Giddes APUSH Unit 4

Society of Cincinnati

Society of Cincinnati

continental Army officers who formed an exclusive hereditary order organization; many Americans ridiculed lordly pretentiousness

Disestablished

to separate an official state church from its connect w/govt; all churches in colonies were de-anglicized + reformed as Protestant Episcopal Church; struggle for separation fiercest in VA

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

1786; a document that officially stated separation of govt + religion; TJ + co-reformers (including Baptists) created this; allowed for VAians to worship freely + outlaws tax money to fund churches

Civic virtue

central to republican ideology; notion that democracy depended on willingness of citizens to sacrifice personal self-interest for the public good

"Republican Motherhood"

idea that American women had special responsibility to teach 'civic virtue' to their children; elevated women to a newly prestigious role as the special keepers of the nation's conscience; expanded educational opportunities for women

Fundamental law

written documents that state constitutions were intended to represent; superior to temporary impulses of ordinary legislation (constitution isn’t supposed to be easily changed)

Articles of Confederation

1781; Congress appointed a committee to draft a constitution for new nation before declaring independence; adopted in Congress in 1777; translated to French after Battle of Saratoga; not ratified until 1781 (8 months after W at Yorktown); 7 states (notably NY + VA) had huge amounts of land, + other 6 (PA + MD) had little to no; big complaint that states w/large acreage could sell their tracts + pay off pensions/debts while the states w/o land had to tax themselves; Congress pledged to use large areas for common benefit; replaced by a more efficient Constitution in 1789

Articles of Confederation part 2

"loose confederation"; brought together 13 states for common problems; only legislative branch (other 2 left to states); delegated were selected by state legislatures; every state had 1 vote; bill of importance had to have support of at least 9 states; amendments had to be approved by all states; Congress was purposefully weak cuz of British parliament; congress couldn't regulate commerce, which caused states to establish different + conflicting laws abt navigation; congress established tax quota instead of tax-collect for each state + they could contribute voluntarily (lucky to even 1/4 of requests)

Old Northwest

farsighted pieces of legislation that were related to an immense part of the public domain acquired from the states; area NW of Ohio River, E of MI River, + S of Great Lakes

Land Ordinance of 1785

first of red-letter laws; provided that acreage of Old Northwest should be sold + used to help pay off national debt; surveyed before sale + settlement (installing confusion + lawsuits); divided in townships (each in turn to be split into 36 sections (1 mile each) + 16th section was for schools); orderly settlement

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

law related governing of Old Northwest; came to grip w/how a nation should deal w/its colonies; first temporary tutelage + then permanent equality; 2 evolutionary territorial stages: 1st, area subordinate to federal govt + 2nd, when area can sustain 60k settlers, then might be admitted by Congress as a state + it'll have privileges of 13 charger members; forbade slavery, but exempted slaves already there

Allen Brothers

from Vermont; disgruntled w/state so intrigued by Brits to take over VT

Relations with Britain, Spain, and France

all were bad; Britain declined commerical trade + repealed Navigation Laws; stopped trade w/America WI + tried to take over VT; Spa controlled MI + closed river to American commerce; claimed large area (including FL) + succeeded (w/Britain) in preventing America from taking over 1/2 of total colonies; Fra demanded repayment of money they loaned US during war + restricted trade w/American WI

Shays's Rebellion

an uprising that flared up in western MA in 1786; led by Captain Daniel Shays (revolution veteran); impoverished backcountry farmers + revolutionary veterans that lost their farms through mortgage/taxes demanded the state issued paper money, lighten taxes, + suspend property takeover

"Mobocracy"

rule/domination by masses; after Shays's Rebellion, propertied class got worried of this + needed for stronger central govt; believed it was revolution result

Articles of Confederation meeting in Annapolis

in 1786 VA called for convention to talk abt control of commerce (big issue); 9 states appointed delegates, but only 5 states represented; nothing could be done from this horrible attendance; saved by Hamilton when he called upon Congress to summon a Convention in Philly the next year to bolster entire AOC

Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia

May 25 to Sept 17, 1787; met to revise AOC; instead signed a new govt plan (Constitution); 55 delegates came from 12 states (RI didn’t send delegates); sessions were completely secretive w/armed sentinels at the doors to prevent advertisement of their dissension or the harmful arguments into mouths of opposition

James Madison

31 yrs old; Federalist + profound student of govt; made such notable contributions that he's "the Father of the Constitution"

Virginia Plan

scheme proposed by Madison of VA; aka "large-state plan"; first to push forward as framework of Constitution; essence was that representation in both houses of bicameral (having 2 branches) legislature/Congress should be based on population; naturally gives larger states an advantage

New Jersey Plan

proposed by William Paterson of NJ; aka "small-state plan"; provided equal representation in a unicameral Congress, regardless of size + population, as already extant in AOC

"Great Compromise"

proposed by Roger Sherman; bicameral legislature combining NJ + VA plans; larger states would have representation by population in House of Representatives + smaller states would have equal representation in Senate (2 per state)

House of Representatives

lower house of Congress; larger states were concede representation by population; where all tax + revenue bills originate

Senate

upper house of Congress; smaller states appeased by equal representation; each state would have 2 delegates

Common law

US Constitution grew out of Anglo-American tradition; made it unnecessary to be specific abt every detail; provided a flexible guide to rules of procedure; opposite of civil law; open to interpretation + became a part of Constitution

Civil law

opposite of common law; detailed legal codes + were lengthy; body of written law enacted through legislative statutes or constitutional provisions; judges must apply the statutes precisely as written

Electoral College

large group of people representing states who would cast their votes for election of president + vice president; citizens indirectly elect president; electoral vote of each state depends on # of representatives in Congress; larger states have the advantage in round of popular voting, but smaller states would have larger voice if no candidate got a majority of electoral votes + election thrown to House of Representatives (each state would have 1 vote each

"Three-Fifths Compromise"

compromise between N + S states if slaves counted in their population; slaves counted as 3/5 of a person to determine direct tax + representation in the house of representatives

Checks and balances

a system that allowed each branch of govt to limit powers of the other branches to prevent abuse of power

Direct/indirect vote

direct vote: when u vote urself (only in case of 1/2 of house of representatives where propertied citizens were allowed to vote for their officials directly); indirect vote: when people elect a representative to vote on laws on their behalf (presidents are elected indirectly by electoral college + senators are indirectly elected by state legislatures)

Anti-Federalists

people who opposed stronger federal govt + constitution; wanted states to have more power; many were small farmers, paper moneyites + debtors; leaders included S Adams, Patrick Henry, + Henry Lee; lack of bill of rights made them think that the constitution was jeopardizing individual rights + brought aristocratic elements

The Federalist Papers

essays that Jay, Madison, + Hamilton wrote together for NY newspapers; designed as propaganda to draw support for federalism; remains most penetrating commentary ever written on the Constitution + still widely sold

George Washington

unanimously elected chairman/president of Constitutional Convention in Philly; prestige of "the Sword of the Revolution" served to quiet tempers; esteemed war hero + unanimously drafted president by electoral college in 1789; commanded by strength of character instead of arts of politician; journeyed from Mt Vernon to NYC (temporary capital); there he was greeted w/a lot of celebrations + parades; took oath of office on April 30, 1789 overlooking crowd on Wall Street

Cabinet

established by Washington; Constitution doesn't mention cabinet; at first only 3 full-fledged department heads served under president; TJ was Secretary of State; Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury; Henry Knox was Secretary of War

Executive Branch

branch of govt that carries out + enforces laws; Washington was its first head

Alexander Hamilton

from NY + 31 yrs old; brilliantly saved the convention from complete failure by calling upon Congress to summon a Convention in Philly the next year to bolster entire AOC; 32 yrs old when at the Convention; advocate of a powerful central govt; his eloquent 5 hour speech didn't convince anyone but himself; would help to build strong central govt; first Secretary of Treasury; kind of a prime minister in Washginton's cabinet; got involved in affairs of other departments; determined to correct economy irritation of AOC; had plans to shape beneficial policies for wealthy (to lend their support and $ to govt)

Thomas Jefferson

first secretary of state

Henry Knox

first secretary of war (provided for nation's defense)

Constitutional Amendments

proposed to change constitution cuz constitution at first didn't guarantee individual rights; 2 ways to be proposed; first way was by new constitutional convention requested by 2/3s of states; 2nd way was 2/3s votes in both houses of Congress; Madison feared that new convention would struggle ratification + was determined to draft amendments himself, guided them through Congress

Bill of Rights

adopted by necessary # of states in 1791; first 10 amendments to the Constitution; safeguarded some of the most precious American principles; anti-federalists were concerned that this doc was lacking, but federalists gave assurance that congress would add this to the constitution; included protection for freedom of speech, religion, + press; right to bear arms + to be tried by jury; right to assemble + petition govt for grievance; prohibits cruel + unusual punishments + arbitrary govt seizure of private property; people have other rights 'not here enumerated'; power not 'delegated' to federal govt are 'reserved' to states + ppl

Judiciary Act of 1789

Congress created federal court under this; organized Supreme Court w/chief justice , 5 associates, federal district, + circuit courts; established office of attorney general

John Jay

1st chief justice of Supreme Court; Madison's collaborator on Federalist papers; from NY; one of the most experienced diplomats; secretary for foreign affairs; hoped insults Americans got would humiliate them into framing a new govt to be strong enough to command respect

Funding at par

Hamilton's policy of paying off all federal govt bonds at face value in order to strengthen national credit + accumulate interest; total debt of $54 million + caused ppl to believe that treasury depreciated 10 or 15¢ on $; Hamilton wanted congress to pass measures + have wealthy citizens buy more bonds; willing to have new govt shoulder more obligations; urged congress to assume debts of states, $21.5 million

Assumption

state debt could be regarded as national obligation; support of rich was key to Hamilton's strategy to strengthen federal govt; MA had a lot of debt + was delighted by idea; VA didn't have debt + wasn't pleased w/idea; compromise came to be that VA would have a federal district located on Potomac River; the district would gain commerce + prestige

Tariff

first of this law passed by Congress in 1789 before Hamilton could say smth; imposed law tax of 8% on import values; main goal was revenue + designed to protect infant industries

Excise Tax

Hamilton wanted more internal revenue + secured this from congress in 1791; consumer tax (7¢/gall on specific merchandise, notably whiskey

Bank of the United States

proposed by Hamilton for his financial system; used Bank of England as model; proposed powerful private institution; central govt would have convenient strongbox + federal funds would stimulate business; bank would print urgently needs money + provide stable national currency; Jefferson (upon Washington's request) wrote that he opposed the bank as he thought it was unconstitutional; still created in 1791; 1/5 owned by federal govt + public stock sale sold out in <2 hrs; brought abt issue of implied powers; helped start political parties (major issue); located in Philly

"Strict interpretation"

Jefferson's theory that said to stick to literal word meaning of the Constitution; opposite of 'loose interpretation'

"Loose interpretation"

Hamilton's theory that said that whatever the constitution didn't forbid, it allowed; opposite of 'strict interpretation'

"Implied powers"

powers not specifically mentioned in constitution; Congress would be fully justified in establishing Bank of US

"Elastic clause"

involved clause of constitution that said Congress could pass any laws 'necessary + proper' to carry out powers of Constitution

Whiskey Rebellion

flared up in SW part of PA in 1794; sharply challenged new national govt; Hamilton's high excise tax was harsh on farmers + regarded it as a burden an economic necessity (medium for exchange); defiant distillers erected whiskey poles (like liberty poles) + raised cry "Liberty + No Excise"; tar + feathered officers + they eventually stopped tax collections; Washington (w/encouragement from Hamilton) summoned militias of several states + army of 13,000 troops; by the time they got there, "whiskey boys" were overawed, captured, + dispersed; 3 rebels were killed + 2 small-fry culprits were forgiven; showed that new govt could react effectively to such problems

Jeffersonians

favored weak central govt; believed common man should hold political power; thought debt should be paid off asap; democratic-republican, pro-Fre, + 'revolutionaries'

Democratic-Republicans

political party led by Jefferson; believed people should have political power + favored weak central govt; emphasized agriculture, strict interpretation, + opposed national bank; were pro-Fre; Jeffersonians

Hamiltonians

political party led by Hamilton; wanted strong central govt + loose interpretation; federalists, pro-British, + supported national bank

Federalists

supporters of the constitution during its ratification debates in state legislatures; favored a strong national govt; had wealth, power + influence; lived near coast/seaboard; more educated + controlled press; included Washington, Madison, Franklin + Hamilton; argued that checks + balances in new Constitution would safeguard ppl's liberties

French Revolution

began in 1789; successful attempt to impose constitution shackles on Louis XIV; Jeffersonians were overjoyed; ultra conservative federalist feared change/reform + 'leveling' principles; more ominous phase in 1792 when Fra declared war on Austria; fra defeated austria + declared itself a republic

Reign of Terror

1793-1794; when thousands of aristocrats were executed for disloyalty; started after guillotine was set up + king was beheaded + church was attacked

Franco-American Alliance of 1778

alliance between Fra + American to last forever; US helped the Fre to defend WI against British fleets; US tried to stay out of all conflicts in Euro as they were weak militarily, economically, + politically disunited (strategy of delay)

Neutrality Proclamation

issued by Washington in 1793 after outbreak of war between Brit + Fra; proclaimed govt's neutrality + warned Americans to be impartial toward both sides; Amer's first formal declaration of neutrality + proved to be major prop that spread isolation tradition + largely controversial; Jeffersonian were enraged by the proclamation + that Washington didn't consult Congress; federalists were heartened; allowed Ameri birth rates to rise enough to provide for a stronger foundation for future success

Citizen Edmond Genet

impetuous 30 yr old representative of French Republic; landed in Charleston; undertook to fit out privateers + take advantage of Fra-Amer alliance; swept away by enthusiastic reception by Jeffersonians; foolishly believed that neutrality proclamation didn't reflect wishes of Amer + embarked upon nonneutral activity(not authorized by Fre govt); recruitments of armies to invade Spa FL + LA and Britain Canada; washington ordered his withdrawal + would be replaced by less impulsive emissary

General Anthony Wayne

led new army in 1794 + defeated Miami Confederacy at Battle of Fallen Timbers (indians who were allied w/British)

Battle of Fallen Timbers

British troops refused to shelter Natives running from battle; natives offered Wayne a truce cuz they were abandoned by red-coats

Treaty of Greenville

signed in Aug 1795; ended Battle of Fallen Timbers; confederacy gave up tracts of Old Northwest, including most of IN + OH; in return, they got $20k, an annual $9k of annuity, right to hunt in their lands, + hoped for recognition of their sovereign status; showed unequal relationship between US + Native, but Natives felt that they put limits on ability of US to decide their fates

Jay's Treaty

made to negotiate + avoid war; few concession were made; Brit promised to leave chain of post on US soil; Britain agreed to pay for damaged of seizure of Amer ship but didn't say anything abt future seizes; forced Jay to secure US to pay debts owed to Brit merchants from pre-Rev accounts; unpopular among Dem-Republicans cuz treaty was like a surrender to britain + betrayal of the South, so they became aggressive

Pinckney's Treaty

of 1795; w/Spa; granted Amer everything they demanded, including free navigation of MI river + right of deposit at New Orleans + largely disputed area of western FL

Farewell Address

Washington's speech in 1796 before he retired; never delivered orally, but printed in newspapers; advised neutrality + avoidance of 'permanent alliances' w/Euro nations; admirable advice for weak + divided union, but not relevant when nation grows in power

John Adams

America's first VP + 2nd president (Hamilton was too unpopular); most of his support from NE + marginally won 71 votes to 68 in electoral college during election of 1796; man of strict principles + did his duties w/stubborn devotion; intellectual aristocrat + had no desire to appeal to masses

"High Federalists"

Hamilton led war faction of Federalist party in 1795 after he resigned from Treasury; Hamiltom hated Adams + plotted w/members of cabinet against president

John Marshall

future chief justice; one of 3 men Adams appointed as diplomatic commissioners to meet w/Talleyrand when Adams was trying to avoid war (trying to make an agreement w/Fre); 3 go-betweens (X, Y, Z) approached US envoys + demanded huge loan just to talk

French Foreign Minister Talleyrand

crafty foreign minister who demanded unneutral loan of 32 million florins + $250,000 just to talk to the envoys

XYZ Affair

1797 incident in which Fre officials demanded a bribe from 3 envoys just to talk to Talleyrand; Adam's 3 envoys greet by XYZ; sent wave of hysteria through US + even Adams; Federalists delighted at this unexpected turn + Jeffersonians ashamed of Fre

Navy Department

created in response to XYZ Affair in prep of war w/Fra; 3-ship navy was expanded

United States Marine Corps

originally created in 1775, but disbanded at end of Rev War; reestablished in prep of war w/Fra after XYZ affair

Quasi-War (undeclared warfare w/France)

bloodshed confined to sea + WI; 2.5 years of hostilities (1798-1800); American privateers captured 80+ vessels of Fre + lost several 100s of Yankee merchant ships

Napoleon Bonaparte

"Little Corporal"; Fre general who recently seized dictatorial power; eager to free his hands of American squabble so he could redraw map of Euro + create another empire in LA (working to America's advantage)

Convention of 1800

conference between US + Fra which ended naval hostilities + ended Franco-American Alliance of 1778; signed in Paris + was a memorable treaty; Fre agreed to annul 22 years of military inconvenience; America agreed to pay damages claims of America ships; ended country's only peacetime military alliance for 1.5 centuries

Alien Laws

acts passed by Federalist Congress; raised requirements for immigrants who wanted to be citizens from 5 yrs to 14; violated traditional America's policy of opendoor hospitality; President was allowed to deport dangerous foreigners in time of peace + to send them to jail in times of hostilities

Sedition Act

act passed by federalist congress; said that anyone who impeded policies of govt or falsely defamed it officials would be responsible for heavy fine + imprisonment; direct slap to 2 freedom the BOR guaranteed (freedom of speech + press)

Kentucky Resolution

written by Jefferson in response to Alien + Sedition Acts; concluded that federal regime exceeded its constitutional powers + 'nullification' was the 'rightful remedy'; basically said that states could nullify federal laws they considered unconstitutional

Virginia Resolution

less extreme than Kentucky Resolution; written by Madison in response to Acts; said states could nullify federal laws that states considered unconstitutional

"Compact theory"

political concept on which Jefferson + Madison based their antifederalist resolution; said that the 13 states entered into a contract regarding jurisdiction + the national govt was voluntary agreement among the ppl; states were final judges of whether creation (federal govt) had broken the contract by overstepping its constitutional authority