Lecture Notes: Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Brutus No. 1, Federalist No. 10, and Factions - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Brutus No. 1, Federalist No. 10, and key faction-related concepts.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring the American colonies independent from Britain and outlining natural rights and the reasons for separation.

Introduction (Declaration of Independence)

Opening statement of purpose explaining the necessity to sever political ties and to state the reasons for separation.

Preamble

Theory of government asserting natural and inalienable rights and the principles of government, including equality, consent of the governed, and the right to revolution.

Unalienable rights

Rights inherent to all people that cannot be surrendered or taken away.

Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness

The specific unalienable rights named in the preamble as fundamental human rights.

Equality

The idea that all people are created equal, a foundational claim in the preamble.

Consent of the governed

The principle that government legitimacy comes from the agreement of the people it governs.

Right to alter or abolish government

The right and duty of the people to change or overthrow a government that harms fundamental rights.

Long train of abuses and usurpations

A detailed list of King George III’s actions used to justify independence.

Absolute Despotism

Total tyrannical rule in which a ruler holds unchecked power.

Legislative abuses

King George’s actions such as refusing laws, dissolving legislatures, and hindering naturalization.

Judicial abuses

Interference with the judiciary, making judges dependent on the king, and denying trial by jury.

Military abuses

Quartering of troops in peacetime and making the army independent of civil power.

Economic abuses

Taxes imposed without consent and restricting colonial trade.

Unwarrantable jurisdiction

Claimed authority by Parliament beyond proper limits.

Enemies in War, in Peace Friends

A phrase indicating how the British are viewed as enemies in war but potential friends in peace.

Indictment (Grievances)

The section naming and detailing the king’s abuses to indict his governance.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution creating a loose confederation of sovereign states with a weak central government.

Confederation

A league or alliance of states that retain sovereignty but cooperate for common purposes.

The United States of America

The official name of the new nation under the Articles of Confederation.

Sovereignty

Supreme power or authority retained by the states under the Articles.

Firm league of friendship

The alliance among states, stating they are united for common defense and welfare.

Full faith and credit

States must honor laws, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

Fugitives from justice

Criminals who flee to another state must be returned to face trial.

Unicameral Congress

A one-house legislative body used under the Articles of Confederation.

One vote per state

Equal representation in Congress, regardless of state population.

Two to seven delegates

The range of delegates a state could send to Congress.

Foreign policy prohibited to states

States could not conduct their own foreign policy; central government handles foreign relations and war.

Common treasury

A shared fund from which national government expenses are paid.

Article IX: Congressional powers

Powers such as declaring war and peace, making treaties, and regulating currency.

Nine of the thirteen states

Major decisions required the approval of nine states under the Articles.

Committee of the States

A body authorized to act for Congress when Congress is in recess.

Admission of Canada

Canada could join the confederation with nine-state approval; no new colonies without consent.

National debt

The new nation would be responsible for war debts incurred by the Continental Congress.

Supremacy clause

The supremacy of the Articles over state laws and actions.

Amendments and supremacy

Amendments require unanimous consent; the supremacy clause binds states to the Articles.

Perpetual

The Articles of Confederation were declared perpetual.

Brutus No. 1

A 1787 essay by Robert Yates warning against a large federal government and advocating state/local power.

Robert Yates

Author of Brutus No. 1, a critic of the proposed Constitution.

Large republic

A big, centralized republic that Brutus argues would threaten liberty and local control.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congressional power to enact laws needed to execute its enumerated powers; seen by Brutus as expanding federal power.

Supremacy Clause (Brutus context)

Clause cited to argue that federal law can override state constitutions.

Montesquieu

Philosopher whose ideas influenced Brutus about the dangers of concentrated power.

Roman Republic

Historical example cited by Brutus to illustrate risks of large republics.

Federalist No. 10

Madison’s essay arguing that a large republic can better control factions and protect liberty.

Factions

Groups of citizens united by a common interest—often harmful to others’ rights or the public good.

Extending the sphere

Madison’s idea that a larger republic includes more varied interests, making majority tyranny harder.

Representative government

A system where citizens elect representatives to refine and enlarge public views.

Filtering candidates

The idea that a large republic’s broader electors pool increases chances of choosing capable leaders.

Balancing interests

A large republic forces compromise among diverse factions to protect rights.

Removing the causes (rejected)

Madison’s claim that removing the causes of faction is impossible or undesirable.

Destroying liberty

Madison’s warning that sacrificing liberty to eliminate factions is worse than the disease.

Liberty is to faction what air is to fire

Metaphor describing liberty’s essential but potentially fueling role in factions.

Controlling the effects (endorsed)

Madison’s preferred solution: manage factions’ effects through a large republic.

A representative republic

A form of government in which elected representatives make decisions for citizens.

Extending the sphere (Madison)

Expanding the political arena to include many interests to prevent tyranny.

Filtering candidates (Madison)

A larger electorate makes it harder for unworthy candidates to gain power.

Balancing interests (Madison)

Negotiation among diverse factions yields solutions that respect all rights.