Foundations of American Democracy

What are Jefferson’s claims in the Declaration of Independence?

All men are equal and entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

What philosopher influenced the ideas of the Declaration? What were those ideas?

John Locke. All men are born with natural rights: the right to life, liberty, and property

What were the Articles of Confederation? Why were they weak?

They established a “firm league of friendship” among the States. They were weak because it was more “an alliance of independent states than a government of the people”

What was Shay’s Rebellion? Why was it significant?

Armed attacks by property holders in protest of taxes 

Who were the federalists?

Those persons who supported the ratification of the Constitution

Who were the Anti-Federalists

Those persons who opposed the ratification of the Constitution

What plans/compromises were made at the Constitutional Convention?

Connecticut Compromise: an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that Congress should be composed of a Senate, in which each State would be represented equally, and a House, in which each State would be represented based on the State’s population

Three-Fifths Compromise

all free persons and ⅗ of other persons should be counted

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of goods from any State

What is meant by “We, the People” in the Preamble?

That the Constitution should represent all the People

What goals are set forth in the Preamble?

Form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,

Generally, what are each of the seven articles of the Constitution about? 

Create different branches of government, give base shape of the Federal Government, amend and ratify the Constitution

What is the amendment process outlined in the Constitution? 

⅔ vote by both Houses of Congress, etc.

What rights are granted in the Bill of Rights?

Freedom of speech, religion, right to bear arms, speedy trial by an impartial jury, etc.

How did some of the amendments democratize the Constitution?

13 - abolished slavery

19 - gave women the right to vote

26 - gave 18-year-olds the right to vote

The Declaration of Independence

gave colonists independence from Britain

Popular sovereignty

a government that exists only with the consent of the governed

Limited government

basic principle of the American government, which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away

Consent of the Governed

government’s right to power is lawful only when contented to by the People

Natural Rights

rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Social Contract

people give up certain rights to have protection from government

Articles of Confederation

established a “firm league of friendship”

Shay’s Rebellion

armed attacks by property holders to protest taxes

Federalists vs Anti Federalists

Federalists:

supported the Constitution

Anti-Federalists:

opposed Constitution

Virginia Plan

plan presented by Virginia delegates at the Constitutional convention; called for a 3 branch of government with a bicameral legislature in which each State’s membership would be determined by its population or its financial support for the Federal government

New Jersey Plan

alternative to the Virginia plan; called for a unicameral legislature in which each State would be equally represented

Great Compromise

an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that Congress should be composed of a Senate, in which each State would be represented equally, and a House, in which each State would be represented based on the State’s population

¾ Compromise

all free persons and ⅗ of other persons should be counted

The Constitution

the supreme law of the United States of America

The Preamble

form a more perfect union, establish justice, etc

Constitutional Principles

• separation of powers

• checks and balances

• federalism

The Bill of Rights

the first ten amendments of the Constituion

Short Answer: What was the main difference between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?

• Virginia Plan:

  • Proposed by James Madison

  • Favored large states.

  • Representation would be based on a state’s population or wealth.

  • Called for a bicameral legislature (two houses), with both houses having representation proportional to population.

• New Jersey Plan:

  • Proposed by William Paterson.

  • Favored small states.

  • Representation would be equal for all states, regardless of population size.

  • Called for a unicameral legislature (one house) similar to the Articles of Confederation

New Jersey Plan: equal representation for each state

Virginia Plan: representation for each state

Short Answer: Define each of the 3 concepts of government (representative, ordered, and limited) brought from England by the colonists.

• Ordered Government:

  • Government has structure and organization.

  • Created local offices and rules to keep order.

• Limited Government:

  • Government power is restricted by law.

  • Leaders must follow the same laws as citizens.

• Representative Government:

  • People have a voice in government.

  • Citizens elect representatives to make laws for them.

Short Answer: Give at least 2 reasons why the Articles of Confederation were inadequate to meet the needs of the time.

• Weak central government

  • Congress had no power to enforce laws or collect taxes, so it couldn’t raise money or ensure states followed national decisions.

• No national unity or coordination

  • Each state acted like its own independent country, making it hard to agree on laws, trade, or defense.