Unit 2 REVIEW
· The Articles of Confederation (“critical period”)
· Shay’s rebellion creates chaos in the new nation since there
was no one to enforce the laws.
· Created a weak central gov. because…
· Constitutional Convention:
· 3/5’s Compromise
· Great Compromise
· Electoral College
· US Constitution:
· Preamble: introduction
· Principles of the Constitution
· Limited gov: the government only has the powers listed in the
constitution. Even the president must obey the laws.
· Popular sovereignty: the power of the people to decide (the
people rule)
· Separation of power: 3 branches of government (legislative,
executive, judicial).
· Checks & balances: the 3 branches check each other to
balance each other’s power.
-Federalism: government is divided between the Fed., state, city
gov.
The 3/5’s compromise
The Great Compromise
Separation of powers
Federalism
· Enlightenment
· Locke
· Montesquieu
· Rousseau
· Hobbes
· Anti-federalist v. Federalist
· Anti-federalists
· Federalists
The Bill of Rights
#1-freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and
petition.
#6-right to a speedy trial, to be informed of the crime.
#2-right to bear arms.
#7-right to a trial by jury.
#3-quartering of soldiers.
#8-no cruel and unusual punishments.
#4-right to privacy (police need a warrant to search your
property).
#9-rights kept by people.
#5-rights of persons accused of crimes (no self-incrimination,
no double jeopardy).
#10-powers kept by the states or the people.
· Unwritten Constitution:
· Example:
· Strict v. Loose interpretation of the Constitution
· Example:
· Elastic clause:
· Example:
President
At home
Abroad
George Washington
(1789-1797)
· Established precedents: (list 5)
·
·
·
·
·
· Whiskey rebellion: farmers protest against a tax was put down
by George Washington who enforced the law.
· Hamilton v. Jefferson:
Hamilton
-Federalist
-Wanted strong central/fed. Gov.
-Loose interpretation of the constitution
-Views of the cities and the rich
-Favored the North
Jefferson
-Democratic-Republican
-Wanted strong state gov.
-Strict interpretation of the constitution
-Views of the farmers and poor
-Favored the South
· Hamilton’s National Bank: Hamilton’s financial plan looked to
stabilize the new nation’s economy by creating a bank, paying the
debt, and enacting a tariff. The protective tariff hurt the
South
· Wanted the US to stay neutral from “foreign entanglements”
· War between Great Britain and France…the British attack US
ships and Washington signs Jay’s treaty making Britain the main
trade partner of US.
· France feels betrayed by the US…
John Adams
(1797-1801)
· Signs Alien & Sedition Acts: against French immigrants
· Increases number of years for citizenship
· Allows the president to deport any alien that is viewed as a
threat to US security
· Violated the 1st amendment to freedom of speech and press
· Nullification crisis: idea that states can ignore and reject
laws that are considered to be unconstitutional.
· Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions: announcement that the
states of VA and KY will nullify (reject) the Alien & Sedition
Acts.
· Midnight judges: appoints judges right before leaving the
presidency.
· XYZ affair: when US ships attacked by France, Adams tries to
solve the problem through diplomacy and sends 3 American delegates
to France. The French tried to bribe the US and Adams is offended.
The issue leads to a Quasi war with France or almost war.
Marshall court
· Marbury v. Madison
· Gibbons v. Ogden
· McCulloch v. Maryland
Expanded the power of the _________________ gov.
(State government v. Federal government= Fed. Gov. is always
superior supremacy of the Fed. Gov.)
