Unit Iii Terms From "american History: A Survey"

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Constitution

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Document which established the organization, function and powers of the government, considered the "Supreme Law of the Land," 1787. Followed the Articles of Confederation and was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The government it created reflected the influence of British, Roman, Greek and colonial governments, as well as many ideas from the Enlightenment.

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Supremacy Clause

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Clause of the Constitution which stated that the laws made in pursuance of the Constitution under the authority of the United States shall preside over others and shall be the supreme law of the U.S., as stated in Article VI of the Constitution.

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Checks and Balances

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Limits on the powers of each of the three branches of government—executive, legislative and judicial—so that none would become too powerful. Important because Americans wanted to prevent the absolute rule of a king. Based on Montesquieu's Enlightenment ideas.

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Separation of Powers

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Basic principle of the Constitution that divides the government into three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. Each branch holds certain responsibilities and checks the powers of the other branches. This works in conjunction with Montesquieu's ideas on separation of powers.

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Land Ordinance of 1787

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Passed under the Articles of Confederation, set up a government in the region north of the Ohio River. If a territory reached a population of 60,000 or more, it could apply for statehood. Prohibited enslavement of anyone born into the territory. Most significant accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation.

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Northwest Ordinance

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Created the Northwest Territory, enabling the U.S. to expand into the Great Lakes area, 1787. The states created included Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Another success for the Articles of Confederation, as it further defined the steps required for admission of a state into the Union.

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Shays's Rebellion

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An armed revolt in Massachusetts, 1786, led by Daniel Shays and fellow farmers in protest against economic policies and foreclosures of farms for failure to pay taxes passed by the Massachusetts state government. Contributed to the fall of the Articles of Confederation, because it highlighted the weaknesses of the central government.

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Annapolis Convention

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Convention called to discuss a uniform regulation of commerce, 1786, served as a precursor to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The main achievement was the decision to summon a new meeting for the purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation to make the Union more powerful, as highlighted by the events in Shays's Rebellion.

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Constitutional Convention

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An assembly of 55 delegates from every state but Rhode Island which met in Philadelphia in 1787, initially to amend the Articles of Confederation, then to develop an entirely new system of government. On 6 August 1787, Congress accepted the first draft of the Constitution. Significant because it developed a successful system of government which is still in effect today.

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Great Compromise

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A compromise made at the Constitutional Convention, which combined the New Jersey Plan and the virginia Plan. It allowed for a bicameral legislature, which consisted of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would base each state's representation on its population as tallied in the census, whereas the Senate would have two senators from each state.

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North-South Compromise

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Contained a series of compromises between the North and the South at the Constitutional Convention. It was necessary due to the differences in the northern manufacturing states and the Southern agricultural states. Contained the Three-Fifths Compromise, allowing three of every five slaves to count toward a state's population total for representation in the House and for taxation totals. The Commerce Compromise allowed for a tax on imports, not exports; it resolved to end the slave trade in 1808, and required states to return runaway slaves.

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Anti-Federalists

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Those who opposed ratification of the Constitution. They supported a Bill of Rights and argued that the proposed Constitution gave excessive power to the federal government. Led by George Clinton, Patrick Henry, George Mason and Elbridge Gerry.

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Federalists

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Those who supported ratification of the Constitution. They believed in a strong central government, public credit, and the promotion of commerce and industry. Members of this faction drafted the Federalist Papers to promote reasons for ratification of the Constitution. Led by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison.

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Judiciary

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The branch of government containing the courts. Has the authority to interpret and apply the law. Also responsible for protecting individuals from arbitrary acts of either the legislative or executive branches of government. Has the power of judicial review.

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Judiciary Act of 1789

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Established first congressionally-created federal court system. Stated that the judicial branch should be composed of one Supreme Court and many inferior courts such as district and circuit courts. Established that there would be six members of the Supreme Court and thirteen district courts. The Supreme Court would settle disputes between states and its decision is final. First law to be declared unconstitutional by Marbury v. Madison.

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Hamilton's Program

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Plan created by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton for the U.S. economy. Believed that the government should encourage manufacturing, assume responsibility for the country's debts, standardize and control the currency system through a national bank and maintain friendly ties with Britain in order to maintain peace. Disputes over the constitutionality of the program led to the formation of the first political parties in the United States.

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Tariff of 1789

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A tariff designed to raise revenues for the new United States government by placing a duty on the importation of foreign goods and encouraging domestic production in such industries as glass and pottery by taxing the importation of these products from foreign sources.

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Excise Tax

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An internal tax meant specifically for transactions within the United States. Federal excises in the U.S. are levied primarily on alcoholic beverages, tobacco and motor fuel. The tax, part of Hamilton's financial plan, sparked the Whiskey Rebellion.

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Elastic Clause

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Article I, Section VIII of the Constitution, stating that Congress shall have the power to make laws that are "necessary and proper." Sparked much debate and is the basis for much of the loose constructionist ideology utilized in the creation of the National Bank and the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory.

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Loose Interpretation

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The idea that a flexible view of the power of the Constitution should be held. Federalists, such as Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, held this idea. Alexander Hamilton used this idea to establish a National Bank.

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Strict Interpretation

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The idea that the federal government has no rights or powers not expressly written in the Constitution. This idea was mainly held by Democratic Republicans such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

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Whiskey Rebellion

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A rebellion in 1794 by the people of western Pennsylvania in reaction to the Excise Tax on distilled liquors passed in 1791. Farmers considered the tax to be a burden and a violation of their rights. President George Washington called in the militia to end the rebellion. This event flaunted the power of the federal government, proved that a rebellion over taxation would not be tolerated and showed that the executive branch had the power to enforce federal law.

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Federalist Party

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One of the first two political parties in American history, forming opposite the Democratic Republican Party. Dominated the federal government until its defeat in the presidential election of 1800. Advocated a strong federal government, supported manufacturing and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. Support came primarily from the commercial Northeast.

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Democratic Republican Party

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Political party forming opposite the Federalists. Advocated an agrarian society, a weak national government and strict interpretation of the Constitution.

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Alien and Sedition Acts

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Acts directed against subversive acts of foreigners in the United States (Alien Act) and criticism of government (Sedition Act). Passed in 1798 by the Federalists when relations with France were shaky.

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Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

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Adopted in 1798 by the state legislatures of Virginia and Kentucky in opposition to the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were seen as a denial of individual freedom. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were drafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, respectively. Together they helped to announce the Doctrine of Nullification.

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Doctrine of Nullification

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Doctrine expounded by advocates of extreme states' rights. Held that states have the right to declare null and void any federal law that they deem unconstitutional. Based on the theory that the Union was a voluntary compact of states and that the federal government had no right to exercise powers not specifically assigned to it by the Constitution.