Creating a Nation (Enlightenment to 1860)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the development of the American nation from the Enlightenment to 1860, including key rebellions, court cases, influential figures, and founding documents.

Shay's Rebellion

A rebellion led by Daniel Shay involving $1,200$ farmers against new taxes which demonstrated the weakness of the federal government.

Whiskey Rebellion

An uprising triggered by the new government's tax on whiskey, which was used as money on the frontier; it was suppressed after George Washington rode out with a large army.

Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions

Anonymously written documents that attacked the Alien and Sedition Acts and suggested that states did not have to obey laws they deemed unconstitutional.

Sedition Act

A law that made it illegal to criticize the government, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and expulsion from the country.

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court case that established the power of judicial review, allowing the court to review the constitutionality of laws or Presidential acts.

McCulloch v. Maryland

A case that upheld the constitutionality of the US Bank by applying the "implied powers of congress" clause of the Constitution.

Cohens v. Virginia

A case that reasserted the authority of federal courts over state courts, arguing states surrendered some rights for federal protection when Joining the union.

Gibbons v. Ogden

A ruling that strengthened federal power over interstate trade by declaring the federal government alone has the authority to oversee it.

First Industrial Revolution

Occurred between $1800-1860$ and was characterized by manufacturing and textile mills primarily in the North.

Voltaire

Also known as Francois-Marie Arouet, he was a philosopher who advocated for civil liberties like freedom of religion and free trade.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The philosopher responsible for creating the theory of modern republicanism.

Baron de Montesquieu

The individual who created the concept of separation of powers within a government.

John Locke

A philosopher who stated all men have natural rights and enter a contract with government; if the government violates these rights, people have the power to rebel.

James Madison

The main author of the Constitution and the fourth President of the United States.

George Washington

The first President of the United States and the General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

John Adams

The second President of the United States.

Thomas Jefferson

The third President of the United States and main author of the Declaration of Independence, which referred to natural rights as "inalienable rights."

Fredrick Douglass

A former slave who published an abolitionist newspaper called the North Star.

Andrew Jackson

The American President during a period when the average person gained a larger role in the republican government and sought social reform.

Abigail Adams

The wife of John Adams who requested he "remember the ladies" at the Constitutional Convention to secure voting power for women.

John Marshall

The first Chief Supreme Court Justice who established federal court power through cases like Marbury v. Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland.

Declaration of Independence

A public statement signed on July $4^{th}$, $1776$, explaining why the $13$ British colonies were rebelling against King George III.

Constitution

The framework for the second government formed at the Constitutional Convention after the Articles of Confederation were discarded.

Second Treatise of Government

A work published by John Locke in $1690$ arguing that government is based on a contract between the people and their ruler.

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

A document written by Thomas Jefferson that prohibited state-sponsored religion and influenced the Constitution's freedom of religion clause.

Federalist No. 10

An essay written by James Madison arguing that a federal republic would prevent factions from seizing control of the government.

Federalist No. 51

An essay attributed to either Madison or Hamilton arguing that the separation of powers would protect the rights of the people.

Federalist No. 59

An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing that Congress should have the final say in presidential elections.

Washington's Farewell Address

A printed message in which Washington warned the nation against permanent peace-time alliances, political parties, and sectionalism.

Enlightenment

A time period defined by the belief that physical world and human nature laws could be discovered through reason and logic.

Republic

A form of government where the leaders are chosen by the people.

Articles of Confederation

The first government established after independence, which failed because it gave too much power to the states.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting intended to fix the Articles of Confederation that resulted in the formation of a new government under the Constitution.

Great Compromise

An agreement to divide Congress into the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (where each state has $2$ votes).

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise where a slave was counted as $\frac{3}{5}$ths of a person for population counting in the House of Representatives.

Federalists

Individuals who supported the Constitution because it centered most power within the federal government.

Anti-Federalists

Individuals who opposed the Constitution because they wanted more power to remain with the states.

Bill of Rights

The first $10$ amendments to the Constitution which explicitly state the civil rights belonging to the people.