unit 1

vocab

Federal

another name for the central or nationally government

Declaration of Independence

Our “breakup letter” with Great Britain. It lists a number of grievances against the British and declared that all men have “natural rights” such as “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” It is full of Enlightenment ideals. It is a foundational document but NOT a law

Legislative

The branch of government that makes the laws

Senate

the chamber of Congress that bases representation on equality: 2 per state

ratification

formal approval

antifederalists

they opposed the ratification of the constitution

bicameral

the type of legislature that resulted from the Great (Connecticut) compromise. A mix between the VA plan and the NJ Plan

john locke

this enlightenment philosopher believed that a government should ensure that all men have the right to “Life, Liberty, and Property” Thomas Jefferson borrowed from him in the Declaration of Independence

House

the chamber of Congress that bases representation on population

representative democracy

the type of democracy that we have in the United States

Shays

His rebellion showed that the federal government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation to deal with an insurgency or domestic uprising (showed a need for a stronger national government)

James Madison

Considered the “Father of the Constitution”

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution

Federalist Papers

Written to encourage the ratification of the Constitution

Constitution

replaced the Articles, gave more powers to the national government, added a Bill of Rights to placate Anti-Federalists, and a necessary and proper clause (which anti-federalists did not like)

Federalists

they favored the ratification of the constitution

3/5

because slave states wanted to count the slave population when determining the number of their representatives in the legislature (even though they were treated like animals), the free states agreed to count slaves as this much of a person

executive

the branch of government that enforces the laws. All of the agencies such as the EPA, NASA, SEC, FBI, CIA, and a zillion others fall under this branch too.

bill of rights

the first ten amendments added to the Constitution, they were added to ensure ratification by the states. They were favored by the Anti-Federalists.

seperation of powers

It describes the structure of the federal government that forbids any brnach from becoming too powerful by dividing responsibilities

Federalist No. 51

the federalist paper that describes checks and balances as an effective guard against tyranny

Brutusi

“Anti-federalist” papers, argues against a strong national government and weary of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause

Judicial

the branch of government that interprets the laws. appointed by the president and confirmed with the “advice and consent” of the senate

republican

the form of government that James Madison, in federalist no. 10, argues is the cure to divisive interest groups.

Whiskey

This rebellion, in contrast to Shay’s, demonstrated that the Constitution was strong enough to stop a domestic revolt

Factions

this term in federalist no. 10 described the divisive interest groups that could tear a country apart. They can never be eliminated, but their negative effects can be lessened with a large republic with checks and balances.

States

had most of the power under the Articles