 | Term | Definition |
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What were the features of the Articles of Confederation (AOC)? |
unicameral (one-house) legislature; Congress could not impose taxes; one vote in Congress per state; no national court system; no provision for uniform national currency; no chief executive; 9/13 states must approve passage of certain legislation; unanimity for amendment of AOC; Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade |
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What were some problems afflicting American society in the 1780s? |
unbalanced trade; neglected roads (bad for trade); no uniform currency = great inflation; interstate trade affected by state trade barriers and different currencies; gov't could do little to affect depression following the war |
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Land Ordinance of 1785 |
Townships six miles square would be surveyed and divided into sections equaling one square mile; the sections were to be sold in lots of 640 acres at no less than $1/acre; the revenue from the sale of one section for each township would be used to develop public education |
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The Northwest Ordinance (Land Ordinance of 1787) |
NW Territory divided into 3-5 seperate territories; methodical process would advance each territory to statehood; unorganized territories; once pop. of a territory reached 5,000 it could be organized as territory, residents would then elect members to a state legislature and send a delegate to Congress; once pop. reached 6,000 constitution would be written and territory would apply to Congress for statehood |
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Which five states emerged from the region that was the Northwest Territory? |
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin |
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Which state chose not to participate in the Constitutional Convention in May 1787? |
Rhode Island |
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What were the motives of the delegates to the Constitutional Convent in 1787? |
create a gov't that would protect the nation and their investments |
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What were the four general goals of the Framers of the Constitution? |
prevent a tyranny of the majority; prevent a tyranny of the minority; have sufficient powers to create conditions for both short and long-term economic development; formulate & conduct a more effective foregin policy |
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What were the core conflicts b/w different interest groups? |
bankers vs. debtors; northern vs. southern economic interests; economic comp. b/w states; conflicts b/w western land ownership; large states (rep. by pop.) vs. small states (equal rep.); strong central gov't vs. individual and states' rights; democratic ideals vs. aristocratic; slave states (wanted to include slaves in pop.) vs. non-slave states (sought to omit slaves from count) |
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The Commerce Compromise |
regulated trade and commerce; South agreed to federal control over foreign & interstate trade, importation of slaves permitted for twenty years (until 1808), federal gov't given authority to collect import taxes but no duties on exports |
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The Great (or Connecticut) Compromise |
dealing with representation in Congress; state's rep. in House of Reps based on population, two senators for each state, all money bills originate in the House, direct taxes on states assessed according to pop. |
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The Three-Fifths Compromise |
counting slaves for representation in Congress; 3/5 of a state's slave pop. would be counted for purposes of taxation & representation, fugitive slave las required runaway slaves who escaped to a free state be returned to their owners |
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Powers of the Legislative Branch |
Congress has the power to set and collect taxes, borrow money, regulate trade, coin money; Congress was to set up postal service and issue patents and copy-rights; War must be authorized by Congress; Congress is responsible for raising and maintaining an army and navy |
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Powers of the Executive Branch |
president carries out & enforces laws passed by Congress; president can veto congressional bills; president makes treaties; president is commander-in-chief of U.S. military; president appoints federal officials (such as federal judges) but Senate must consent to the appointments |
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Powers of the Judicial Branch |
Congress was to est. a Supreme Court and a lower court; kind of cases to be heard in federal courts specified, Supreme Court's jurisdiction outlined; treason was defined, requirements for conviction were set, punishment was to be in hands of Congress |
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What were the opponents of the new government called? |
Antifederalists |
