Mayflower Compact & Misc
What was the Mayflower Compact?
A document signed by Puritans, Pilgrims and Strangers
Who was the main Author?
Thomas Jefferson
The Articles of Confederation served as our nations _______________
1st national government
What two plans were given?
Virginia & New Jersey
What are the three sections?
1 - preamble, articles, amendments/Bill of Rights
Why is the Mayflower Compact significant?
First document defining and creating the idea of self-government in the colonies. Sparked the idea that colonies could exists outside of the English crown
What are the three sections?
Preamble, Grievances, Unity & Separation
Goal of the Articles of Conf? Why did states have all the power?
To create a weak national government that wouldn't represent the strength of the British Monarch.
States had power to limit what the national government could do to its citizens. (think grievances - we wanted to avoid those things)
What was the name of the plan the convention settled on?
Great Compromise
How many states needed to sign in order to ratify? How many articles?
9 states to ratify
7 articles
True or False: The Articles of Confederation government was essential created only to win the Revolutionary War.
True
What are some of the key principles?
- Inalienable Rights given by god not state & Equality
What did Shays Rebellion show about the Articles of Confed gov?
Showed that the national government was too weak to address any of the real issues and that a stronger central government was necessary.
Large states supported ________________. Small states supported ____________________.
Large states = Virginia bc more representation
Small states = New Jersey because equal representation.
Describe main differences between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. What was significant about the Bill of Rights?
Fed - for ratification of Constitution, strong government, strong executive, bicameral congress, ability to tax, national army, no need for Bill of Rights
Anti-Federalist - against ratification of Constitution, wanted weak national gov & strong states, said taxes would be too much, wanted a Bill of Rights, council to check executive, military = state powers.
Bill of Rights explicitly defines rights for citizens against their government. Lets the Constitution be a "living" amendable document
What are the three branches of government and what does each branch consist of?
Executive - Pres & VP
Legislative - Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
Judicial - (Supreme Court and Federal Courts)
How is the Dec of Indep indicative of Social ______________?
Contract
- Statement of a Social Contract (people give the gov’t power, in return, govt protects people) between the colonists & new American government.
Describe the major successes of the Articles of Confed.
Won the Revolutionary War (Congress negotiated a treaty of alliance with France in 1778)
Negotiated a treaty with England (Treaty of Paris negotiated in 1783, ended Revolutionary War and U.S. became independent, granted U.S. significant western territory)
How did the Great Compromise set up the Legislative Branch (Congress)?
Lower house - House of Reps - based on proportional population
Upper House - Senate - based on equal rep
Describe separation of powers - give an example
Sep of Powers - each branch has it own functions.
Ex: Executive (pres) can veto laws and appoint federal positions
Legislative (Congress) - make laws and declare war
Judicial (Supreme Court) - hears cases, can declare laws unconstitutional
Where does this quote come from? "We the people of the US, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility.."
US Constitution
What are some of the main grievances of the Dec?
Dismissed legislatures & any colonial form of governance
Taxation without representation
Eliminated Courts
Obstructed justice & trial by jury
Refused to accept elected officials
Quartered troops in our homes
Cutting off trade
Impressment
Describe the major failures of the Articles of Confederation? At least 2 examples.
Weak federal government ( no ability to pass/enforce laws)
Couldn’t address huge national debt by levying taxes or regulating commerce (had to beg states for money to pay off debts from Rev War)
3. One state = one vote (had to get 9/13 states approval to pass laws, 13/13 to make amendments)
4. No court system to settle disputes (states had to hold people accountable, led to differing punishments)
5. No single leader (no executive to enforce acts of Congress /lead)
6. No unified military to protect the peopl
What was the 3/5ths compromise (legislative) and how were the pres & vp supposed to be elected under the Great Compromise?
3/5ths said for representation in Congress, 3/5ths of the enslaved population would count for both represenation and taxes.
Pres & VP supposed to be elected through the ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Describe checks and balances - give an example.
Checks & Balances - power to limit/check actions of other branches.
- Pres appoints Supreme Court justices, but Supreme Court can deem presidential acts as unconstitutional
Judges serve for life, but Congress has to approve those judges before they get into office
Congress can pass laws and control the budget, but the president can veto laws and is commander in chief