Terms from the 2th Unit (Building the New Nation) of the American Pageant Text Book. Use these to study for your AP US History Exam.
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| 7585507452 | Society of the Cincinnati | A society established by former officers of the Revolutionary war as a sort of aristocracy in which traditionalism and social status was important. Thomas Jefferson and other civilians thought that this movement threatened the newly formed republic and feared it could turn into an aristocracy so they worked to disband it. This was showed that nothing would stand in the way of a democratic government. This was crucial as this is the point when most revolutions fail, but the determination from Jefferson ceased this early threat. | 0 | |
| 7585507453 | Abigail Adams | Wife of 2nd president John Adams and Mother of 6th president John Q Adams who was very vocal for women rights. Her controversial views for women rights lead to later movements for future women equality. | 1 | |
| 7585507454 | Articles of Confederation | The first and very basic constitution for the United States which loosely stated the ideas for a non-centralized government. Although this primitive constitution proved to be ineffective, it laid the foundation for the real Constitution and a new centralized government. Although this document was largely excepted by the general public, more intelligent politicians noticed the flaws and secretly held the constitutional convention. | 2 | |
| 7585507455 | Federation | Whereas a confederation is separate states, this is a single body with one central government. The establishment of a this was extremely important because it showed the United States were truly "United" and not just "States". It banded them together as one country. | 3 | |
| 7585507456 | Land Ordinance of 1785 | Provided that the acreage of the Old Northwest should be sold and that the proceeds should be used to help pay off the national debt. The area was to be surveyed before the sale and settlement thus avoiding lawsuits. This was an ingenious plan by the government in a way to make up war debt while simultaneously preventing any aggravation from a group of citizens who weren't keen on paying taxes. It also laid the foundation for the westward expansion without too much governmental intervention. | 4 | |
| 7585507457 | Northwest Ordinance | This was an updated version of the land ordinance of 1785 which that laid the official plan for westward expansion by setting the guidelines for new colonies. The law stated that first there was an initial period in which there would be settling before a population of 60,000 arose declaring an official colony. This idea was important to the establishment of new western colonies and allowed the new empire to be free to stretch its boundaries and expanding the empire. | 5 | |
| 7585507458 | Shays Rebellion | A rebellion by former veterans of the revolutionary war who did not receive enough compensation to sustain a life after the war. Tax collectors were not very sympathetic towards the vets, and small armies were raised prepared to fight. This rebellion was squashed by Jefferson who feared that it would get out of hand, and therefore prevented any further problems. This showed that there was going to be no deconstruction of the new empire. | 6 | |
| 7585507459 | "mobocracy" | A great fear of the propertied class, who believed the revolution had created an insatiable appetite for liberty. Shays Rebellion, an example of mobocracy, demanded cheap paper money, lighter taxes, and a suspension of property takeovers, even thought the rebels had a debt to pay. The fear of this and another Shays Rebellion, the Continental Congress was pushed into creating a strong central government that would provide a needed foundation. | 7 | |
| 7585507460 | Daniel Shays | A captain veteran of the Revolutionary War, he led impoverished back country farmers to rebellion in Massachusetts. His rebellion stressed the importance of a strong central government. | 8 | |
| 7585507461 | Alexander Hamilton | A charismatic New Yorker, he saved the first constitutional convention by calling upon congress to summon a convention the following year that was meant to bolster the entire fabric of the Articles of Confederation. With his leadership, the 55 representatives convened at Philadelphia on May 25, 187, and the result was the penning of the Constitutions. | 9 | |
| 7585507462 | James Madison | Young, profound student of government, he made contributions to the Constitution so notable that he was dubbed "Father of the Constitution". Also contributed to The Federalist, and was also the 4th president. Since he wrote the majority of the document. He is the most significant drafter of the constitution. His writings in The Federalist remain the most penetrating commentary ever written on the Constitution | 10 | |
| 7585507463 | Virginia Plan | Also known as the "large-state plan," it promoted the idea that representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress should be based on population. This plan obviously gave the larger states an advantage, and this injustice forced tiny New Jersey to give their own plan. | 11 | |
| 7585507464 | New Jersey Plan | Countering Virginia's plan, the "small-state plan" provided for equal representation in a unicameral Congress by states, regardless of size and population. The opposing viewpoint held by smaller states fueled one of the Constitutional Convention's most crucial arguments. The problem could only be solved through a compromise. | 12 | |
| 7585507465 | The Great Compromise | Compromise in which the larger states were conceded representation by population in the House of Representatives, and the smaller states were appeased by the equal representation in the Senate. Since the larger states yielded the most, the delegates agreed that every tax bill or revenue measure must originate in the House, where population counted more heavily. This compromise broke the logjam, and from then on success seemed within reach. | 13 | |
| 7585507466 | Electoral College | Indirectly elects president. Large states had the advantage in the first round of voting, because a state's share of electors was based on its amount of senators and representatives in Congress, while the small states would gain a larger voice if no candidate received a majority of the electoral votes and the election was thrown to the House of Representatives where each state had only one vote. A vital compromise of the Constitution which balanced electoral power between larger and smaller states. | 14 | |
| 7585507467 | 3/5 compromise | It was a plan that yielded a slave counting as 60% of a person in regard to a states representation in the House of Representatives. As opposed to the disputes between small and large states, this plan "settled" disputes between northern and southern colonies (the southern being the main slave-holders). However this proved to only be the beginning of disputes regarding slavery between the north and south. | 15 | |
| 7585507468 | republicanism | The only legitimate government was one based on the consent of the governed, and that the powers of government should be limited. This theory (that later becomes a political party) is one that keeps power in the hands of the people. It opposed Federalists, who believed that a country should be governed by those who own it. It was the idea that led to the political schism that remains in our country today. | 16 | |
| 7585507469 | Consent of the governed | The main theory that drove republicanism. This idea divided republicans from the federalists; republicans focusing on the power of the people and the federalists handing the power to the government. | 17 | |
| 7585507470 | Anti federalists | Opposed the federalists and their desire for a stronger federal government. Included Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee. They strove to keep alive democracy, fearing that a strong federal government would lead to the same problems they faced with the King. | 18 | |
| 7585507471 | Federalists | Desired a strong central government, fearing a loose democracy would lead to disaster. They believed that the sovereignty of the people resided in all branches of government (executive, judiciary, and legislature). Included George Washington, Ben Franklin, and most wealthy Americans. Opposed not anti federalists and republicans. The fact that they were, in general, wealthier, more educated, and better organized led to their upper hand in the early government. | 19 | |
| 7585507472 | The Federalist Papers | Essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison commenting on the Constitution. Although these essays were designed as propaganda they remain the most penetrating commentary ever written on the Constitution. | 20 | |
| 7585507473 | Popular Sovereignty | The architects of the Constitution, though conservative, conserved this principle of republican government. Another concept dividing federalists and anti federalists. Federalists believed that it resided in all branches of government, (executive, judiciary, and legislature) while the anti federalists believed it resided in only legislative. | 21 | |
| 7585507474 | Bill of Rights | It was a set of ten amendments to the constitution that was known as a safeguard of some of Americas most important principles including freedom of speech and religion. Without this, many more anti federalist states would not of ratified the Constitution. It contains freedoms that were not mentioned in the Constitution that are unique to the United States. It also left the door open to further amendments to be added as a way of updating to modern times without changing the original Constitution which is illegal. | 22 | |
| 7585507475 | Excise Tax | A tax, proposed by Hamilton, placed on a few domestic items, such as whiskey. This angered some farmers who know had to pay tax on their whiskey and made it difficult to trade it. This caused minor rebellions which were squashed because of the fright of a rebellion. | 23 | |
| 7585507476 | Tariff | They was taxes placed on manufacturers used to raise money and pay off debts of the war. The first of these were important in establishing manufactures that could compete with national markets. They were moderate as they seemed to favor manufactures to help them establish a market. | 24 | |
| 7585507477 | Strict Construction | The belief that the Constitution should be interpreted "literally". The idea that what the constitution did not permit it forbade. This was the viewpoint of Jefferson while debating Madison on the issue of a national Bank, and is still an issue in today's society. | 25 | |
| 7585507478 | Implied Powers | Madison's argument that the government has the right to pass any "necessary and proper" laws. The argument for these powers helped Madison win and create The Bank of the United States. | 26 | |
| 7585507479 | Loose Construction | The belief that the Constitution should be interpreted "broadly". The idea that what the constitution did not forbid it permitted. This was the viewpoint taken by Madison during his debate with Jefferson over the national bank. Madison won. | 27 |
