Articles of Confederstion

it was reserved for the states

In articles of confederation, what happened to any power not specifically given to congress

1. declare war

2. negotiate with foreign countries

3. establish a postal system

Key power of congress under articles of confederation

landmark legislation

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

a model for all territories that later became part of the us

What was northwest ordinance of 1787 used as

established procedures for the creation of new states in the Northwest Territories

What did northwest ordinance of 1787 establish

Northwest Territory

region bounded by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers

1. lacked power to levy taxes

2. couldnt raise funds for Continental army

3. had to borrow money to pay for the revolution

Overall Articles of Confederation were a failure because

trade among states

congress also lacked power to control

trade barriers

states imposed what on eachother

led by a farmer, Daniel Shays, who was being heavily taxed by the state of Massachusetts led a rebellion against a federal arsenal

shays rebellion

1786

when was it apparent articles of confederation were not working

a constitutional convention

what was held to revise the articles

articles were scrapped and a new constitution was written

what is the bottom line

constitutionalism 

idea that government should be based n principles like popular sovereignty, limited government, rule of law, and majority rujle

majority rule

idea that decisions approved by more than half the people in a group or society will be accepted and observed by the people

executive, judicial and legislative branches

when articles scrapped, gov was seperated into

statement of individual rights (bill of rights)

all state constitutions began with a

Virginia Declaration of rights

(served as a model for other state constitutions and U.S. Bill of Rights)

1st bill of rights adopted

June 1775

When was Virginia Decleration of rights adopted

white men who payed taxes or owned propetry

power of states derived from people defined as

outlawed slavery

none of the 13 states

Pennsylvania

all of what state denied slaves equal rights as humanbeings

1. lack of money and power

Congress had no power to collect taxes

Congress had no power to regulate trade

Congress had no power to enforce its laws

first weaknesses of articles of confederation

Lack of Central Power

No single leader or group directed gov policy

No national court system existed

2nd weakness of articles of confederaton

rules too rigid

congress couldn’t pass laws without the approval of 9 states

the articles couldn’t be changed without the agreement of all 13 states

3rd weakness of articles of confederaton

May 25, 1787

When did constitutional convention begin

Rhode Island

consitutional convention included all states except

same place DOI was signed- in Philadephia at the Pennsylvania House also known as Independence Hall

where did convential constitution meet

all white men 

average age 42

oldest person was Ben Franklin at 81

George Washington, Alexander HAmilton, Roger Sherman, and James Madison

Not in attendance: Thomas Jefferson and John Adams ( serving as U.S. diplomats to Europe) Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry, who were suspicious of efforts to strengthen the central government

characteristics of ppl in Constitutional Convention

James Madison

Because of his work at the convention he is called Father of the Constituion

George Washington

presided over constitutional convention

rules of procedure that included a vow of secrecy

delegates in constitutional convention adopted

James Madison

national

3

make laws

carries out the law

interprets the law

bicameral or 2 house legislature

who wrote Virginia plan

favored a strong ? government

called for ? branches of government

legislative branch-

executive branch-

judicial branch-

proposed a

representation

population

Virginia Plan proposed ? in both houses based on state’s ?

it gave too much power to the national government

didn’t like the bicameral legislature

small states didn’t like it favored larger stated with bigger population 

Some didn’t like Virginia Plan because

June 13, William Patterson of New Jersey proposed New Jersey Plan

who made alternate plan

proposed amendments to the Articles of Confederation

a unicameral congress

all states would have equal representation

New Jersey Plan

smaller states like it because it favored smaller states

What states liked the New Jersey Plan and why

Roger Sherman of Conneticut

Who proposed great compromise to satisfy both sides

bicameral

representation 

house of representatives

Great compromise

provided a ? legislature

different forms of ? in both houses

senate

allowed equal representation in great compromise

house of representatives

in great compromise ? states would be based on states poulation