Ch 6 Vocab

Front 1

Alexander Hamilton

Back 1

Alexander Hamilton was a political genius, New York lawyer, one-time military aide to General Washington, and the most resourceful of the reformers. Support from Washington led to his Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to have immediate credibility.

Front 2

The Founding Fathers

Back 2

- The 55 men representing all states except Rhode Island attended one or more sessions of the Philadelphia State House and they later became known as the “Founding Fathers”.

Front 3

The Virginia Plan

Back 3

- The Virginia Plan called for a new national legislature consisting of two houses. The lower house, states represented in proportion to their population; Upper house elected by the lower house under no rigid system of representation. Many questions still remained between the disparities of small states vs. large states. No one argued seriously for giving slaves citizenship or the right to vote.

Front 4

The Great Compromise

Back 4

- On July 2, there was finally a compromise. The convention agreed to create a “grand committee,” with a single delegate from each state, with Franklin as chairman, to resolve the disagreements. The committee produced a proposal that became the basis of the “Great Compromise;” representation was resolved. The convention made big compromises over the slaves and most importantly representation.

Front 5

James Madison

Back 5

- James Madison was the single most important persons that contributed to the creation of the American Constitution. His biggest achievement would be helping resolve two important philosophical questions that had served as obstacles to the creation of an effective national government: the question of sovereignty and the question of limiting power.

Front 6

Anti Federalist

Back 6

- Anti-federalists believed that the Constitution would betray the principles of the Revolution by establishing a strong, potentially tyrannical central government that would increase taxes, eradicate states, and favor the “well born.”

Front 7

Federalist

Back 7

- Supporters of Constitution were well organized and were supported by Washington and Franklin. They called themselves Federalists and had best political philosophers, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay. They wrote the Federalist Papers arguing for Constitution under Pseudonym Publius.

Front 8

Whiskey Rebellion

Back 8

- 1791 Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay whiskey excise tax, Washington called militia from 3 states, and Whiskey Rebellion collapsed- intimidation won allegiance. Federal government won loyalty of frontiersmen by accepting territories as new state, North Carolina in 1789, Rhode Island in 1791, being the last of 13 colonies, Vermont in 1791, Kentucky in 1792 and Tennessee 1796.

Front 9

Bank of the United States 1790's

Back 9

The compromise for Virginians to have support of the bill included moving the capital from Philadelphia to a southern location along the Potomac River. The Bank bill caused the most disagreement and argument. Madison, Jefferson, Randolph, and others argued that Congress shouldn’t exercise any powers that the Constitution did not assign it. The bill passed through House and Senate. After, Bank of United States began operating 1791 under a 20 year charter.

Front 10

Jay's Treaty

Back 10

- Jay’s Treaty in 1794 failed to compensate British assaults on ships and withdrawal of British forces from frontier, but prevented war, established American sovereignty over Northwest and satisfactory commercial relationship. Jay’s treaty allowed peace to be made with Spain because raised fears of British/American alliance in North America. Pinckney’s treaty 1795 recognized US right to Mississippi, Florida border and control of Indian raids from Florida.

Front 11

Judiciary Act of 1801

Back 11

After election only judiciary branch still Federalist, Judiciary Act of 1801 had created many new positions, which Adams had filled before leaving office. Republican saw the victory as savior from tyranny. After this, they believed that a new era would begin where they would govern from their true founding principles.

Front 12

Alien and Sedition Acts

Back 12

- Conflict with France led to Federalist majority 1798, to silence Republican opposition passed the Alien and Sedition Acts. Alien acts restricted places obstacles for foreigners becoming citizens, Sedition Act allowed government to prosecute libelous or treasonous activity- but definitions allowed government to stifle any opposition—Republics fought back. By late 1790s, national crisis because nation so politically divided.

Front 13

Aaron Burr

Back 13

- Vice president Aaron Burr (politician without prospects) had accepted a Federalists proposal that he become their candidate for governor of New York in 1804. Burr lost election and blamed Hamilton’s malevolence and then challenged him to a duel. July 1804 they met at Weechawken, New Jersey, Hamilton was mortally wounded, and the next day he died.