Chapter 2 Notes Flashcards by Angel Thornsbury

A useful starting point for the study of American political system and its founding

The French and Indian War

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Key points of French and Indian War?

Colonists identified as British still. The war left Britain in a budget crisis that lead to taxes on colonists.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The French and Indian War led to what?

Townshend Act

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why did the tax on tea remain in the Townshend Act?

To show Colonists that Britain was still in charge

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What happened after the “shot heard round the world”?

Colonies called the 1st Continental Congress

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Result of colonies calling 1st Continental Congress in Sept. 5 1774?

British troops and colonial minutemen engaged at Lexington in Concord —> Revolutionary War

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What happened as a result of the 2nd Continental Congress?

Treaty of Paris

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

After Treaty of Paris?

The Declaration of Independence

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who wrote Common Sense

Thomas Paine

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

July 4, 1776

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The Declaration of Independence had a heavy influence from who? What values?

John Locke

republicanism, value of self, property, etc

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Relatively strong state governments

Articles of Confederation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who was the first president of the United States in congress assembled?

Samuel Huntington

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Showed that the national government was too weak under the articles of confederation?

Shay’s rebellion

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The constitutional convention of 1787 established? What was it from?

A two chamber congress. The Great Compromise

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Two chambers but both based on state population James Madison

The Virginia Plan

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Only one chamber, one state, one vote

The New Jersey Plan

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The Constitutional convention of 1787 also included what compromise?

Three-fifths compromise

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Who first ratified the Constitution?

Deleware

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When did the Constitution become effective? With what ratification?

June 21, 1788. New Hampshire

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What two states barely passed Constitution?

New York and Virginia

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The people who signed on and wrote the Consitution

Federalists

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The people not present and did not support ratification of the Constitution?

Anti- federalists

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Promised during the campaign of 1788 and ensured all states would accept

Bill of Rights.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When did the Constitution become "effective"?

June 21, 1788

Before the constitution what experiences did the colonials have with democratic institutions?

English Parliament and colonial charters

The "rights of englishmen" included?

Trial by jury

What act was repealed before the constitution?

Stamp Act

The Declaration of Independence was a call to?

Revolution- liberty, equality, individual rights, self-government, lawful powers

The Declaration of Independence used the philosophies of?

John Locke.

Two philosophies of John Locke?

1. Inalienable (natural) rights | 2. Social contract

Government has responsibility to preserve rights

Social contract

Who? "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" "All men are created equal" Just powers derived from the consent of the governed

Thomas Jefferson

When were the articles of confederation adopted?

Revolutionary War

The Articles of Confederation prohibited Congress from doing what 2 things and created a weak national govt

1. Prohibited Congress from interfering in states' commerce policies 2. Prohibited Congress from taxation

What motivated Congress to authorize a convention in Philadelphia to revise Articles of Confederation?

Shays Rebellion

Father of the Constitution

James Madison

What two questions did James Madison have to answer when framing the Constitution?

1. Congress, how will we elect representatives? | 2. Issue of slavery and slave trade

- Representation based on population number | - Greater power to larger states

Virginia (large-state) plan

- Each state would have one vote | - Equal power to large and small states

New Jersey (small state) plan

The Great Compromise, a two-chamber Congress, is set up like what?

- House of Representatives: proportional representation | - Senate: equal representation

Three fifths of enslaved population counted for apportionment of taxes and political represenation

Great Compromise

Which essays came first? What were the signatures on them?

Anti-federalist papers | - Brutus, Cato

What did the federalists sign their papers as?

Publius

In the ratification debate, what were the Anti-federalists concerned?

The national government would be too powerful and that state self-government and personal liberty would be at risk

Who wrote the Federalists Papers?

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

The framers goals

- Government strong enough to meet the country's needs - Government not threatening existence of the separate states - Government not threatening liberty - Government based on popular consent

- Limit government by stating specific powers in the Constitution - Total of seventeen powers

Grants of power

- Limit government by stating specific prohibitions in the Constitution - Constitution difficult to amend

Denials of power

What did Madison's Federalist No. 10 address?

The problem of overbearing majorities

What was the framers' special contribution to using power to offset power?

Separate but overlapping government

Separate institutions sharing power

Checks and balances

Congress checked by president, Supreme Court

Shared legislative powers

President checked by Congress, Supreme Court

Shared executive powers

Courts checked by president, Congress

Shared judicial powers

- Limits powers of government | - First 10 amendments to Constitution

Bill of Rights

Courts determine if governmental institution is acting within its constitutional powers

Judicial Review

Who established Judicial Review? From what court case?

Chief Justice John Marshall in Marbury vs. Madison

Why did the framers favor a republic over a democracy?

- Framers feared the overbearing power of the majority in a democracy - Framers preferred the concept of a republic, where people rule through elected representatives - Majority rule in a republic is limited to protect minority rights

Limited popular rule: - People participate indirectly in the process of government through? - Indirect election of president through? - Indirect (initially) election of ? - Federal judiciary is ?

- Election of officials - Electoral college - Election of Senators - Federal judiciary appointed, not elected

Power gained through elections to be exercised in accordance with law and with due respect for individual rights

Constitutional

Provides for majority influence via elections

Democratic

Mix of deliberative institutions, each of which moderates the power of the others

Republic

Who were the founding fathers? (6)

- Washington - Adams - Jefferson - Madison - Franklin - Hamilton

Commander in chief of continental army from 1775-1783

Washington

Washington had what political stance?

Not a member of a political party but supported Federalist ideas

First Vice President

Adams

Adams: - Member of what party? - First?

- Federalist party | - First VP

Who wrote Thoughts on Gov't (1776)

Adams

What did Adams have to say about the VP post?

"This is the most unimportant position human ever made"

VP to Adams?

Jefferson

Jefferson: - Member of what party? - Wrote what? - Founded what?

- Democratic-Republican party - Wrote Declaration of Independence - Founded UVA

"Father of the Constitution"

Madison

Madison: - Wrote what? With what pen name? - Member of what party?

- The Federalist Papers (Publius) | - Democratic-Republican party

Who supported a strong central government?

Hamilton

Hamilton: - Member of what party? - Wrote?

- Federalist party | - The Federalist Papers

Who had a role in electing Jefferson president over Aaron Burr - 12th amendment which resulted in a bitter duel?

Hamilton

"All hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately"

Franklin

Franklin: - Ambassador to ? - Eldest ?

- France | - Statesman