Vocabulary Terms
Declaration of Independence
Historic document adopted by continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The 13 American colonies were severing their political ties with Great Britain.
What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence
to formally announce the colonies' separation from Great Britain, explain the reasons for this separation, and justify the right to revolution
Describe the 10th amendment in your own words.
three-fifth compromise and the extension of the international slave trade. Compromises were necessary to secure southern support for the new government but were highly controversial, with some viewing the Constitution as a betrayal of American ideals, while others saw it as a necessary step toward a stronger union that might eventually lead to abolition.
Why did the colonists resent the acts on the steps to the Road to the Revolution?
Townshed Acts and the Stamp Act primarily due to the principle of "no taxation without representation', as they had no elected representatives in the British Parliament to consent to these taxes.
Virginia Plan
a proposal for a new government structured; adopted for a strong, three-branch national government with a bicameral legislature where representation was based on population
Articles of Confederation
Created a weak Central government with power residing mainly with the states
Why did the Articles of Confederation failed?
the central government was too weak, lacking key powers such as the ability to tax, regulate interstate commerce, and raise an army independently
Describe the causes and effects of Shay's Rebellion
Causes: by a combination of post-Revolutionary War debt, high taxes, and stringent economic policies that disproportionately affected small farmers in Massachusetts
Effects: highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which directly led to the Constitutional Convention and the creation of a stronger federal government
What is Abigail Adams known for?
Her prolific correspondence with her husband John Adams, which offered insights into the era's politics and her own keen intellect. She was also an early and vocal advocate for women's right, famously urging her husband to 'remember the ladies' when creating new laws. Additionally, she was a strong opponent of slavery and an influential political figure and confidante to her husband during his presidency
New Jersey Plan
a proposal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that advocated for a unicameral (single-house) legislature with equal representation for all states, regardless of population
Elastic Clause
a system of governance where the fundamental rules are not found in a single, codified document
At the Constitutional Convention (1787) the founders debated
Big states wanted........
Small states wanted.......
Big states wanted….representation in the new government to be based on their state's population
Small states wanted…equal representation for every state in the new national legislature to prevent larger states from dominating them
Describe the success as and failure of the Articles of Confederation
Successes: winning the Revolutionary War, negotiating the Treaty of Paris, and organizing western expansion through landmark ordinances like the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Failures: lack of a strong central government
What was the debate over slavery in regard to ratifying the Constitution?
Three-Fifth compromise and the extension of the international slave trade. Compromises were necessary to secure southern support for the new government but were highly controversial, with some viewing the Constitution as a betrayal of American ideals, while others saw it as a necessary step toward a stronger union that might eventually lead to abolition.
Great (Connecticut) Compromise
a proposal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that advocated for a unicameral (single-house) legislature with equal representation for all states, regardless of population
Federalism
a principle or system of government in which several states form a unity but remain independent in internal affairs.
What did the
Slave states wanted..........
Free states wanted..........
Slaves wanted equal representation for every state in the new national legislature to prevent larger states from dominating them.
Free wanted representation in Congress to be based on population to give them more power
Describe the causes and effects of the Boston Massacre
Causes: escalating tensions between British soldiers, stationed in Boston to enforce unpopular taxes, and the local colonists, who resented being taxed without representation in the British Parliament
Effects: intensified colonial opposition to British rule, acting as a powerful propaganda tool for revolutionaries who portrayed it as a symbol of British tyranny and fueled anti-British sentiment
What are the Key ideas held by both Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Federalists: National over state authority: Federalists favored a powerful federal government and weaker state governments. They believed this structure was necessary to manage a complex nation, protect against internal factionalism, and command respect on the international stage.
Federal Supremacy: They supported the concept of federal supremacy, which holds that federal laws and the Constitution are the supreme law of the land, overriding state constitutions and laws when there is a conflict.
Anti-Federalists: States' Rights: Anti-Federalists believed that most governing power should remain with the states, not the federal government. They feared a strong central authority would diminish state sovereignty and autonomy.
Fear of Tyranny: A core concern was that the new Constitution would create a central government too powerful and distant from the people, which could replicate the tyranny they had fought against in Britain. They felt a powerful national government would be prone to corruption and abuse of power.
Demand for a Bill of Rights: They insisted that the Constitution was dangerous because it lacked a specific list of individual rights. They argued a Bill of Rights was essential to protect citizens from potential federal power and to ensure the preservation of individual liberties.
Decentralized Power: They advocated for a more decentralized system where representatives were closely accountable to the people, favoring features like direct election and short terms in office. They believed this was the best way to preserve republican liberty.
Three-fifths Compromise
was an agreement made during the 1787 Constitutional Convention where three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for both determining a state's total population for legislative representation and for direct taxation
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing such rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship
What did the
Federalists wanted...............
Anti-Federalists wanted.........
Fed wanted a strong, centralized national government to replace the weak Articles of Confederation
Anti-Fed wanted to prevent the concentration of too much power in the federal government and protect the rights of states and individuals
Identify and define the steps on the Road to the Revolution
The French and Indian War ends (1763): Britain defeats France and gains vast territory in North America but is left with a massive debt. To prevent colonial expansion into Native American lands, Britain issues the Proclamation of 1763, angering colonists who wanted to settle west of the Appalachian Mountains.
New taxes are imposed: Parliament passes several acts to raise revenue and assert authority over the colonies.
Sugar Act (1764): Taxes sugar, wine, coffee, and other goods imported to the colonies.
Stamp Act (1765): The first direct tax on colonists, requiring stamps on all legal documents, newspapers, and playing cards. The colonists fiercely protest with the cry of "no taxation without representation".
Quartering Act (1765): Requires colonists to house British soldiers.
Colonial resistance grows: In response to the Stamp Act, colonists form groups like the Sons of Liberty and organize boycotts of British goods. The Stamp Act is repealed in 1766, but Parliament passes the Declaratory Act, asserting its right to tax the colonies "in all cases whatsoever".
The Townshend Acts (1767): Taxes are placed on imported lead, glass, paper, paint, and tea. Colonial opposition, including boycotts, leads to British troops occupying Boston.
The Boston Massacre (1770): British troops fire on a crowd of colonists, killing five. This event intensifies anti-British sentiment.
The Boston Tea Party (1773): In response to the Tea Act, which gives the British East India Company a tea monopoly, colonists disguised as Native Americans dump tea into Boston Harbor.
he Intolerable Acts (1774): As punishment for the Tea Party, Parliament passes several punitive laws, including closing the port of Boston. These acts further unite the colonies against Britain.
Describe the First Amendment in your own words, protects five freedoms:
Freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government
Checks and Balances
counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.