Semester 1 Exam Study Guide Flashcards
(184 cards)
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments, Alexander Hamilton was in favor of this.
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Declaration of Independence
The document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independent of the colonies from Great Britain
Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed American during the Revolutionary War. Was later replaced.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood, included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery
Shay’s Rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.
Constitution
A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society
The Great Compromise
agreement providing a dual system of congressional representation
Federalists
supporters of the constitution
supported strong national gov’t
Anti-Federalists
people who opposed the Constitution
supported stronger STATE gov’ts
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
People excluded- Slaves, Women, and Native Americans.
Examples-
Right to bear arms, freedom of speech, right to trial by jury, etc.
Thomas Jefferson
Founding Father of Declaration and const.
President at one point
Anti-Federalist, supported stronger state gov’ts
Supported keeping and revising the Articles of Confederation
Wanted list of rights and liberties included in new constitution to protect citizens from national gov’t
James Madison
“Father of the const.”
Federalists, supported strong national gov’t
Favored new constitution
Felt listing of individual rights in const. was unnecessary
The new gov’t would protect rights though separation of powers, checks & balances, etc.
Electoral College
a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
George Washington
Founding Father of the constitution
Louisiana Purchase
Jefferson was president and agreed to this. From France. Lewis & Clark explored. France was unable to defend land from Britain, so they offered America 828,000m of Louisiana territory for price of 15 million.
Sectionalism
Each area of the country promoting its own interests over those of the whole country. Affected N,S,W
Abolitionist
person who wanted to END slavery
Popular Sovereignty
Authority of state and gov. are sustained by consent of people.
Indian Removal Act 1830; “Trail of Tears
Forced displacements of 60k native Americans, known as “Indian removal.” Acquisition of Native American land east of Mississippi River.
Manifest Destiny
Belief that the U.S was ‘destined’ to expand West from Coast to Coast, and destined to expand US culture and democracy.
Missouri Compromise
Henry Clay. Missouri is a slave state North of line free, South of line slavery is aloud.
Compromise of 1850/ Fugitive Slave Act
Henry Clay. California free state. Fugitive Slave Law is what the South got to keep balance. States that if slaves escape they will be returned.
Kansas- Nebraska Act, “Bleeding Kansas”
John Brown. Popular Sovereignty, voter fraud, bleeding Kansas. Kansas: pro-slavery, Free-Staters and abolitionists. Violence broke out between them and continued until Kansas entered the Union as a free state.