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Concept that ultimate political authority is vested in the citizens of the nation. The character of republican government was dependent on civic virtue of it's citizens to preserve the nation from corruption and moral decay.
I: Was one of the main themes for our government that is still there today. |
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Armed insurrection of farmers in western Mass. led by Daniel Shays, a veteran of the Continental Army. Intended to prevent state courts from foreclosing on debtors unable to to pay their taxes, the rebellion was put down by state militia. Nationalists use this event to justify the calling of the constitutional convention to strengthen the national gov't.
I: Showed people's dislike for their debt and they wouldn't pay it. |
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Supporters of the Constitution who advocated its ratification.
I: They helped to get the constitution ratified. |
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Fundamental rights over which the gov't could exercise no control. An uncompromising belief in such rights energized the popular demand for a formal bill of rights in 1791.
I: This partially limited the gov'ts powers, and protected people''s rights when added to the Bill of Rights. |
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| Constitutional Convention |
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Held in Philadelphia in 1787, consisted of 55 representatives from the states to make changes to the Articles of Confederation. They ended up making the Constitution instead. The New Jersey Plan, and Virginia plan were suggested here.
I: Was when/where the Constitution was formed. |
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Essays and pamphlets written by prominent Federalists that tried to get people to be in favor of the ratification of the constitution. They talked about the advantages of this new constitution compared to the articles of confederation.
I: They were very helpful tools for the Federalists to help get the constitution ratified. |
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Enlightened thinker that believed in the rights of everyone to life, liberty, and property.
I: Used by the founding fathers used the ideology in the Declaration of Independence. Although they changed he end to the pursuit of happiness. |
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| Articles of Confederation |
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Ratified in 1781, this document was the U.S's first constitution, providing a framework for national gov't. The articles sharply limited central authority by denying the national gov't any taxation or coercive power.
I: Was the first form of government in the new country, and it showed that the federal gov't need more power to be effective. |
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Madison at Constitutional Convention- called for new gov't w/ strong executive office and two houses of Congress, each w/ representation proportional to a state's population. Also giving the national gov't veto power over bills passed by state legislatures.(Large states in favor)
I: This showed the larger states point of view, and contributed to the great compromise. |
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People against the ratification of the constitution.
I: Madison was a prominent Anti-Federalist, and they almost prevented the ratification of the constitution. |
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This was the compromise between the New Jersey, and Virginia plan. It established the rule that each state was allowed two representatives in the senate, and a number based on their population in the House of Representatives.
I: This was important because the small states had equal voice in the senate. And the large states had more of a voice in the ouse since they had much larger populations. |
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African slaves only counted as 3/5 of a person in regard to the number of representatives a state was allowed in the House of Representatives (and Electoral college?) since it was based on population.
I: This was a compromise so that the Southern states didn't get many extra representatives because of the slaves that didn't have rights. |
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Gave rules for how the northwest territory would be split up.
I: This was important in dividing the land up evenly instead of the states fighting/laying claims to the land. |
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This is when the army was angry that they were only being payed a third of what they deserved from the revolution, and started to revolt. Washington confronted them directly with a speech and ended the revolt peacefully.
I: This showed Washington's power over others, and how much the citizens respected him. It also showed another problem induced by the federal gov'ts lack of capitol. |
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Legislation that formulated plans for gov'ts in America's northwestern territories, defined a procedure for the territories admission to the Union as states, and prohibited slavery north of the Ohio River.
I: Was important in providing order for the process of changing a territory into a state. |
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New Jersey delegation at Constitutional Convention-strong national gov't w/ one house of Congress in which all states have equal representations.
I: Showed the smaller states points-of-view. Also helped contribute to the Great compromise with the idea of two Senators representing each state, |
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The first ten amendments of the US Constitution, adopted in 1791 to preserve the rights and liberties of individual.
I: Provided citizens with their natural rights, and laid the foundation for more amendments to be added later. |
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Established through the supremacy clause in the constitution. Stated that in conflicts between state government and federal government, federal government always won.
I: This gave power to the federal gov't over the state gov'ts. |
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A group of representatives from each state the elect the president, based on the states best interest, and the preferences of the citizens of their state.
I: This was and still is the system for voting for president. |
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The approval of a large change or law. Often used in context with the Constitution. 9 states ratified it. (Majority needed).
I: The constitution was ratified, and that is the basis of the government, and still is. |
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