U.S. Founding Fathers, Constitution, and Early Political Developments

George Washington

First U.S. President; set many precedents like the two-term limit and neutrality in foreign affairs.

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury; supported a strong central government and founded the Federalist Party.

Thomas Jefferson

Wrote the Declaration of Independence; 3rd President; favored states' rights and led the Democratic-Republicans.

John Adams

2nd President; strong Federalist who passed the Alien and Sedition Acts.

John Jay

Co-writer of The Federalist Papers; first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution"; co-wrote The Federalist Papers; later became 4th President.

Henry Knox

First Secretary of War under Washington; organized the early U.S. Army.

Edmund Randolph

First U.S. Attorney General; proposed the Virginia Plan at the Constitutional Convention.

Aaron Burr

Jefferson's Vice President; killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

John Dickinson

Drafted the Articles of Confederation; supported independence but favored compromise.

Articles of Confederation

America's first constitution; created a weak national government.

Constitutional Convention (Philadelphia Convention)

1787 meeting to fix the Articles; resulted in the U.S. Constitution, called the 'Bundle of Compromises.'

Federalist Papers

Essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay promoting ratification of the Constitution.

Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10)

First ten amendments protecting individual rights like speech, religion, and trial by jury.

Farewell Address (Washington)

Warned against political parties, permanent alliances, and sectionalism (WEAR: Warned against European Affairs and Rivalries).

Judiciary Act of 1789

Created the federal court system and the Supreme Court.

Proclamation of Neutrality (1793)

Washington's declaration that the U.S. would remain neutral in European wars.

Popular Sovereignty

The people are the ultimate source of government power.

Limited Government

Government powers are restricted by the Constitution.

Federalism

Power is divided between national and state governments.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial).

Checks and Balances

Each branch can limit the others' powers.

Judicial Review

Courts can declare laws unconstitutional (Marbury v. Madison).

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its duties.

Strict vs. Loose Interpretation

Strict: government only does what the Constitution says (Jefferson); Loose: government can take implied powers (Hamilton).

Shays' Rebellion (1786-87)

Farmer uprising in Massachusetts showing weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

Farmers protested a whiskey tax; Washington sent troops, proving federal power.

Revolution of 1800

Peaceful transfer of power from Federalists (Adams) to Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson).

3/5 Compromise

Counted enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for representation and taxation.

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Congress could regulate trade but not ban the slave trade until 1808.

Virginia Plan

Favored large states; representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Favored small states; equal representation per state.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Combined both plans: House by population, Senate by equal vote.

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Created a process for territories to become states; banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Federalists

Led by Hamilton; wanted strong central government, industry, and ties with Britain.

Democratic-Republicans

Led by Jefferson; favored states' rights, farming, and ties with France.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed Constitution; demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms.

Amendment 13

Abolished slavery (1865).

Amendment 19

Gave women the right to vote (1920).

Amendment 26

Lowered voting age to 18 (1971).