US History test 1 1776-1789
Thomas Paine
"Our cause is the cause of mankind. We are showing the way for a better world. We have the capacity to establish a birthday for mankind. The rest of history will be different for what we do."-Thomas Paine Thomas Paine was a huge part in leading the American Colonies to independence by speaking to all of the people though his pamphlets.
Shays's Rebellion - who? What? When? Where? How and Why?
1786-1787 in Massachusetts began in the summer of 1786. Lots of soldiers are going to debtor prison because they were losing their farms Did not get paid for their service in the war - Shay wanted to rebel against the unfair rules after risking their lives for their country -Shays' Rebellion greatly alarmed politicians throughout the nation. Proponents of constitutional reform at the national level cited the rebellion as justification for revision or replacement of the Articles of Confederation, and Shays' Rebellion figured prominently in the debates over the framing and ratification of the Constitution. -Shays rebellion gave George Washington the idea to stop the path of tyranny the articles of confederation were leading them towards
Northwest Land Ordinance of 1787
1787 Congress structured development in the northwest. Congress knew that if their new confederation were to survive intact, it had to resolve the states' competing claims to western territory. each territory would have an appointed governor and council. When the population reached 5,000, the residents could elect their own assembly, although the governor would retain absolute veto power. When 60,000 settlers resided in a territory, they could draft a constitution and petition for full statehood. The ordinance provided for civil liberties and public education within the new territories, but did not allow slavery. Pro-slavery Southerners were willing to go along with this because they hoped that the new states would be populated by white settlers from the South. They believed that although these Southerners would have no slaves of their own, they would not join the growing abolition movement of the North.
Checks and Balances
Allowed each branch to limit each others power
Whigs
A member of Parliament who sympathize with the rebel cause Loyal opposition→ voice Tory=King George III=majority party Tories sought a military solution Political difference, political institution Whigs were effective because they had a say
Fugitive Slave Clause
Any slave that runs away must be returned if found. No matter where they are found
Fifth Column Problems
Are Enemies from within Ex: Whigs are a fifth column problem for the Parliament
Great Compromise
Article I Section I= separation of power=Great Compromise Consensus allows people to make compromises Compromise that one house will be based on equality and one on population Direct selection from population of who goes into House of Representatives House of Representative= two year terms, direct election,25 years old Senate member= 6 year term, 30 years old, every 2 years ⅓ of senate is re-elected by representatives Electoral college= number of house representatives and number of senators=538 South had unfair advantage in elections because slaves made up ⅗ of population 3 out of 5 slaves would count towards population South had more votes than North because there is a fixed number in the house of representatives Number of representatives= 65 12 out the first 16 of the United States were slave owners Northerners were willing to compromise to keep union together Any tax bill has to originate in House of Representatives because of "Taxation with Representation"
Supreme Court
Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary. Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." The supreme court has the most power in nullify laws and render verdicts
Article III. - Judicial
Article III→ judicial-->federal and supreme court Judicial Branch of the United States government to hear cases and interpret, enforce or nullify laws and statutes in order to render verdicts.
Impeachment - House/Senate/reasons for removal
Article I→ legislative power→ congress→ House of Representatives=power of impeachment, house brings up charges, senate= power to try all impeachment The Constitution defines impeachment at the federal level and limits impeachment to "The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States" who may be impeached and removed only for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors".
Elastic Clause - Article I, Section 8: Clause 18
Elastic clause: granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers.
Separation of Powers
Executive, (President and about 5,000,000 workers) Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) Judicial (Supreme Court and lower Courts).
Federalism
Federalism=political science term, sharing of political power between the national government and the state government
Federalist Arguments vs. Anti Federalist Arguments - specific -on the ratification of the Constitution - Covered Day #4 This Week
Federalists: were people who supported/had experience in continental army as diplomats wanted strong central government - anti federalists: were people who had state experience and want to guard the state - they believed a strong central government took away people's liberty - wanted state governments - afraid of article 1, section 8, clause 18 elastic clause - congress had the right to pass laws - feared the expansion of federal power, - a strong central govt is oppressive A lot of them were in in the 55 delegates in the Philadelphia convention The antifederalists wanted the bill of rights to protect their rights as citizens The Bill of rights came after the constitution
Habeas Corpus
Habeas corpus is a writ that is used to bring a party who has been criminally convicted in state court into federal court. Usually, writs of habeas corpus are used to review the legality of the party's arrest, imprisonment, or detention.
Founding Fathers
Historiography=historical interpretation=point of view= conflict or consensus Founding Fathers→ Radicals Prove it- look at the founding fathers with new perspective Recreate the world in the Federalists lived/historical context Olympian sages welfare of the nation Founding Father = 55 delegates Philadelphia convention Tough minded realists New constitution Republican=representative democracy New constitution was strong central government vs a decentralized government Americans number 1 fear= strong central government→ tyranny Replaced one tyranny that was located in London with a new tyranny in Washington D.C. Federalists favored adoptions of the constitution Anti Federalists those who opposed constitution
"advice and consent of the senate"
In the United States, "advice and consent" is a power of the United States Senate to be consulted on and approve treaties signed and appointments made by the President of the United States to public positions, including Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, United States Attorneys, and ambassadors.
Common Sense
Jan 1776 - Common Sense written by Thomas Paine - Was available to everyone and was written in a direct language. Calls the King a ass and that there is no benefit staying with the Crown. "American Exceptionalism:" "Our cause is the cause of mankind, we are showing the way for a better world, we have the capacity to establish a birth day for mankind, the rest of history will be different forac what we do." Focused on 3 mains points: Being part of Britain would commit America to European wars which would hamper its international trade, one of America's strongpoints. The distance between Britain and America made British rule impractical, because of the slowness of communications at the time. Britain ruled the colonies for its own benefit, and put the needs of Britain before the welfare of its American colonies and the colonists living there.
Declaration of independence
July 4th, 1776 - declaration of independence was signed - Declared independence from Britain - Thomas Jefferson wrote it - it did not mention the freedom of the slaves - those who signed the declaration stuck together because they committed treason - Thomas Jefferson wanted the people to have the natural rights.
Loyalists
Living in British North America who supported the British cause ⅕ to ⅓ of the American Population was loyal to the crown -Hedge bets - Social standing - Ties to Brits→ profits - Merchants - Cultural ties - Not effective→ not united, no British aid, silenced by American propaganda,Sons of Liberty-threat of violence
3/5ths Compromise
The 3/5th compromise made it so that slaves would count as 3/5th of a person to help the south "increase" their population for representation in govt.
Articles of Confederation - powers - accomplishments -- weaknesses
The Articles of Confederation Written in 1777 - Ratified in 1781 - Stop being used in 1789 Written by the Second Continental Congress What kind of central government? Decentralized→ limited power League of friendship "Perpetual union" "Mutual defense" Confederation of states Most political power→ state sovereignty Powers denied/Limited/weakness: No power to tax No power to regulate trade No central judiciary No central chief executive To amend unanimous Each state had one vote no matter population -> Problems in the west 9/13 states had to agree to make laws Powers: Declare war Negotiate alliances Negotiate treaties Borrow money Appoint military leaders They divided up the west for farms Land above Ohio river, there would be no slavery
Powers of the President
The Constitution explicitly assigns to the president the power to sign or veto legislation, command the armed forces, ask for the written opinion of his Cabinet, convene or adjourn Congress, grant reprieves and pardons, and receive ambassadors.
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 was adopted by the United States Congress of the Confederation on May 20, 1785. It set up a standardized system whereby settlers could purchase title to farmland in the undeveloped west. Was split up into a checkered board format
Why was the Whig dissidence in Parliament so important while the Loyalists in America so unimportant? What is a "fifth column" problem?
The Whigs were so important while those who were loyal in America was because the whigs had a voice inside parliament while those in America, had no voice in decisions. A fifth column problem is an enemy within.
Powers of Congress - Article I, Section 8
To borrow money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To declare War to raise and support armies to provide and a maintain a navy
Compromise of 1808
The trading of slavery would end. found in section 9 of Article I of the Constitution, stipulated that Congress would not be able to prohibit the importation of slaves before 1808, although they may tax them. This helped to counter Southern fears that Congress' power to regulate commerce would be used to abolish slavery.
George Washington - his view vs. Thomas Jefferson - his view - direct quotations from each document needed
Thomas Jeffersons View: believed in independent, self-reliant, self sufficient,rugged,individual, Yeoman farmers Believes in a society of independent farmers Farmers are independent and so they are virtuous Not corrupted and cannot be corrupted Ambitious people use the subservient people to achieve their goals He wants to create a merit based society Corruption is from dependence Government prevents you from pursuing happiness There are always people who want to move up George W view: George Washington was among the first of America's statesmen to recognize the flaws in the government under the Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation. His experience in the Revolutionary War had convinced him that excessive concerns for states' rights and state sovereignty would be fatal to an effective national government. The inability of the Continental or Confederation government to feed, accommodate, supply, or pay the army was more than enough to convince him that a stronger central government was essential to maintain such an extended nation.
"American Crisis" "sunshine patriots" "winter soldiers"
Thomas Paine writes his second pamphlet called the American Crisis on December 23, 1776 - "Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered... that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph" - Winter soldiers are "These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan - led to ...
Virginia plan: Strong central govt. a national government consisting of three branches with checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power. In its amended form, this page of Madison's plan shows his ideas for a legislature. It describes 2 houses: one with members elected by the people for 3-year terms and the other composed of older leaders elected by the state legislatures for 7-year terms. Both would use population as a basis for dividing seats among the states. New Jersey Plan: The plan once again offered the idea of a unicameral (one house) legislature in which all states would have an equal number of votes. The New Jersey plan was beneficial for the smaller states because they had less representation due to population
Compromise over the Election of the President - Electoral College
a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president. a body of electors chosen or appointed by a larger group.
Thomas Jefferson -- Chosen People of God. What does he say about virtue? What is Jefferson's vision of America? Was their vision radical? Be specific in your answer and provide analysis -- Covered Day #4 this week
it is a vision of america in the future believed in, self reliant, self sufficient, rugged farmers Independent farmers - means they are virtuous, meaning they are not corrupted because they are self reliant, self sufficient, rugged farmers he rejects society because they don't have the right to pursuit of happiness, liberty, and life position based on merit, wants to create a merit based system. Not get things from who you know Did not want us to look like england
Treason
the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill the sovereign or overthrow the government.