The Constitution and More Flashcards
(73 cards)
What are the 4 things about the Atlantic Ocean Apart?
- US had financial freedom (exported more goods)
- laws and customs varied= courts/judges
- We had our own court system
- We became self governed= own constitution
How did England get involved?
Started the French/Indian War
What started the French/Indian War?
There was conflict between England and the French about the land up North in Canada. The French attacked and took over parts of the colonies.
How did England make up for their debts after the war?
Raised taxes on the colonists.
What was the Stamp Act/Townshend Acts?
Any paper document was taxed= playing cards, legal documents, newspapers, dolls, pamphlets, everyday items.
What was the Sugar Act?
taxation on imported goods that required sugar or molasses.
Why was Rum important in the Sugar Act?
Rum had molasses in it which was taxed so it increased the pricing of rum. Water was not safe to drink during this time so people didn’t have anything to drink anymore.
What happened if you smuggled sugar?
The punishment was death.
What was the Boston Tea Party?
Colonists dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor and it equaled to $1.7 million. This equals to English tightening control.
What was the intolerable act?
Restriction against colonists after the Boston Tea Party. They closed the Boston Harbor and then the Massachusetts colony couldn’t govern themselves anymore.
What was the First Continental Congress?
Started in 1774. A meeting called by Virginia and Massachusetts between all colonies dreating an embargo to do no trading with England. England saw this as a rebellion(war).
What was the Second Continental Congress?
The colonists gathered in Philadelphia 3 weeks after the 1st shots of the war with England.
What did the Second Continental Congress make?
All 13 colonies delegated a centeral gov.
-decided on a leader= John Hancock
-voted to organize a military=Washington in command
What was the Declaration of Independence?
Happened in 1776.
-biggest contributors were Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson
What is the Confederal system of Gov?
Small individual states and the gov. has little influence
When was the Articles of Confederation?
1781-1789
What was the Articles of Confederation?
All the colonies were seen as independent states.
How was the states gov. during the Articles of Confederation?
Unicameral (1 house/chamber)
-centeral gov. with single branch of gov.
-single branch with representatives for each state
-law and court makers for their own state
-congress settled issues between states
What were the Powers Expressed to Congress? (Central Gov.)
- Make war & peace
- Send and receive ambassadors
- Enter into treaties
- Start and equip Navy
- Maintain an army= requesting troops from the states
- Appoint senior military officers
- Fix standards of weight and measures
- Regulate Native American affairs
- Establish post offices
- Decided certain disputes among states
Why did this Gov. not work?
We had no money and there was fear.
What were the weaknesses of the Articles?
- No Central taxation
- No ability to regulate laws
- No legal force to make people obey laws
- 9 out of 13 states had to approve the laws. (none showed)
- Could never make changes to the articles
- No Executive Branch
- No overall court
What issues did the Articles of Confederation arise?
- States began to have problems with each other
- States would negotiate with other countries
- Lead to $40 million in debt
What was Shay’s Rebellion?
Economic issues leading to upset farmers
-they forced courts to close which prevented land foreclosure
-Massachusetts court denied farmers
-Daniel Shay and 1,200 men stole weapons and started a riot
-Massachusetts militia put an end to it
What did Shay’s rebellion lead to?
A stronger central Gov.