S.S. Chapter 7: Creating a Republic – Flashcards
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Constitution
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Document that sets out the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government
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bill of rights (hint:lower case)
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Written list of freedoms that a government promises to protect
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execute
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Carry out
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Articles of Confederation
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First American Constitution, passed in 1777, which created a loose alliance of 13 Independent states
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Cede
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To give up
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Currency
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Money
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Land Ordinance of 1785
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Law setting up a system for settling the northwest territory
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Northwest Ordinance
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A 1787 article that set up a government for the northwest territory, guaranteed basic rights to settlers, and outlawed slavery there
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Depression
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Period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises
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Shays' Rebellion
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A 1786 revolt in Massachusetts led by farmers in reaction to high taxes
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Constitutional Convention
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Gathering of state representatives on May 25, 1787, to revise the articles of Confederation
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Virginia Plan
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Plan at the Constitutional convention, favored by larger states, that called for a strong national government with three branches and a two-chamber legislator
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Legislative branch
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Branch of government that passes laws
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executive branch
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Branch of government that carries out laws
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judicial branch
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Branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly
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New jersey plan
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Plan at the Constitutional convention, favored by smaller states, that called for three branches of government with a single chamber Legislature
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Comprimise
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Settlement in which each side gives up some of its demands in order to reach an agreement
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Great Comprimise
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Plan at the Constitutional convention that settled the differences between large and small states
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Three-fifths comprimise
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Agreement at the Constitutional convention that 3/5 of the slaves in any state be counted in its population
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Founding fathers
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James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and other leaders who laid the groundwork for the United States
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Republic
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System of government in which citizens choose representatives to govern them
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Dictatorship
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Government in which one person or small group holds complete authority
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Magna Carta
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Signed in 1215, a British document that contains two basic ideas: monarchs themselves have to obey the laws, and citizens have basic rights
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English bill of rights
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A 1689 document that guaranteed the rights of English citizens
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habeas corpus
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The right that no person can be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime
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separation of powers
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Principle by which the powers of government are divided among separate branches
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Federalists
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Supporter of the constitution, who favored a strong federal, or national, government
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Antifederalists
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People who opposed the Constitution and a strong national government
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The Federalist Papers
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Series of essays by Federalists James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of ratifying the Constitution
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amend
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Change
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Bill of Rights(hint:capital letters)
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First 10 amendments to the United States Constitution
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James madison
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Skilled politician and a learned scholar. Kept a close record of the debated at the constitutional convention. Wasn't absent a single day. His notebooks are now our main source of information about the birth of the constitution
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Roger Sherman
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Delegate from Connecticut who worked out a compromise that would settle both large and small states (great compromise)
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In what way did the delegates to the 1787 can mention represent a new government of American leaders?
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The delegates at the convention of 1787 represented a new generation of leaders. For instance, they started resolving conflicts peacefully. Two examples or the great compromise and the 3/5 compromise
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Why did small states oppose the Virginia plan? How was this conflict resolved?
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Small states opposed to the Virginia plan because they feared that the large states could easily out vote them in Congress. This conflict was resolved with the great compromise. This settlement order both sides to give up some of their demands in order to reach an agreement
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What compromises did the north and south reach?
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The 3/5 compromise and the slave trade. The 3/5 compromise in shored that 3/5 of the slaves in a state would be counted in the states population. The slave trade compromised that Congress couldn't outlaw slave trade for 20 years. After those 20 years the Congress would regulate the trade if wished. It also compromised that no state could stop a fugitive slave from being returned to an owner who claimed that slave
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Give two reasons why states wanted written constitutions
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1.) A written constitution would spell out the rights of all citizens 2.) it would limit government power
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What kind of government did the articles of confederation set up?
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The articles of confederation set up a loose alliance of 13 Independent states (weak central government)
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How were new states to be admitted, according to the Northwest ordinance?
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Once a territory reached the population of 60,000 free settlers, it could ask Congress to be admitted as a new state
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Why was the Northwest ordinance important?
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It is important because it provided the vast region to be divided into separate territories in the future. It also provided a new way to admit states to the nation
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How many delegates were there at the constitutional convention?
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55
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Why did shays' rebellion worry many Americans?
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She's rebellion worried many Americans because it showed them that the articles of Federation had not worked.
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What lessons did the framers learn from Roman history?
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The framers learned about natural rights in the separation of powers from Locke and Montesquieu. Locke gave Americans the idea to protect peoples natural rights and limit the power of government. Montesquieu suggested separation of powers and thus the three branches of American government
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What two important ideas of John Locke are reflected in the constitution?
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1.) protect peoples natural rights 2.) limit the power of government(Government is an agreement between the ruler and the ruled)
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Why did Montesquieu believe that the power of government should be divided?
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To keep any person or group from gaining too much power
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What British traditions and American colonial experiences with freedom were incorporated into the United States government?
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British traditions - bill of rights, right to trial by jury, habeas corpus American - written governments (Mayflower cehat ompact), the articles, and other state constitutions.
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Federalist argued that the Constitution protected the rights and powers of individual states while giving the _____ necessary authority
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National government
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The chief argument used by antifederalists was that's Constitution gave the national government too much power and left _______ too week
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States
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The first Congress proposed a set of _____ amendments, written by James Madison.
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12
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_____ of the states voted to ratify amendments proposed by the first Congress
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three fourths
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_____ was the last date to ratify the constitution
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Rhode Island
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Several states ratified the Constitution only on the condition that a __________ be added
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Bill of rights
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Describe two weaknesses of the Articles of confederation
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1.) Limits government power (9 states had to approve a law for it to go into play) 2.) doesn't include a prez to execute laws
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explain the process by which a territory became a state
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once a territory reached a population of 60,000 free settlers they could ask congress to become a state
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how did Americans react to Shays' rebellion?
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They realized that the Articles had not worked. Leaders from several states called for a convention to revise the Articles
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what kind of government did state constitutions create?
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Strong state governments, but a weak central government
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How did the Roman Republic provide example and warning to the Americans?
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example: Independence and public service were virtues of Rome Warning: no republic could survive unless the citizens were independent and devoted to public service
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Why was the continental not valuable?
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Wasn't backed up by gold or pewter
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What state as the fort to ratify the constitution?
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Delaware
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What lands were considered to be part of the northwest territory?
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Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin M.I.I.O.W.
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What did each territory need to have a space set aside for?
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A public school
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Why were the windows and blinds closed at the Constitutional convention?
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So that no one would hear their ideas, Especially Ben Franklin who was a blabbermouth
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Who is the father of the constitution? Why?
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James Madison because he never missed a day of the Constitutional convention
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Where did James Madison get his ideas from?
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Enlightenment thinkers, colonial times, Roman Empire etc...
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Who is included in the executive branch?
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The president, vice president, and the cabinet
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Who is included in the judicial branch?
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Supreme Court
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Who is included in the legislative branch?
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Congress
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Give examples of federalists
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John Jay, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman etc...
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Who proposed the Virginia plan?
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Edmund Randolph and James Madison
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Who proposed the New Jersey plan?
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William Paterson
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Who proposed the great compromise?
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Roger Sherman
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Who wrote the Federalist papers?
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James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay.