principle that aims at keeping the government’s power small dividing power and holding government officials to the laws.
process of limiting the powers of each branch by giving each branch the power to check to balance them out.
Articles of Confederation: weaknesses
1. No power to tax.
2. No power to raise an army.
3. No national executive or national courts.
2. No power to raise an army.
3. No national executive or national courts.
Farmers who fought in the Revolutionary War were never paid for their service because the government didn’t have the power to raise taxes to pay them. Tax collectors then asked them to pay their debts.
Shay’s Rebellion: Description
A farmer and veteran named Daniel Shays led a rebellion when several farmers were thrown in jail for not paying their taxes. They stormed a courthouse and an arsenal. Because the government couldn’t raise and army, Massachusetts had to send its own.
It revealed that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to run a nation.
To gain something, specifically land or territory.
Lead to the beginning of Westward Expansion.
To share or balance power between the federal government and the states.
The government can only do what the Constitution says it can; keeps the government from becoming too powerful,
Rights listed in the Bill of Rights and protected by the Constitution (i.e. freedom of speech, religion, etc.)
The government gets its power from the people and the people have the right to alter/abolish it.
People exercise their power by voting for their representatives.
Each branch can check (limit) the other branch in order to keep the balance of power.
Power is split between three branches of government so that one branch doesn’t become too powerful (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).
2/3 vote by each house of Congress or 2/3 of the state legislatures at a national convention.
¾ of the state legislatures or ¾ of the state conventions.
Purpose of the Amendment Process
So that the Constitution could be a living, breathing document that could change as people and the world change.
A person who want to ratify the US Constitution; believes in a strong central government.
Federalist: Point of view on the president
Believed the nation needed a president with enough power to effectively lead the nation.
Federalist: Point of view on the national government
Wanted a strong national government and limited power for the states.
Federalist: Point of view on the Bill of Rights
Did not think it was necessary because the Constitution already protected individual rights.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
A person who opposes ratification of the US Constitution; believes in states’ rights.
Anti-Federalist: Document
Articles of Confederation
Anti-Federalist: Point of view on the president
Believed a president would become too powerful to the point of becoming a tyrant.
Ant-Federalist: Point of view on the national government
Wanted a weak national government with the states having most of the power.
Anti-Federalist: Point of view on the Bill of Rights
Refused to ratify the Constitution without it, said protecting people’s rights are essential.
Key Anti-Federalist leaders
Patrick Henry, George Mason, Richard Henry Lee
I was a strong opponent of the Constitution, I refused to sign it without a Bill of Rights added to it, and I was an advocate of states’ rights.
I was a strong supporter of the Constitution, a key Federalist, and I’m known as the Father of the US Constitution.
The US Constitution is signed.
Constitutional Convention
held in 1787 to either amend or replace the Articles of Confederation.
Included a two-house (bicameral) legislature, representation based on population, and was favored by the large states.
Included a one-house legislature (unicameral), equal representation for all states, and was favored by the small states.
Combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. Included a two house (bicameral) legislature. Representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
Each enslaved person would count as 3/5 of a free person for the purpose of taxation and representation.
