American Political Culture/Bill of Rights
What does Laissez-Faire mean?
Minimal Government Intervention
When was the Declaration of Independence published?
July 4th 1776
Who was Daniel Shays?
Who were the main figures at the constitutional convention?
George Washington, James Madison
What does the Supremacy clause ensure?
It establishes that federal law should take precedence over state laws
What is Egalitarianism?
A belief in the equality of all people.
What groups were excluded from the Declaration of Independence? (Name all three we talked about)
Women, Enslaved Africans and African Americans, and Native Americans.
Why did Shays Rebellion happen? (Two answer)
1.Poor farmers unable to pay their debts were having land foreclosed by the government.
2. Unpaid revolutionary war debts were unpaid.
How many states had to ratify the Constitution in order for it to go into effect?
9 of the 13 states
What does the 10th amendment say?
Powers not given to the federal government are reserved for the states and the people.
What are the Natural Rights? What is another name for them?
Inalienable rights- Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? (Name Three)
Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman
What were the Articles of Confederation?
Articles were the first form of government after the colonies declared their independence.
When and where was the constitutional convention held? (2 part answer)
Philadelphia, 1787
What is the difference between Enumerated and Implied powers?
Enumerated Powers: Powers that explicitly stated within the Constitution
Implied Powers: Powers that Congress may create through use of the elastic (“necessary and proper”) clause
Define Political Culture.
A Shared set of beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to governments and one another.
Who was the inspiration for the Declaration? (Name one)
John Locke and Thomas Hobbs.
What are the failure of the Articles?
1. Weaker federal government
2. Unable to regulate commerce
3. No court system/Judicial Branch
Who were Federalists and what did they believe? Anti-Federalists? (2 parts)
Federalists wanted a strong central government.
Anti-Federalists wanted a weaker federal government with stronger state governments.
What is the anatomy of the Constitution? (What are the 3 main parts?)
The preamble, the seven articles, and the amendments.
What are the first five amendments? (No numbers :)
Five Freedoms, Right to Bear Arms, Housing of Troops in Time of War by owner's consent, unreasonable search and seizure, and due process.
Explain the meaning behind this section of the preamble. "That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it"?
When a government misuses its power, the people have the right to overthrow it?
How did Shays Rebellion show some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
What did the Great Compromise accomplish? (Hint: Think of the Virginia and New Jersey plans)
The Great Compromise led to the creation of a bicameral legislature. A senate for equal representation and the house for representation by population.
What are the seven main principles of the constitution
popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, federalism, checks and balances, republicanism, and individual rights.