SS CHAP 4 Flashcards
(67 cards)
Constitution
Documents that set up the basic laws, and principles of a government.
Limits the power of the federal government
Confederation
alliance of independent states
Economic depression
period of time in the economy when buisness activity slows, prices and wages fall, unemployment raises,
Why did each of the 13 states create a constitution?
Spell out rights of the citizens and set limits on the power of the government
Bill of rights
list of freedoms that the government promises to protect. like Freedom of religion, press, and trial by jury
what do you need to be to vote
To vote you be white, male over 21 and own property.
Articles of confederation
The 1st constitution or set of rules for the USA
Created 13 separate countries loosely connected in times of war.
Under the articles of confederation, what powers did the federal government have?
Federal government was week with little power
States had all the power
Federal congress-each state had 1 vote, 13 total votes
Congress could do nothing without the state permission, had to ask states for money
What problems did the new nation have?
States fought over who would get ohio
Nation owed money to France, Spain, Dutch, private citizens, and every soldier who served in the American revolution.
Congress had no power to tax to pay down debt- it was up to the states
The British would not leave forts in Ohio and Spain closed New Orleans to the US.
What did the norethwest ordinance of 1787 do? What were the rules to become a state?
Established new states in ohio
Once an area had 60,000 people they could become a state
Had to set up public schools
Slavery not allowed
Why was shays rebellion and what did it cause
In massachusetts taxes raised
People lost land, couldn’t pay tax
Daniel shays a starts a rebellion
Rebellion stopped, all pardoned
All the states see problems, agree to meet philadelphia in 1787
Why did the articles of confederation fail
States had too much power
Federal government couldn’t tax or raise an army
compromise
Settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement.
James maddison
Delegate from virginia at the constitutional convention
The author of the constitution
Alexander Hamilton
Delegate from new york at the constitutional convention
Wanted a very strong federal government
The president of the constitutional convention
George Washington
3 branches of goverment
Executive, Judicial, Legislative
Executive role
President-carry out laws
Legislative role (who and what)
Congress-pass laws
Judicial, who and what
supreme court, interpret laws
According to the virginia plan, how would a legislature be set up, types of states it planned to favor?
Legislatur has 2 houses
Upperhouse- senate
Lower house- House of representitive
Both decided by population in state
Favored big states, ex massachusetts, VA
Who wrote the NJ plan and how was it different from virginia plan?
Also had 3 branches of government
William paterson
Congress would be one house
Each state, no matter the size, would have equal power, one vote of equal weight
13 total votes
Favors small states
Who wrote the great compromise and what did it say?
Roger Sherman
Our government today
3 branches of government
executive branch- president
Judicial branch- supreme court
Legislature- Congress-2 houses
upper house-senate- 2 each state
Lower house-House of representatives-population
What was the disagreement between northern and southern states?
How would slaves be counted towards the population for the house of representitives?
