Pols 1100 first midterm
Declaration of Independence
"the separate but equal station" -separate ourselves "unalienable rights" -natural rights before government "that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men" - job of government "consent of the governed" -people "right of the people to alter or abolish it"
Sons of Liberty (Massachusetts)
(religious liberty) Sam Adams & William Brattle start the group Brattle gets cold feet and rats out group Brattle goes to Nocascocia
Articles of Confederation weaknesses
(weaknesses-no power to tax, no power over commerce, no power to raise army)
Article 3: Judicial Branch
- supreme court & "inferior courts" -hold office for life
The Virginia Plan (madison) US
-3 branches (legislative, executive, judicial) -Bicameral (lower house represent people, upper house represent lower house) -representation bases on population (legislator and veto state, executive chosen by leg with 1 term, judiciary is lifetime term & counsil of revision)
Article 6: Supremacy Clause
-Federal power is supreme over state power (supreme land of the law)
Before the constitutional convention
-aftermath of the war -mount Vernon conference (success) -annapolis convention (fail-5 states came) -philadelphia convention (aka constitutional convention) -disputes over land and trade
14th Amendment
-all persons born in the U.S. are citizens -selective incorporation (plays a role in shaping state and national government relations
Hamilton Plan
-bicameral -representation bases on pop -electoral college for executive and senate -congress can pass any law -exec. choose governors -senetors represent elites -Called for life term of Executive and legislative branches
Article 4: state relations
-full faith and credit clause (ex: license) -privileges and immunities -admission of new states -republican garantee
How many americans wanted independence?
1/4 wanted independence 1/4 didn't 1/2 didn't care
Civil War Amendments
13- abolish slavery 14-born in the US = US citizen 15-abolish restriction of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude
Voting Amendments
15-abolish restriction of voting rights based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude 19- women suffrage 24- abolish poll taxes 26- 18+ can vote
Alcohol
18th- prohibition of alcohol 21st- repeal of prohibition
Boston Tea Party
A 1773 protest against British taxes in which the sons of liberty disguised as Mohawks dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor.
Federalism
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments. -each level of government may have exclusive authority to act in certain areas
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 E appoints judges or pardons J E vetos bills L L impeach, override veto E L approve judges & branch officials J J declares laws unconstitutional L J declarations unconstitutional/impeach E
Pennsylvania (land grant)
Ben Franklin encourages people to stay with british empire Thomas paine and ben are friends thomas writes "common sense" INDEPENDENCE thomas is opposite of william franklin (bens son) Bloody John Bacon gets freaked out by revolution and forms a malitia (pine robbers) -counterpoint to paine
9th Amendment
Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution (enumerated rights)
Federation (US) vs Confederation (13 colonies)
Federation -a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions under a central government -binding (constitution) -Article 4 -tenth amendment Confederation -political units for common action in relation to other units -Articles of confederation -non-binding -limited # of issues
Article 1: Legislative Branch
House of representatives -25, citizen for 7 years, inhabit state they represent -2 year term -proportional representation (435) -power of impeachment (removal of office) Senate -30, 9 year citizen, inhabit state they represent -6 year term, popularly elected -2 per state (100 total) -VP is pres of senate (only votes if there is a tie) -trials of impeachment
Philosophers for Social Contract Theory
John Locke- (life, liberty, property) legit governments need a social contract Thomas Hobbes- SC is an agreement in which individuals mutually transfer their natural rights Jean- Jacques Roussea- laws are binding only when they are supported by general will of people
Virginia
John Randolf (governor)- opposed to independence & uses wealth to influence Thomas Jefferson & Edmund are on the side of independence
Battle of Lexington and Concord
Kicks off the Revolutionary War. Midnight ride of paul revere.
Article 2: Executive Branch
President: 35, resident for 14 years, natural born citizen -oath of office (words in constitution) -state of the union -commander of army -make treaties and nominating power w/ consent of senate
Article 5 - Mode of Amendment
Proposal -2/3 of house + 2/3 of senate propose amendment OR -2/3 of legislators call for a convention to propose amendments Ratification -3/4 of the states by state legislator OR -ratifying convention
Gaspy affair
Sons of liberty set three ships on fire that got stuck. "accident" (not just acting up in Boston)
Sugar act, stamp act, quartering act, declaratory act, townsend act, tea act, intolerable acts
Sugar- changed the way sugar is taxed (no more smuggling) Stamp- must use british currency to pay for stamps on paper Quartering- colonists must house troops Declaratory- repeals stamp act, colonies can make acts on behalf of colonists Townsend- reenacts stamp act but on tea and other things too tea- another attempt to impose taxes intolerable- made because of boston tea party
Boston Massacre
The first bloodshed of the Amercan Revolution, as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five americans
Bill of rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
French and Indian War
War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won. (event before revolutionary war)
Social Contract
an agreement in which people give their governments the ability to rule over them to ensure an orderly & functioning society (liberty vs security)
Constitution: Preamble (update of American Dream)
goals: form more perfect union (didn't have all answers), establish justice, insure domestic tranquility (way to dissolve disagreement), provide for the common defense (protect from attacks), promote general welfare, secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity.
The purpose of Government
john locke- main purpose is to preserve property thomas jefferson- secure inalienable rights (agrees with john) Gov morris- government has collective duties Franklin Rooselvelt- true freedom can't exist without it Karl Marx- Equality
National vs. State Government
national -powers explicitly listed and defined in constitution enumerated power- powers granted to national gov by constitution implied powers- not textually granted but assumed to make laws "necessary & proper" -not listed, not granted state -powers less explicit -10th amendment (reserved powers) -police powers -not listed, its granted -conduct elections
Consitutional Convention
purpose: change the articles of confederation -55 delegates came from 12 states -39 signed constitution -virginia plan, new jersey plan, Hamilton plan
New Jersery Plan (patterson)
purpose: preserve power to the states -few changes from A of C -unicameral -one vote per state (not pop) -can impeach president -term limits -leg get new powers (tax, war)
liberty
social, political, & economic freedoms, freedom to pursue ones dream.
Police powers (reserved powers)
state power to enact laws promoting health, safety, and morals (welfare)
Consitution
the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
American Dream
the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. Always Changing!
Articles of Confederation
week institution that governed the states during the revolutionary war. (annual congress, power over foreign affairs and war, power over interstate conflict, power over money, 9 states to pass anything, 13 states to amend articles)
