sigma

Federalists

Favored a strong central government, and a Constitution to improve on the Articles of Confederation. They were most common along the Atlantic Coast and in large cities.

Anti- federalist

Argued that the proposed Constitution contained no protection of individual rights, and that it gave the federal government too much power. They tended to be small farmers and settlers on the western frontier.

Federalist Papers

Series of essays that argued effectively in favor of Constitution.

Washington’s Farewell Address

It warned Americans: not to get involved in European affairs, not to make permanent alliances in foreign affairs, not to from political parties, and not to fall into sectionalism

Alien and Sedition Acts

Acts by the Federalists, which authorized the president to deport dangerous immigrants, and detain them in wartime. Made it illegal for newspaper editors to criticize the president or Congress.

Checks and

balances

Idea that one branch of government could not dominate, the Constitution divided the government into three branches.

Great Compromise

Solution adopted at the Constitutional Convention that provided for a two house Congress. In the Senate, states would have two senators each, but in the House of Representatives, each state would be represented according to the size of its population

Three Fifths Compromise

Determined how slaves would be counted for the purpose of each state's level of taxation and representation.

Electoral College System

Each state was given a number of electors equal to the total of their number of representatives and senators. These electors would then vote to determine the president.

Judiciary Act

of 1789

Established the Supreme Court would have one chief justice and five associate justices. The Supreme Court was able to rule on the constitutionality of state courts. It provided for a system of thirteen district courts and three courts of appeals.

Proclamation of Neutrality

Washington announced the U.S. would not get involved in the war between Britain and France.

James Madison

Helped write the Constitution, and he is known as the Father of the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton

One of the authors of the Federalist Papers. He favored a strong central government. He was George Washington's secretary of the treasury.

John Marshall

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. His decisions in landmark cases generally strengthened the federal government, often at the expense of states’ rights.

Republican Motherhood

Political role was to install a sense of patriotic duty and republican virtue in their children and mold them into exemplary citizens.

Louisiana Purchase

1803, land bought from France for $15 million. More than doubled size of US, removed France’s presence from nation's borders, and extended western frontier well beyond Mississippi River.

Strict Interpretation

Believes powers of the constitution need to be stated explicitly in the document. Rejects argument that certain powers are implied.

Judicial Review

The Supreme Court has the power to overrule the legislative or executive branches if they believed a law was unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

Established the doctrine of judicial review.

Hartford Convention

Bitterly opposed to the War of 1812, some radical Federalist in the Northeast wanted to secede from the United States, but it was rejected.