US History I H - Shaping the New Nation

1st Amendment

• freedom of speech

• freedom of the press

• freedom of religion

• right to assemble

• right to petition

2nd Amendment

• right to a militia

• right to keep and bear arms

3rd Amendment

• protection from the quartering of troops

4th Amendment

• protection from unreasonable search and seizure

• warrant required

5th Amendment

• due process

• right to a grand jury

• no double jeopardy

  • can’t be tried twice for the same crime

• right against self incrimination

• eminent domain

  • government must give proper compensation before taking property

6th Amendment

• trial by impartial jury

• speedy, public, and local trial

• right to confront accusers

• right to an attorney

7th Amendment

• right to a trial by jury in civil suits over $20

8th Amendment

• no excessive bail

• no excessive fines

• no cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

• protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution

10th Amendment

• powers not listed in the Constitution are reserved to the states

Articles of Confederation

• first government framework in the US

  • declared war, made peace, signed treaties

  • borrow money

  • set up post offices

  • deal with Native Americans

• established a weak central government and a loose union of states

• failed

  • couldn’t levy taxes

  • couldn’t regulate trade

  • couldn't enforce laws

  • couldn’t raise money to repay foreign loans

  • states followed their own interests

  • only 1 vote in Congress for each state

  • needed all 13 states to pass an amendment → nothing got passed

Shays’ Rebellion

• first major armed rebellion in post-Revolutionary War US

• farmers in western MA suffered from high debt as they tried to start new farms → farms were seized & farmers were thrown in prison if they couldn’t pay debts

• farmers led by Daniel Shays rebelled in 1786 by closing courts (Northhampton/Springfield) and liberating imprisoned debtors

• MA Gov. James Bowdoin crushed the rebellion by winter 1787 but discontent was widespread and such rebellions (smaller) continued in other states

Annapolis Convention

• called by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in 1786

• only 5 states sent delegates to discuss interstate trade and economic issues

• revealed weakness of the federal government and the need for a stronger national framework

Constitutional Convention

• 55 delegates from 12 states (except RI) met in 1787

• meant to fix Articles of Confederation → ended up completely rewriting it

• George Washington unanimously elected presiding officer

• discussed representation of small vs large states, slaves, division/separation of powers, electoral college

Virginia Plan

• proposed by James Madison

• bicameral legislature

• representation based on population of each state → benefited larger states

New Jersey Plan

• proposed by William Patterson

• unicameral legislature

• equal representation for each state → benefited smaller states

Great Compromise

• agreement proposed by Roger Sherman at Constitutional Convention in 1787

• solved the issue of representation of states

• bicameral legislature

  • House of Representatives had proportional representation

  • Senate had equal representation

Three-Fifths Compromise

• agreement at Constitutional Convention in 1787

• increased the political power of slave-holding states

• counted each slave as 3/5 of a person to inflate population counts but denied the slaves basic rights

true democracy

government ruled directly by the people

republic

government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

confederation

alliance in which members hold most of the power

popular sovereignty

idea that government is created by and follows the will of the people

federalism

power is divided between national and state governments

checks and balances

system that prevents any branch of government from becoming too powerful

Electoral College

• process of electing the US president and vice president

• each state receives electors equal to the total amount of representatives it gets in Congress

  • casts ballot for presidential candidate on behalf of voters

• most states use a winner-takes-all system, where the candidate who wins the state’s popular vote gets all electoral votes for that state

ratify

officially approve

Federalists

supported the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

• opposed the Constitution and strong national government due to fear of tyranny and oppression → wanted more power to belong to the states

• demanded a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution to protect people’s rights and freedoms

Legislative Branch

creates laws

powers

• introduces laws

• coins money

• declares war

• overrides a presidential veto

• borrows money on behalf of the US

Judicial Branch

interprets laws

powers

• declares laws unconstitutional

• issues judgement in cases

Executive Branch

carries out laws

powers

• signs bills into law

• nominates Supreme Court justices

• vetoes bills

• issues a pardon

• serves as commander-in-chief of the army and navy

• makes treaties

House of Representatives

• representation by state population

• 2 year terms

• no term limits

• led by Speaker of the House

• power of purse → control government spending and taxation

Senate

• equal representation

• 6 year terms

• no term limits

• led by Vice President

• minority and majority leader