Exam 3 Terms

  • Great Compromise

    • Created a division of governmental power to eliminate legislative superiority battles.
    • Established a bicameral legislature:
    • House of Representatives: Based on state population.
    • Senate: Equal representation from states.

  • Three-Fifths Compromise

    • Southern states sought to maximize representation while minimizing taxation.
    • Each slave counted as 35\frac{3}{5} of a person for taxation and representation purposes.
    • Five slaves counted as three people, heavily contested by Northern states.

  • Commerce Compromise

    • Empowered Congress to regulate imports and tariffs.
    • Allowed Congress to alleviate export taxes.

  • Virginia Plan

    • Proposed a bicameral government structure favoring larger states based on population.
    • Established three branches of government: legislative, judicial, and executive.

  • New Jersey Plan

    • Proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation per state.
    • Aimed to protect smaller states from the perceived dominance of larger states.

  • Bill of Rights

    • First ten amendments to the Constitution granted primarily to white American citizens.
    • Key rights include:
    • Freedom of Expression: Speech, religion, press, assembly.
    • Right to Bear Arms.
    • Quartering Troops.
    • Freedom from Search and Seizure.
    • Rights to Due Process.
    • Right to a Speedy Trial.
    • Right to Trial by Jury.
    • Protection from Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
    • Protection of unenumerated rights and rights reserved to states and the people.

  • Judiciary Act of 1789

    • Established the federal court system (district, circuit, and Supreme Courts) still used today.

  • Jay Treaty (1794)

    • Proposed by John Jay to address tensions with Britain:
    • Withdrawal of British troops from northwestern territories.
    • Settlements of debts owed by Americans to British creditors.
    • Compensation for American ship laborers due to British interference.
    • Postponed future US-British conflict until the War of 1812.

  • Pinckney Treaty (1795)

    • Proposed by Thomas Pinckney to negotiate with Spain:
    • Granted rights to explore the Mississippi River and to use New Orleans for shipping without Spanish taxation.
    • Settled disputes over the US-West Florida boundary.

  • Genet Affair

    • In 1793, French diplomat Edmond-Charles Genet challenged US neutrality by recruiting privateers.
    • His actions led to tensions with France and his eventual asylum in the US.

  • The Whiskey Rebellion (1794)

    • Farmers in Pennsylvania protested a federal tax on distilled spirits, viewing it as unfair.
    • President George Washington deployed militia to reinforce federal authority.

  • Quasi-War with France (1798-1800)

    • An undeclared war characterized by naval battles between the US and France over trade.
    • Resulted from the XYZ Affair, showcasing American naval superiority.
    • Ended with the Convention of 1800; a peaceful agreement.

  • XYZ Affair

    • In 1797, three French officials (X, Y, Z) demanded bribes from the US for negotiation.
    • Resulted in outrage in the US and establishment of the Department of the Navy in 1798.

  • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798-1799)

    • Resolutions aimed at nullifying the Alien and Sedition Acts by asserting states' rights.
    • Provided a framework for rejecting federal laws viewed as unconstitutional.

  • Republic

    • One of the political parties reflective of a representative democracy.
    • Elected officials make decisions in the interest of the populace.

  • Chesapeake-Leopard Affair (1807)

    • The British warship HMS Leopard attacked the USS Chesapeake, escalating US-British tensions.
    • Strengthened the US Naval militia and contributed to the lead-up to the War of 1812.

  • Embargo Act of 1807

    • Enacted by Thomas Jefferson, restricting foreign trade due to conflicts between Britain and France.
    • Led to economic decline and overstocking in the US due to limited imports.

  • Second National Bank

    • Established after the First National Bank expired in 1811 to provide safe financial management.
    • Aimed to alleviate financial difficulties following the previous bank's collapse.

  • Protective Tariff of 1816

    • Implemented to defend against damage from cheap British imports.
    • Aimed for US financial independence from British control.

  • Cumberland Road

    • The first government-funded highway, constructed from 1811 to 1837, connecting Maryland to Illinois.
    • Critical for expansion and commerce.

  • “The Era of Good Feeling” (1817-1823)

    • Period marked by political stability post-war, dominated by the Democratic-Republican Party.
    • Led to eventual splits in the party structure.

  • Rush-Bagot Agreement

    • Mutual disarmament of naval forces between US and Britain on the Great Lakes.
    • Instrumental in fostering cooperation and trust between the two nations.

  • Convention of 1818

    • Set the boundary between the US and Canada, from northern Minnesota to the Rockies.
    • Allowed for dual ownership of the Oregon territory.

  • Adams-Onís Treaty (1819)

    • Agreement involving the purchase of Florida from Spain for $5 million.
    • Defined boundaries between the US and Spanish territories in Texas and the Oregon region.

  • George Canning

    • British minister who advocated for a joint warning with the US against European intervention in Latin America.
    • Worked towards diminishing French influence in the region.