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21 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Articles of Confederation
The United States’ first constitution. The
government it formed governed from 1781 to 1789. It was unsuccessful
because the government didn’t have the power to collect taxes from the states
or regulate foreign trade.
The Enlightenment
The time when man began to use his reason to
discover the world and rid of the superstition and fear of the medieval
world. Enlightenment thinkers rejected the authority of church and state.
The discover of the natural laws which govern the universe led to scientific,
political, and social advances.
monarchy
A form of government in which political power belongs to one
ruler, usually a king or queen, who receives his/her position by claim of divine
or inherited right.
natural law/natural rights
A set of principles which govern human
interacts as opposed to being imposed by humans.
separation of powers
Division of governmental power between the
executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government.
Shays' Rebellion
In western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, small-farm
owners led by Daniel Shays rebelled the state’s failure to acknowledge the
many farm foreclosures and credit difficulties. The rebellion was calmed by
troops but was successful in convincing national leaders that the Articles of
Confederation weren’t sufficient for national stability and a stronger central
government was needed. This helped to encourage leaders to create the U.S.
Constitution.
theocracy
A form of government in which God or a diety is recognized as the
supreme civil ruler, the diety’s laws are interpreted by authority of the church.
Antifederalists
A person who opposed the adoption of the United States
Constitution.
bicameral
Refers to a legislative that has two bodies.
Connecticut Plan/Compromise
A proposal by Roger Sherman, the
Connecticut delegate, that Congress be bicameral, composing of a Senate and
a House of Representatives. There would be equal number of representatives
in the Senate and one representative to the House for each 30,000 citizens of
the state.
Constitutional Convention
A method (not yet tried) by which the
Constitution can be amended
Two-thirds of all state legislatures must petition
the federal government to call a constitutional convention.
direct democracy
A form of government in which all citizens votes on all
matters of government.
federalism
A system in which the national government and the local/state
governments share powers.
Federalists
Supporters of the proposed Constitution.
Federalist Papers (The Federalist)
A series of essays written by James
Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay describing the concerns and
issues of the framers face as they created a plan for the new government.
These essays defended the Constitution and persuaded Americans that it should be ratified.
indirect/representative democracy
A system of government which gets
its authority from the people and governs according to the will of the majority.
The people elect individuals to represent their will.
New Jersey Plan
A proposal presented by New Jersey delegates at the
Constitutional Convention which recommended that Congress be unicameral
(having a single legislative chamber) and that all states be equally represented
in Congress and Congress have the power to force states to cooperate with the
national government.
republic
A state in which the body of citizens entitled to vote has the supreme power and that power is exercised by representatives chosen directly
or indirectly by them.
Three-Fifths Clause
An agreement reached at the Constitutional
Convention between the North and South states. The South wanted the slave
population counted for voting purposes but not for tax purposes but the
North wanted the opposite. The two sides agreed that three-fifths of the slave
population would be counted for both purposes.
Virginia Plan
Proposal presented by Virginia delegates at the Constitution
Convention which recommended that Congress be bicameral (composed of
two legislative chambers) and the population of the states be the basis of their
representation.
unicameral
Refers to a legislative that has only one body.