James Madison, the 'Federal Negative,' and the Making of the US Constitution

Summer 1787

Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

James Madison

Virginian, "Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

Federal Negative

Proposed by Madison, federal government would be able to veto any state law.

safeguard against

to protect something or someone from being harmed or having problems

unchecked

not controlled or restrained

Charles Pinckney

supporter of a strong central government, one of the most outspoken Federalists, from South Carolina

Revived

brought back to life

Vest

confer or bestow (power, authority, property, etc.) on someone

tumultuous

Riotous, violently agitated, marked by disturbance or uproar.

1783

Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolution

calamities

disasters or terrible misfortunes

insolvency

the inability to pay debts when they are due

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

contemptible

despicable

plaguing

bothering or troubling

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States

Sovereignty

Ability of a state to govern its territory free from control of its internal affairs by other states.

underlying

fundamental; lying below

footing

stability; the basis on which something is established or operates.

abundance

a great or plentiful amount.

living standards

the quality of housing, material comfort, and wealth experienced by an individual or group

cultivating

prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.

Assemblies

groups of people who meet to make laws

discretion

the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.

Sugar Act of 1764

Part of Prime Minister Grenville's revenue program, the act replaced the Molasses Act of 1733, and actually lowered the tax on sugar and molasses (which the New England colonies imported to make rum as part of the triangular trade) from 6 cents to 3 cents a barrel, but for the first time adopted provisions that would insure that the tax was strictly enforced; created the vice-admiralty courts; and made it illegal for the colonies to buy goods from non-British Caribbean colonies.

edict

an order issued by someone in authority

Stamp Act of 1765

This act required colonists to pay for an official stamp, or seal, when they bought paper items.

levied

impose (a tax, fee, or fine).

effigies

a mocking figure representing an unpopular individual

Implementation

the process by which a law or policy is put into operation

coalesced

joined together into a whole

Parliamentary Democracy

government in which voters elect representatives to a lawmaking body. In modern times, that body selects a Prime Minister.

strenuously

strongly or vigorously

redeploying

moving troops to new locations

Townsend Acts 1767

Placed duties (taxes) on imported glass, lead, paint, paper and tea and made it easier for tax collectors to get writs of assistance. Eventually the conflict between the colonists and British over this Act resulted in Boston Massacre.

riling

make someone annoyed

unruly

difficult or impossible to control; disobedient

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

bolster

support; prop up

byproduct

a side-effect; something produced in the making of something else

undercut

charge less for something than somebody else

lucrative

producing a great deal of profit

infringed

intruded upon land, rights, or privileges that belong to someone else

resorted

to do or use (something) especially because no other choices are possible

dissent

disagreement

unconventional

not ordinary or typical

formidable

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable

pressing

urgent

erect

to construct, to raise, to build

ad hoc

for this specific purpose; improvised

Popular Sovereignty

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

Suffrage

the right to vote

lodged

present (a complaint, appeal, claim, etc.) formally to the proper authorities.

envisaged

imagined

levy

to impose or collect, usually taxes

ostensibly (adverb)

apparently or purportedly (but perhaps not actually)

triggering

starting

Depreciation

A decrease or loss in value

parlance

a particular manner of speaking

Benjamin Franklin

1706-1790. One of the leading figures of early American history, was a statesman, author, publisher, scientist, inventor and diplomat.

domestic

native to a country, not foreign

creditor

A person to whom money is owed

insufficient

not enough

evade

escape or avoid

contention

heated disagreement

contentious

quarrelsome, inclined to argue

dire

(of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent.

maneuvering

move skillfully or carefully

General Horatio Gates

Led american forces to victory over British General Burgoyne in the Battle of Saratoga.

accord

agreement

undergird

support and strengthen

Unicameral

One-house legislature

Ratifying

approving

winding down

relaxing, calming after doing an activity

retain

to hold or keep

exclusive

not divided or shared with others

relative

considered in relation or in proportion to something else.

compel

to force someone to do something

discriminating

able to see differences; prejudiced

entitled

to have rights and privileges

ingress

the act of entering

regress

to go backward, to return

imposition

an unwelcome demand; a burden

commerce

trade

impose

to force someone to accept or put up with

Tariffs

Taxes on imported goods

incurred

brought about through one's own actions

defrayed

provide money to pay

Delegation

a body of delegates or representatives

mandated

required

consent

permission

amend

to change for the better

Ratification

Formal approval

viable

capable of living

John Quincy Adams

Son of John and Abigail Adams, served as the sixth President of the United States from 1825 to 1829. A member of multiple political parties over the years, he also served as a diplomat, a Senator, and a member of the House of Representatives

accumulated

gathered or collected

John Jay

United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)

conjecture

A guess, often one based on inadequate or faulty evidence

apparent

clearly visible or understood; obvious

appallingly

to a horrifying or shocking degree