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| 10631905337 | mt Vernon conference | Conference held by delegates from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania at Washington's home at Mt. Vernon in 1785. The delegates agreed that problems with the Articles of Confederation were serious enough to meet again in Annapolis, where all the colonies could be represented. | 0 | |
| 10631905338 | Annapolis convention | A precursor to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. A dozen commissioners form New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia met to discuss reform of interstate commerce regulations, to design a U.S. currency standard, and to find a way to repay the federal government's debts to Revolutionary War veterans. Little was accomplished, except for the delegates to recommend that a further convention be held to discuss changes to the form of the federal government; the idea was endorsed by the Confederation Congress in February, 1878, which called for another convention to be held in May that year in Philadelphia. | 1 | |
| 10631905339 | constitutional convention | The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution. | 2 | |
| 10631905340 | framers of constitution | Group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. | 3 | |
| 10631905341 | James madison | The fourth President of the United States (1809-1817). A member of the Continental Congress (1780-1783) and the Constitutional Convention (1787), he strongly supported ratification of the Constitution and was a contributor to The Federalist Papers (1787-1788), which argued the effectiveness of the proposed constitution. His presidency was marked by the War of 1812. | 4 | |
| 10631905342 | Alexander Hamilton | Hamilton emerged as a major political figure during the debate over the Constitution, as the outspoken leader of the Federalists and one of the authors of the Federalist Papers. Later, as secretary of treasury under Washington, Alexander Hamilton spearheaded the government's Federalist initiatives, most notably through the creation of the Bank of the United States. | 5 | |
| 10631905343 | gouverneur morris | United States statesman who led the committee that produced the final draft of the United States Constitution (1752-1816). Authored most of the Preamble to the Constitution. | 6 | |
| 10631905344 | John Dickinson | Drafted a declaration of colonial rights and grievances, and also wrote the series of "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" in 1767 to protest the Townshend Acts. Although an outspoken critic of British policies towards the colonies, Dickinson opposed the Revolution, and, as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776, refused to sign the Declaration of Independence. | 7 | |
| 10631905345 | checks and balances | A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power | 8 | |
| 10631905346 | Virginia plan | Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population | 9 | |
| 10631905347 | New Jersey plan | New Jersey delegate William Paterson's plan of government, in which states got an equal number of representatives in Congress | 10 | |
| 10631905348 | Connecticut plan, great compromise | Plan which provided for a two house Congress; the Senate with two representatives per state and the House of Representatives with representatives based on population | 11 | |
| 10631905349 | House of Representatives | One of the two parts of Congress, considered the "lower house." Representatives are elected directly by the people, with the number of representatives for each state determined by the state's population. | 12 | |
| 10631905350 | senate | upper house of the legislature, each state elects two | 13 | |
| 10631905351 | three fifths compromise, slave trade | Counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining the population of a state, which would be used for taxes and representation; Congress decided to vote on the issue of slave importation in 20 years | 14 | |
| 10631905352 | commercial compromise | The Commercial Compromise allowed Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce yet prohibited any tariffs on exported goods. Significance: This agreement incorporated the needs of both the Anti-Federalists and the Federalists to some degree. | 15 | |
| 10631905353 | electoral college system | delegates assign to each state a number of electors equal to the total of that state's representatives and senators; instituted because the delegates at Philadelphia feared that too much democracy might lead to mob rule | 16 | |
| 10631905354 | federalists | Supporters of the Constitution that were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. They firmly believed the national government should be strong. They didn't want the Bill of Rights because they felt citizens' rights were already well protected by the Constitution. | 17 | |
| 10631905355 | anti-federalists | They opposed the ratification of the Constitution because it gave more power to the federal government and less to the states, and because it did not ensure individual rights. Many wanted to keep the Articles of Confederation. The Antifederalists were instrumental in obtaining passage of the Bill of Rights as a prerequisite to ratification of the Constitution in several states. After the ratification of the Constitution, the Antifederalists regrouped as the Democratic-Republican (or simply Republican) party. | 18 | |
| 10631905356 | the federalist papers | This collection of essays by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, explained the importance of a strong central government. It was published to convince New York to ratify the Constitution. | 19 | |
| 10631905357 | bill of rights, amendments | 1. Guarantees the freedom to peacefully assemble and petition. 2. Protects our right to possess firearms. 3. The government can't require citizens to house soldiers during peace time. 4. Protects people against unreasonable search and seizure. 5. Guarantees our right to life, liberty property, and the due process of law. 6. Guarantees the right to a trial by jury in most criminal cases. 7. Guarantees the the right to a trial by jury in civil cases. 8. Protects people against cruel and unusual punishment. 9. Declares that powers not given to the Constitution belong to the people. 10. Protects people against unreasonable search and seizure. | 20 | |
| 10631905358 | legislative branch | the lawmaking branch of government | 21 | |
| 10631905359 | congress | meeting of representatives who have the authority to make decisions | 22 | |
| 10631905360 | executive departments, cabinet | 14 departments,which are Department of Treasury,Department of Defence,Department of Justice,Department of Interior,Department of Agriculture,Department of Commerce,Department of Labor,Department of Health and Human Services,Department of Housing and Urban Development,Department of Transportation,Department of Energy,Department of Education,Department of Veterans Affairs,and Department of Homeland Security. | 23 | |
| 10631905361 | Henry Knox | In 1775 George Washington ordered him, the nation's first secreatry of war, to bring the British artillery back to the siege of Boston that was captured at Fort Ticonderoga. | 24 | |
| 10631905362 | Edmund Randolph | a delegate from Virginia at the Constitutional convention. He proposed the large state compromise of a bicameral legislature | 25 | |
| 10631905363 | judiciary act | a 1789 law that created the structure of the Supreme Court and set up a system of district courts and circuit courts for the nation | 26 | |
| 10631905364 | federal courts | the courts of the national government that deal with problems between states, with the constitution, and with laws made by congress | 27 | |
| 10631905365 | supreme court | The pinnacle of the American judicial system. The court ensures uniformity in interpreting national laws, resolves conflicts among states, and maintains national supremacy in law. It has both original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction, but unlike other federal courts, it controls its own agenda. | 28 | |
| 10631905366 | national debt | the debt of the national government (as distinguished from the debts of individuals and businesses and political subdivisions) | 29 | |
| 10631905367 | infant industries | Hamilton proposed to protect the young nation's new and developing industries by imposing high tariffs on imported goods | 30 | |
| 10631905368 | national bank | Hamilton's big idea; fiercely opposed by Jefferson and Democratic-Rep. The bank would regulate money and draw investors; showed that the constitution could be construed in many a way. | 31 | |
| 10631905369 | tariffs, excise taxes | To pay the interest on this huge debt and to run the government Hamilton imposed a tariff. Tariff income depended on strong foreign trade another important link to the overall economic strategy of the new nation. Hamilton wanted additional income, in 1791 he secured from Congress an excise tax on a few domestic items, most notably whiskey. A tax of seven cents a gallon was laid on the distillers who lived in the backcountry. The terrible roads forced the farmers to reduce the heavy bushels of grain to liquid (whiskey) so they could be carried by horseback. There was so much whiskey on the frontier that it was used for money. | 32 | |
| 10631905370 | French Revolution | The revolution that began in 1789, overthrew the absolute monarchy of the Bourbons and the system of aristocratic privileges, and ended with Napoleon's overthrow of the Directory and seizure of power in 1799. | 33 | |
| 10631905371 | proclamation of neutrality | A formal announcement issued by President George Washington on April 22, 1793, declaring the United States a neutral nation in the conflict between Great Britain and France. | 34 | |
| 10631905372 | citizen Edmond genet | French government representative asking for assistance for the French Revolution. Sparked support for the French Revolution and led to the creation of the Democratic-Republican party | 35 | |
| 10631905373 | jay treaty | Was made up by John Jay. It said that Britain was to pay for Americans ships that were seized in 1793. It said that Americans had to pay British merchants debts owed from before the revolution and Britain had agreed to remove their troops from the Ohio Valley | 36 | |
| 10631905374 | Pinckney treaty | 1795 - Treaty between the U.S. and Spain which gave the U.S. the right to transport goods on the Mississippi river and to store goods in the Spanish port of New Orleans | 37 | |
| 10631905375 | right of deposit | right to transfer goods at a destination without having to pay fees for the cargo | 38 | |
| 10631905376 | battle of fallen timbers | The U.S. Army defeated the Native Americans under Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket and ended Native American hopes of keeping their land that lay north of the Ohio River | 39 | |
| 10631905377 | whiskey rebellion | In 1794, farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against Hamilton's excise tax on whiskey, and several federal officers were killed in the riots caused by their attempts to serve arrest warrants on the offenders. In October, 1794, the army, led by Washington, put down the rebellion. The incident showed that the new government under the Constitution could react swiftly and effectively to such a problem, in contrast to the inability of the government under the Articles of Confederation to deal with Shay's Rebellion. | 40 | |
| 10631905378 | public land act | in 1796 established orderly procedures for dividing and selling federal lands at reasonable prices. | 41 | |
| 10631905379 | federalist era | 1790s were dominated by two Federalist figures around which political parties formed: Hamilton and Jefferson; Hamilton's federalists supposed his financial programs (loose interpretation of Constitution but strong central government) | 42 | |
| 10631905380 | democratic-republican party | political party led by Thomas Jefferson; it feared centralized political power, supported states' rights, opposed Hamilton's financial plan, and supported ties with France. It was heavily influenced by a agrarian interests in the southern states. | 43 | |
| 10631905381 | political parties | organization that tries to influence gov. policy by promoting its ideas and backing candidates for office | 44 | |
| 10631905382 | washington's farewell address | Warned Americans not to get involved in European affairs, not to make permanent alliances, not to form political parties and to avoid sectionalism. | 45 | |
| 10631905383 | permanent alliances | Making a permanent pack with another country that you will support them and they will support you economically and in war, Washington warned against these in his farewell address. | 46 | |
| 10631905384 | two-term tradition | - The two term tradition was created by or originated from George Washington, basically every president would work for two years and then voluntarily resign, even though there were no laws that said that they had to resign at a specific time. This tradition was carried out until the 1940 election of Franklin Roosevelt | 47 | |
| 10631905385 | John Adams | A Massachusetts attorney and politician who was a strong believer in colonial independence. He argued against the Stamp Act and was involved in various patriot groups. As a delegate from Massachusetts, he urged the Second Continental Congress to declare independence. He helped draft and pass the Declaration of Independence. Adams later served as the second President of the United States. | 48 | |
| 10631905386 | xyz affair | An insult to the American delegation when they were supposed to be meeting French foreign minister, Talleyrand, but instead they were sent 3 officials Adams called "X,Y, and Z" that demanded $250,000 as a bribe to see Talleyrand. | 49 | |
| 10631905387 | alien and sedition acts | These consist of four laws passed by the Federalist Congress and signed by President Adams in 1798: the Naturalization Act, which increased the waiting period for an immigrant to become a citizen from 5 to 14 years; the Alien Act, which empowered the president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens; the Alien Enemy Act, which allowed for the arrest and deportation of citizens of countries at was with the US; and the Sedition Act, which made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials. The first 3 were enacted in response to the XYZ Affair, and were aimed at French and Irish immigrants, who were considered subversives. The Sedition Act was an attempt to stifle Democratic-Republican opposition, although only 25 people were ever arrested, and only 10 convicted, under the law. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, which initiated the concept of "nullification" of federal laws were written in response to the Acts. | 50 | |
| 10631905388 | Kentucky and Virginia resolutions | These stated that a state had the right to declare a law unconstiutional, or nullify a law, within its borders. These were written by Jefferson and Madison to resist the Alien and Sedition Acts | 51 | |
| 10631905389 | revolution of 1800 | Jefferson's view of his election to presidency. Jefferson claimed that the election of 1800 represented a return to what he considered the original spirit of the Revolution. Jefferson's goals for his revolution were to restore the republican experiment, check the growth of government power, and to halt the decay of virtue that had set in under Federalist rule. | 52 |
