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 & constitution
True or False: The delegates at the Constitutional Convention believed that the government should have 3 branches.
True
What are the three sections?
1 - preamble, articles, amendments/Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments)
Why is the Mayflower Compact significant?
First document defining and creating the idea of SELF-GOVERNANCE in the colonies. Sparked the idea that colonies could exists outside of the English crown
True or False: The founders of our nation did not offer evidence as to why they were separating from England.
False -
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 two plans were given? Describe each briefly & who supported them.
Virginia, population determines representation, bicameral congress, single executive, supported by large state. New Jersey equal representation per state, unicameral congress, panel of executives, supported by small states.
How many states needed to sign in order to ratify?
9 states to ratify
True or False: The Articles of Confederation government was essential created only to win the Revolutionary War.
True
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)
What was the name of the plan the convention settled on? Who made it? What did it create?
Great Compromise. Roger Sherman. Created three branches!!!! in the legislative branch it made a bicameral congress (House & Senate)
What is the Necessary & Proper clause? What is it's significance?
The "Necessary and Proper Clause" is significant because it gives Congress the power to pass laws that are deemed "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers explicitly listed in the Constitution, essentially allowing Congress to create laws beyond what is explicitly stated, as long as they are related to carrying out those listed powers, thus expanding the federal government's authority.
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)
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
What was Shay's Rebellion? What did Shays Rebellion show about the Articles of Confed gov?
A revolt by farmers in Mass. who weren't paid for their military service and they couldn't pay the high taxes of their state. Showed that the national government was too weak to address any of the real issues and that a stronger central government was necessary.
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 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
Why did people refer to the United States as THESE United States during the Articles government?
Because it was a confederation with a loose alliance of states who all had their own strong central power
What are the three sections? Explain what each does/says.
Preamble/Theory on Government - idea that government should respond to the people & be for the people. Unalienable rights!!
Grievances - all the wrong doings of the king
Unity & Separation - 13 states united & independent
Describe the major failures of the Articles of Confederation? At least 3 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
How many articles? What do the articles do?
7 articles - I= creates legislative branch, II = creates executive branch, III = creates judicial branch. Articles IV-VII = creates blueprint for government like how to ratify, how to amend, state to state to fed relationships