Early Republic: Articles of Confederation to Constitution Flashcards
What were the Articles of Confederation?
The Articles of Confederation served as the first national constitution following the Decloration of Independence. For fear of replacing British rule with their own despotic government, colonist severely limmitted the size and power of the national government.
- Drafted 1777, formally approved by all 13 states in 1781
What were some limitations placed on the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
Under the Articles of Confederation the national government cannot:
- Enact a tax without every states consent
- Regulate interstate or oversea commerce
- Approve declorations of war without the consent of 9 states
- Coin or borrow money without the consent of 9 states
- Ammend the Articles without unanimous consent
What financial troubles resulted from the limitations placed on the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
Due to the national governments inability to raise taxes without a unanimous vote from the states, America faced serious financial problems in regards to paying off their enormous war debt. Several tax intitiatives aimed at paying off the war debt and financing congress were shot down by single states.
- Under the Articles, one state can hold a national decision in their own hands, thereby using its power to disagree as leverage.
- Disagreements over taxation physically manifest in the form of Shay’s Rebellion, and the **Whiskey Rebellion **
How did the government under the Articles of Confederation differ from British rule?
The key difference is the size and power of the national government.
- British Imperial rule: A powerful few ruled over the under-represented masses.
- Articles of Confederation: Little to no centralized government. National government has very limitted power over the individual states.
What is Shay’s Rebellion?
Shay’s Rebellion was an armed protest taking place in Maasechusetts from 1786-1787. In response to the demand for debt’s to be paid in (scarce) hard currency, Daniel Shays, along with 1,500 other angry farmers, marched on Springfield to shut down the courts in charge of taxes and debt collection.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion?
To cover the national debt following the revolutionary war, Alexander Hamilton recomended a tax on domestic whiskey. Farmers, already troubled by shipping costs, rebel against the tax for diminishig their profit margin.
- George Washington puts down the rebelellion with a 13,000 man militia, sending an authoratative message to all those considering violent political action.
What was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was an act passed by the Continental Congress which aimed to set the protocol for the admission of new states within the Northewest Territories. It also banned slavery in the Northwest territories.
How did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 effect civil rights within the Northwest territories?
Along with abolishing slavery, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 also granted trail by jury, freedom of religion, and freedom from excessive punishment within the territories.
What was the Constitutuonal Convention?
Also known as the Philidelpia Convention, 55 delegates from all the states (excluding Rhode Island) met in Philidelphia to discuss the revision of the Articles of Confederation.
- Of the topics discussed, representation was one of the most disputed.
What did the Virginia plan propose about representation?
Primarily championed by James Madison, the Virginia plan called for representation proportionate to state population.
- This favored Madison’s home state of Virginia, with one of the highest populations in the United States.
- Under Madisons Bicameral system, voters would elect people to the lower house of congress, where members of the lower house of congress would elect others to the upper house of congress.
How did the New Jersey Plan differ from the Virginia plan?
Whereas the Virginia plan proposed representation proportianate to population, the New Jersey Plan opted for a single chamber of congress where each state is represented equally, just as things were under the Articles of Confederation.
How did the Great Compromise (a.k.a Connecticut Comprimise) resolve the differences between the Virginia plan and **New Jersey Plan **
The Great Compromise synthesized both plans into one using a bicameral system containing two chambers of congress.
- The Upper chamber (the Senate) allowed equal representation from all states.
- The Lower chamber (House of Representatives) allowed representation according to population.
How did the Constitution differ from the Articles of Confederation?
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution granted the national government power over the states.
- The states could no longer make their own money or interfere with interstate commerce .
Congress gained the powers to:
- Levy taxes
- Regulate interstate commerce
- Conduct diplomacy
- Use military force against any state
- Enact “all laws which shall be necessary and proper” for it to uphold it’s constitutional responsibilities.
What is the seperation of powers?
The Constitution divides the national government’s power into three branches:
- Legislative: Congress, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives
- Executive: The President
- Judiciary: Head by the Supreme Court
How do checks and balances work?
Checks and balances can be seen in motion during the law making process.
- Congress votes on a bill (potential law).
- The president decides whether to veto the bill or make it a law.
- The Supreme court decides whether the law is unfair.
Congress can overide a veto by two thirds majority in both chanbers.
The president may conduct diplomacy but all treaties must be ratified by the Senate.
