USH Unit 3

Question 1

Articles of Confederation

Answer 1

Based on the principles of

• State sovereignty (Each state has independence)

Limited government

• Central government is weak

Equal representation

• Each state had one vote in Continental Congress
• led to Financial instability, Lack of unity, Inability to enforce laws

Question 2

Virginia Plan

Answer 2

Made by James Madison
Legislature of 2 houses
States represented in both houses in proportion to their population (by population)
Smaller states obviously objected

Question 3

New Jersey Plan

Answer 3

Made by William Patterson
Legislature of 1 house
Equal representation
Congress has more power to tax and regulate commerce

Question 4

Great Compromise

Answer 4

Legislature of 2 houses
House of representatives
Representation is based on a states population (satisfies the larger states)
The Senate
Each state has equal representation with 2 senators (adressing smaller states)
Slave counts as ⅗ of a free person in both representation and taxation

Question 5

Federalism

Answer 5

Federalists
wanted stronger + more effective government
Anti Federalists
thought constitution grants too much power to federal government
Which would lead to tyranny
Biggest complaint was that there was no bill of rights

Question 6

checks and balances

Answer 6

Compromise between Federalists and Antifederalists
3 branches of government have powers to limit and control the actions of the other branches
No single branch becomes too powerful

Question 7

Bill of Rights

Answer 7

First 10 amendments of the constitution
Protects the rights of the people and limits the power of the government
(1st and 10th amendment of the constitution) particularly
Common people wanted it, wealthy people did not

Question 8

Opinions on slavery at the Constitutional Convention

Answer 8

Slaves should be considered persons in determining representation (southern states)
BUT as property if the new gov levied taxes on the states on the basis of population

Question 9

How were representatives to be elected or chosen?

Answer 9

HOR
Proportional representation
Senate
2/state appointed by state legislatures
President
4 year terms -> elected by electors

Question 10

The Federalist Papers

Answer 10

Series of essays supporting the constitution
Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay

Question 11

Thomas Jefferson

Answer 11

Republican
Led republicans with James Madison who switched from federalist

Question 12

Republicans

Answer 12

More agrarian
Opposed federalists
De-centralization

Question 13

Whiskey Rebellion

Answer 13

Protest against the Federal government’s imposition of an excise tax on distilled spirits like whiskey
Was shut down by Hamilton with an army of 15,000

Question 14

Jay’s Treaty

Answer 14

France went to war with britain and Americans wanted nothing to do with it
British seized American ships
This concerned Hamilton because the Americans relied on the British for a lot of things, so war wouldn’t be good
They sent Jay to secure compensation, get British out the US, and form a treaty
BUT HE DID NOT ACHEIVE ALL OF THESE GOALS, ONLY TREATY
Jeffersonian Republicans did not want this treaty because they thought ties to Britain would strengthen the Federalists

Question 15

XYZ Affair

Answer 15

During Quasi war
Americans were sent to France to negotiate peace
Upon arrival, 3 French agents demanded a loan and a bribe before the Americans could even talk to the French minister
John Adams sent the commisioner’s report but renames the agents X, Y, and Z
This XYZ affair provoked outrage at the French and SUPPORT for the Federalists to respond

Question 16

Quasi War

Answer 16

Undeclared naval war between US and France

Question 17

Alien & Sedition Acts

Answer 17

Alien Acts made it difficult for foreigners who want to become American citizens or already are
Sedition act allowed government to prosecute those involved in treason
This allowed Republicans to be unfairly prosecuted by the Federalists

Question 18

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

Answer 18

In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts
One written by Jefferson and the other written by Madison
Asserted the states rights to declare federal laws unconstitutional

Question 19

Election of 1800

Answer 19

Federalist John Adams against Republican Jefferson
Jefferson wins and calls this the “Revolution of 1800”

Question 20

“midnight appointments”

Answer 20

Adams appointed Federalist Judges the night before his inauguration before the republicans took control
To get federalists in high power

Question 21

What were the competing visions of Hamilton and Jefferson?

Answer 21

Hamilton
National bank
National debt
Avoid war with France
More supportive of Eng

Jefferson
Support the French
Agrarian, less commercial
Oppose Hamilton’s plan

Question 22

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 22

Background:
William Marbury (midnight appt) – would he get his commission from being a judge
James Madison, secretary of state for Jefferson – can he be forced to hand over the commision?
Judiciary Act (law passed in 1789) gave the SCOTUS power to force Madison to give Marbury his commission.
SCOTUS decision
We don’t have the power. Judiciary Act = unconstitutional
“In seeming to deny its own authority, the Court was in fact radically enlarging it. The justices had repudiated a relatively minor power (the power to force the delivery of a commission) by asserting a vastly greater one (the power to nullify an act of Congress)” (169).
Key Point: JUDICIAL REVIEW established

Question 23

judicial review

Answer 23

The Supreme Courts ability to review acts of Congress and declare them unconstiutional

Question 24

What was the Jeffersonian vision for the United States?

Answer 24

Agrarian economy
Simplicity
Limited power of Federalists

Question 25

Did Jefferson as president live up to his Republican ideals of a restrained centralized government?

Answer 25

No, Jefferson’s actions after he became president were evidently similar to a president who preferred centralized government
This is shown when he increases the size of the US army exponentially
And when he excercises strong national authority without the people’s opinion

Question 26

How did the U.S. acquire the Louisiana territory? In what ways did Jefferson’s actions to purchase the territory contradict his ideals?

Answer 26

How?
Didn’t want France to have New Orleans port (essential for American trade)
Went to negotiate France, and unexpectedly Napoeleon Bonaparte offered all of Louisiana because he needed money to fund his war efforts in Europe
How did Jefferson’s action contradict his ideals
Strict interpretation of the Constitution would be challenged as there is nothing in the constitution that states his ability to buy this territory
This mass amount of land would contradict his ideals of an agrarian society
(He chose to buy it which was a good choice)