Before Constitution
Why did the British create many laws to tax the colonists?
To pay off debt that doubled during the French and Indian War
What was the center issue the North and South were divided on that led to the Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise?
Representation in Congress. Both compromises prevented each region from gaining much more representation in Congress than the other region. Representation in Congress provides power in Congress.
Why was a system of checks and balances made?
To prevent each of the three branches of the federal government from gaining too much power.
What is judicial review and which US Supreme Court Case established this?
Courts have the power to interpret the laws and decide whether laws made by Congress are constitutional or unconstitutional. Marbury v. Madison (1803)
List 2 powers shared by both the federal government and state governments
Taxes, criminal laws, road, welfare, borrow money, create banks.
How did the colonists respond to British taxes? List 2 different actions they took.
Boycott, protest, petition, Boston Tea Party, and eventually war.
What was the key difference between the beliefs of Anti-federalists and Federalists concerning the governments powers?
Federalists wanted to give the federal government much more power than the Anti-federalists did.
List 3 examples of how a branch can limit another branch's power.
President can veto laws made by Legislative Branch.
2/3 of both houses of Congress can override a President's veto of a law.
Legislative Branch can impeach President and Supreme Court Justices by a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives and 2/3 of Senate.
Senate must approve the President's Supreme Court appointments with simple majority vote.
Senate must approve treaties the President wants to sign.
The Supreme Court can declare laws and actions taken by the Legislative Branch and Executive Branch unconstitutional
How did Chief Justice's Marshall Court impact the power of the federal government in their landmark court cases?
Strengthened the federal government's power.
List 2 powers given exclusively to the State Governments, not the Federal Government.
schools, create local governments, driver licenses, voting requirements, control and regulate trade within state, provide for public safety with police departments.
Why is the Declaration of Independence considered a turning point in US History?
Before: Colonists were part of Britain and fighting for Britain to lower taxes and provide representation in Parliament to colonists.
After: Colonists fought for becoming independent from Britain, creating the US, which has lasted ever since, government's values shaped by Declaration of Independence, etc.
What led to the Constitution being approved by both the Anti-federalists and Federalists?
The Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights, so the Anti-Federalists would ratify/approve the US Constitution
List 4 powers the legislative branch has
Tax, form an army, declare war, make laws, approve treaties, approve Presidential appointments for Supreme Court Justices, establish post offices and roads, coin money, borrow money, create budgets, impeach and override President's vetos.
What is interstate commerce clause and how did it impact the ruling in Ogden v. Gibbons (1824)?
Allows for federal government to make decisions, laws, and policies concerning trade and commerce between different states. The Supreme Court justified their decision to declare Ogden's exclusive license to the waterways in New York and New Jersey provided by New York State was unconstitutional
List 2 powers the President has.
Commander-in-chief of the military, veto laws, appoint Supreme Court Justices, carry out the laws, propose laws, negotiate treaties, appoint ambassadors.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail to serve the people to the point in which they had to revise them?
The AOC did not provide the federal government with enough power to serve the people best. Many farmers were struggling. There was no leader, Congress could not tax, borrow money to help citizens in need, could not raise an army during peacetime to prevent internal rebellions or invasions.
What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
To protect citizens from the federal government abusing their power. This granted citizens natural rights and individual liberties.
List 2 powers given exclusively to the Federal Government, not states.
Coin Money, Declare War, control interstate commerce/trade, create and maintain armed forces, copyright and patent laws, and establish foreign policy,
How did the Marshall Court strengthen the federal government's power in McCulloch v. Gibbons (1819)?
They used the necessary and proper clause and supremacy clause to justify their decision, which both give the federal government more power. They allow for the federal government to make laws they see necessary and proper and that the Constitution overrides state laws.
List 3 facts about the Boston Massacre
Occurred in Boston in 1770 during a protest against British Taxes, a colonist threw a rock that caused a British soldier to shoot, more soldiers shot, leading to 5 colonists dying, the soldiers were tried in Britain and were acquitted, and it angered many colonists.
How did Shays' Rebellion expose the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and lead to the Constitutional Convention?
The AOC did not provide the federal government with enough power to serve the people best. Many farmers in Massachusetts were struggling, the state raised taxes by 60%, causing many to lose their property. There was no leader, Congress could not tax, borrow money to help citizens in need, could not raise an army during peacetime to prevent internal rebellions or invasions. This all allowed for Shays Rebellion to gain momentum and warned the nation that if the AOC were not revised, the government would crumble. This led to key delegates throughout the colonies to meet for the Constitutional Convention to create a new government under the US Constitution.
Why is the Constitution considered a living document?
There is an amendment process that allows for changes to be made to the US Constitution.
What is federalism?
Division of power and shared powers between federal government and state governments.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clauses AKA Elastic Clause, who did it provide more power to, and why?
The Necessary and Proper clause allows for the federal government to make laws they see necessary and proper, which provides more power to the federal government, as they can make laws that conflict with and override state laws. Made to allow for the federal government to adapt to changes to serve country best.
List 2 complaints Thomas Jefferson made in the Declaration of Independence
British King paying judges, colonists being tried in Britain, unfair juries in Britain, no representation in British Parliament, their power to tax however they want, British Soldiers staying at colonists houses, the King not listening to the colonists complaints.