The Constitution and Federalists Flashcards

1
Q

Confederation

A

Close alliance of states

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2
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

Drafted June 7, 1776
Approved 1781
Governmental Charter written by 2nd Continental Congress
States are free, independent, in close alliance

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3
Q

Unicameral

A

Have only one house in a legislative body

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4
Q

Treaty of Paris

A

September 3, 1783
Officially marked the end of the Revolution
UK acknowledged US was a legitimate country
Signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and John Adams and British peace commissioners in Paris.
U.S. gained all land east of the Mississippi (except for Florida.)

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5
Q

Northwest Territory

A

Lands north of the Ohio River that passed into US hands after Treaty of Paris

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6
Q

Ordinance of 1784

A
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Create 10 new states out of Northwest Territory
Equal to other states in the union
Ban slavery in region
Give land to settlers
Failed because too far sighted
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7
Q

Land Ordinance of 1785

A

Concentrated on settlement, not politics
Divided lands into townships (36 lots, 1 sq. mi each)
Lots divided into half, quarter, half-quarter, quarter-quarter sections
Sale of lot 16 paid for schools
Cost $1 per acre ($640 per lot)

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8
Q

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A

Government of states
3-5 states
3 stages: Stage 1–completely fed. Gov./Stage 2–5k pop. became territory, elect legislature, had territorial governor (F.G. appointed-veto power)/Stage 3–60k pop. draw up state constitution, admitted into union as state

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9
Q

Hard money

A

Silver/gold currency

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10
Q

Continental Dollars

A

Money printed by the US under the Articles of Confederation
Overprinted, plummeted in value
“Not worth a Continental”–worthless

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11
Q

Newburgh Conspiracy

A

A conspiracy in 1783 by some military officers who wanted to force the US gov to pay them (by force). Some wanted to overthrow the gov. And make Washington king/dictator. Washington convinced the conspirators that this was a bad idea

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12
Q

Shays’ Rebellion

A

Massachusetts 1786
Daniel Shays led rebellion with arms against government
Used force to close courts
Combated and squashed by militia

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13
Q

Annapolis Convention

A

1786 Called by Maryland and Virginia
Trade convention
5 states showed up
Failed unity

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14
Q

Constitutional Convention

A
May-September 1787
12 states (No Rhode Island) met
Revise (scrap) AoC
Make lots of compromises
Create Constitution
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15
Q

James Madison

A

“Father of the Constitution”
Virginian
Provided framework for Constitution in 1787

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16
Q

Virginia Plan

A

Bicameral Congress
Pop. Based
Members of lower house directly elected, members of upper house elected by lower house from state legislature nominees
FG Enforce Laws, elect executive, elect judiciary
Big state bias

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17
Q

New Jersey Plan

A

Unicameral Congress
States have 1 vote
Small state bias

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18
Q

Roger Sherman

A

Created Great/Connecticut Compromise and save Constitutional convention in 1787

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19
Q

Great/Connecticut Compromise

A

Compromise created by Roger Sherman–save CC
Bicameral–Lower house based on state pop. (Direct election), Senate equal for all states (Indirect election, see Virginia plan)

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20
Q

Three-Fifths Compromise

A

Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for representation, but slave states had to pay taxes on them at same rate. Temporarily solved slavery issues for CC.

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21
Q

Limited Government

A

Written Constitution–clearly defined Gov. limits
Separation of powers
Checks and balances
Gov. won’t get too powerful

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22
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Gov. divided into 3 branches
Executive–execute and enforce laws
Legislative–Make laws
Judicial–interpret laws

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23
Q

Checks and Balances

A

Thwarts accumulation of power by any one branch

Powers given to branches over other branches, vice versa

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24
Q

Federalism

A

Division of power between national and state levels of gov.

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25
Q

Popular Sovereignty

A

Source of gov. power comes from people

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26
Q

Preamble (of the Constitution)

A

Introduction to Constitution

27
Q

Electoral College

A

Group of people from each state that elect the president
Number corresponds to representation in congress
Usually all electoral votes in a state go to most popular candidate

28
Q

Amendments (to the Constitution)

A

Changes or additions to the Constitution

29
Q

Federalists

A

Those who supported the Constitution

Notable members: Hamilton “Publius”, Madison, Jay

30
Q

Anti-Federalists

A

Those against the Constitution
Notable members: George Clinton, governor of NY “Cato”
“Sidney”
“Brutus”

31
Q

The Federalist (Papers)

A

A volume of papers written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay defending the Constitution
Compiled May 1788
Very influential

32
Q

Ratification of the Constitution

A

1788
Delaware first to ratify Dec. 7, 1787
9 states ratified–law
(NY, VI, RI, NC hadn’t yet)

33
Q

March 4, 1789

A

First day of Congress under Constitution

34
Q

February, 4 1789

A

George Washington unanimously elected president

Inaugurated April 30, 1789

35
Q

George Washington

A

1st President of the US under constitution
Revolutionary War hero
President of CC

36
Q

Cabinet

A

Advisors to pres.

GW–State, Treasury, War

37
Q

Thomas Jefferson

A

Minister to France
Head of State Department
3rd pres.

38
Q

Alexander Hamilton

A

Federalist, Secretary of the treasury under GW

39
Q

Henry Knox

A

Rev. War hero

Head of War department under GW

40
Q

Judiciary Act of 1789

A

Organized 13 district courts (1 per state)
3 circuit courts of appeals
Supreme Court justices=6
John Jay–1st Chief Justice

41
Q

James Madison

A

Federalist, Federalist Papers

Leader in House

42
Q

Bill of Rights

A

1st 10 Amendments to the Constitution

1789

43
Q

Report on Public Credit

A

Hamilton’s first proposal–National debt must be paid off

44
Q

Funding

A

The plan developed by Hamilton that proposed that the FG pay 6% interest back to those whom they owed from the RW. The bonds were recognized as currency (monetizing the debt)
$77 million dollars

45
Q

Assumption

A

The plan dev. By Hamilton
US Gov. assume all state debt
So. Already paid most of debts–opposed
No. Hadn’t–bribe w/ location of capital city in south

46
Q

National Bank

A

Hamilton proposed creation
Uniform currency, provide source for business loans
Passed
Constitutional?
Yes–necessary to fulfill end goals of Congress

47
Q

Loose Constructionist

A

Those who advocated more flexibility in interpreting the Constitution

48
Q

Strict Constructionists

A

Those who held to closer reading of the Constitution

49
Q

Federalists (political party)

A

Political Party that claimed to be true keepers of the Constitution
Federalist
Pro-British

50
Q

Democratic-Republicans (Republicans)

A

Political Party opposite Federalists
“Last line of defense between Federalist ‘tyranny’ and American Liberty”
Anti-federalist bent
Pro-French

51
Q

French Revolution

A

1789
Blood-lusty, Reign of Terror
Political crisis–F declared war on Britain (1793)
America “obligated to aid” France (Treaty of Alliance 1778)

52
Q

Proclamation of Neutrality

A

April 1793
US “pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers”
Neutral

53
Q

Citizen Genêt

A

French Ambassador
Arrived in Charleston–toured country stirring up pro-french sentiment
Overdid it w/ Washington–Cold reception
Plotted to raise army to fight Spain in Florida
Plotting/personal attacks against W. published–embarrassed F+republicans

54
Q

Jay’s Treaty

A

Treaty between G. Britain and US (1795)
Britain stay out of US, pay for damages, like Treaty of Paris
US had little bargaining power–no army/navy
“Federalist”–Jay burned in effigy

55
Q

Whiskey Rebellion

A

Frontier farmers were discounted with tax against on alcohol–respond with violence
Washington led army to end rebellion
Distinguish between necessary exercise of law and oppression

56
Q

Washington’s Farewell Address

A

September 17, 1796
Urged Americans to leave behind party divisions
Cultivate commercial ties but not political ones with Europe
Outlined US foreign policy up until WWII

57
Q

Quasi War

A

(Undeclared) war
1797–French attack US–led to creation of US Navy
“Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.”

58
Q

XYZ Affair

A

1797 French+American diplomats met to discuss peace–French demanded bribe to stop attacking US ships
Charles Maurice Talleyrand vs. John Marshal, C.C. Pinckney,Eldridge Gerry–US not pay–formed Navy instead

59
Q

Alien and Sedition Acts

A

Federalist passed laws that placed restrictions on French, Irish, and other immigrant groups that were mostly Republican.
Alien–expanded power to expel/imprison these groups
Sedition–No speaking against gov. No riots/other “anti-gov. Activities”
Strict fines/penalties

60
Q

Kentucky Resolutions

A

1798 Written by Jefferson
Response to A+S acts
Unconstitutional, states could nullify
Wanted repeal of A+S acts

61
Q

Virginia Resolutions

A
1798 Madison wrote
Response to A+S acts
Unconstitutional, states could nullify
Wanted repeal of A+S acts
Similar to Kentucky Resolutions
62
Q

Judiciary Act of 1801

A

Act passed by Federalist Congress before newly-elected Republicans that increased the number of Federal Judges.

63
Q

“Midnight Appointments”

A

Accusation of Adams by Republicans that Adams had stayed up until midnight the night before Jeffersons Inauguration on March 4, 1801, signing commissions for new judges before the Federalists lost power.