American Government Principles and State Constitutions
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Questions and Answers

What was the primary concern regarding republicanism in America?

  • The government should have vague rules
  • Power should lie with the people (correct)
  • Central authority should have all power
  • Aristocracy should be encouraged

    • All state governments adopted a system of popular rule immediately after independence.

    False

    What did the Declaration of Independence signify regarding equality?

    Equality of opportunity

    In the late 1770s, a significant change in Massachusetts was the strengthening of the __________.

    <p>executive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following states had a popularly elected house?

    <p>Georgia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their corresponding descriptions:

    <p>Separation of Church and State = No government interference in religious matters Continental Impost = A duty on imported goods to raise revenue Postwar Depression = Economic hardships faced by Americans after the Revolution Slavery Abolition = End of slavery in many Northern states but not in the South</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All states made significant moves away from slavery after the Revolution.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the key figures involved in creating the continental impost?

    <p>Robert Morris, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the concerns that Southern states had regarding trade regulation?

    <p>Interference with their slave-based economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    James Madison believed that a large republic would be more likely to cultivate tyranny.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which document required nine of the thirteen states to ratify the Constitution?

    <p>The Constitution itself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the __________.

    <p>Bill of Rights</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following figures with their roles or beliefs:

    <p>James Madison = Key contributor to the Constitution Alexander Hamilton = Aristocratic secretary of the treasury George Washington = First President of the United States Antifederalists = Opponents of the Constitution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many amendments were initially proposed to create a Bill of Rights?

    <p>12</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Articles of Confederation required a simple majority for ratification.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the main financial strategies proposed by Alexander Hamilton?

    <p>Government assuming public debt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Judiciary Act of 1789 specified rules surrounding the __________.

    <p>Supreme Court</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group opposed the ratification of the Constitution?

    <p>Antifederalists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first elections under the Constitution took place in 1789.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two figures supported the Federalist cause by writing The Federalist Papers?

    <p>Hamilton and Jay</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The compromise regarding the slave trade in the Constitution allowed the trade to continue for __________ years.

    <p>twenty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the fears expressed by Antifederalists?

    <p>Tyranny and loss of individual liberties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the main demands of Shays' Rebellion?

    <p>A new capital location</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Articles of Confederation allowed Congress to levy taxes.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who presided over the Philadelphia Convention?

    <p>George Washington</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established a single __________ territory.

    <p>Northwestern</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following plans with their characteristics:

    <p>Virginia Plan = Proportional representation based on population New Jersey Plan = Equal representation for all states Great Compromise = Combination of population-based and equal representation Ordinance of 1785 = Surveyed and sold Western territories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Treaty of Greenville accomplish?

    <p>Ceded more land to the United States</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Articles of Confederation ended in 1789 due to its success.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the significance of the ⅗ compromise?

    <p>It determined how slaves would be counted for representation and taxation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the late 1780s, farmers demanded __________ currency.

    <p>paper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group was particularly upset by the treaty with Spain in 1786?

    <p>Southern Americans</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Edward Randolph presented the New Jersey Plan.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key failure of the Articles of Confederation?

    <p>Inability to regulate trade</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The __________ of Confederation consisted of the national governing body established in 1777.

    <p>Articles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event motivated George Washington to support the need for a national government?

    <p>Shays' Rebellion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Confederation was able to maintain peace and enforce treaties with foreign nations.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What led to the quick collapse of the rebellion mentioned in the content?

    <p>Intimidation from militiamen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hamilton was in favor of a plan to divide bonds between original owners and speculators.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who led the response of militiamen during the rebellion?

    <p>George Washington</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The plan to adopt a national bank passed in the year __________.

    <p>1791</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following treaties with their outcomes:

    <p>Jay's Treaty = Settled conflict with Britain Pinckney’s Treaty = Negotiated borders with Spain Neutrality Act = Attempt to maintain US neutrality Edmond Genet = Diplomatic representative from France</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which faction primarily opposed the federalists?

    <p>Republicans</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Federalists and Republicans recognized each other's right to exist during the first party system.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president warned against foreign influence during his farewell address?

    <p>George Washington</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Republicans believed in an agrarian republic where citizens would be independent __________.

    <p>farmers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the public reaction to Jay's Treaty?

    <p>Unsatisfactory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Hamilton was the Secretary of State when he negotiated Jay's Treaty.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the Federalists' feelings towards the French Revolution?

    <p>Horrified</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Republican party was primarily centered in __________ areas.

    <p>southern, rural</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the key figures with their respective political alignments:

    <p>Alexander Hamilton = Federalist Thomas Jefferson = Republican James Madison = Republican John Adams = Federalist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a result of the XYZ affair?

    <p>Increased support for the Federalists</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Alien and Sedition Acts were aimed at protecting the rights of immigrants.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the name of the resolution plan created by Republicans to counteract the Alien and Sedition Acts?

    <p>Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Adams' administration faced significant opposition from the __________ party, which believed he was becoming a tyrant.

    <p>Republican</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following individuals with their associated actions during the crisis with France:

    <p>Charles Cotesworth Pinckney = Sent to negotiate with France John Adams = Supported military preparations against France Aaron Burr = Played a key role in the Election of 1800 Elbridge Gerry = Part of the commission to negotiate peace</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key theme of the Election of 1800?

    <p>Severely divided political parties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The conflict with France had no lasting impact on American political divisions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome when the votes were counted for the Election of 1800?

    <p>A tie between Jefferson and Burr</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Congress authorized American ships to capture French vessels during the __________.

    <p>undeclared war</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one major impact of the Alien and Sedition Acts?

    <p>Silenced opposition voices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Republicanism

    • America's founding principle: Power resides with the people, not a single authority.
    • Ideal: Small, independent landowners.
    • Equality of opportunity, though not fully realized. White people held greater privilege; women were largely marginalized; and Native Americans faced ongoing displacement.

    State Governments

    • State constitutions creation: States either adopted existing or created new constitutions.
    • Key principles: Written rules; limited executive authority.
    • Legislative structure: Most states had a bicameral legislature, with an upper house representing elites and a lower house elected by the people.
    • Property requirements for voters.
    • Constitution writing changed: Shift from legislatures to constitutional conventions for drafting and adoption.
    • Increased executive power: States strengthened the governor's role (fixed salary, appointment powers, veto).
    • Religious freedom: Reduced power of churches; separation of church and state advocated by figures like Thomas Jefferson.
    • Slavery: Gradual abolition in some Northern states; continued in Southern and border states.

    Postwar Depression

    • Economic problems: Debt, insufficiency of currency, and limitations of taxing power.
    • Continental Impost: A duty on imports to solve the debt problem, but it failed to be approved and angered the public.
    • State war debt: States used taxes on indebted farmers, which stoked farmer anger and demand for paper currency and debt relief.
    • Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787): A large farmers' riot led by Daniel Shays demanding monetary/tax relief.
    • Military response: State militias put down the rebellion, with some concessions made.

    The Confederation

    • The Articles of Confederation (1777-1789): The nation's first governing document, establishing Congress as the chief authority.
    • Limited powers: Congress couldn't tax, regulate commerce, or draft troops effectively.
    • State control: State legislatures retained significant control, particularly concerning Congress's actions.
    • Representation disputes: Disagreements over state representation in Congress (population vs. equal representation).
    • Western territories: Conflicts over the control and governance of western territories.
    • International relations: Failure to maintain international stature, difficult to negotiate with countries like Britain and Spain.
    • Northwest Ordinances (1784, 1785, 1787): Established methods for surveying and dispensing land in the American Northwest, leading to conflicts with Native Americans.

    The Constitutional Convention (1787)

    • Motivation: The Confederation's inadequacies and Shays Rebellion provided pressure for change, and spurred discussions for a new government.
    • Convention Details: 55 delegates from twelve states met in Philadelphia to address the weaknesses of the Articles.
    • Virginia Plan: A proposal for a national legislature with two houses; representation based on population.
    • New Jersey Plan: Proposed a "federal" rather than "national" legislature with equal representation.
    • Great Compromise: A bicameral legislature with population-based representation in the lower house; equal representation in the upper house. This also included a three-fifths compromise for the purposes of counting slaves toward the population count.
    • Southern slave concessions: Agreement not to tax exports, place a duty larger than $10 per person on imported slaves, and not interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.

    The Constitution

    • Key contributors: James Madison, pivotal in resolving the sovereignty and concentrated authority issues.
    • Sovereignty: Power derived from the people, with the federal and state governments both accountable.
    • Federalism: Defined the relationships between state, federal government and their inherent powers.
    • Checks and Balances: Separation of powers with limitations upon branches of government.
    • Ratification challenges: The Constitution needed support from nine states.
    • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Debate surrounding ratification. Concerns included lack of bill of rights.
    • Ratification process: Ratification proceeded rapidly, with New Hampshire becoming the 9th state in June 1788.
    • Addition of the Bill of Rights: To address anti-federalist concerns over individual liberties and reduce potential for abuse of power by the federal government.

    Early Governance

    • First elections and presidency: George Washington as the first president; John Adams as vice president.
    • Creation of the bill of rights.
    • Judiciary Act of 1789: Established the structure of the US Supreme Court.
    • Federalist-Republican tensions: early struggles to establish the new nation.

    Federalists vs. Republicans (First Party System)

    • Federalists: Primarily urban, wealthy interests, supported strong centralized government. Alexander Hamilton as a key figure, advocating for a national bank and debt assumption.
    • Republicans (Democratic-Republicans): Rural, agrarian interests, favored more state power and limited government. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as key figures.
    • French Revolution: Differing responses (federalists wary, republicans enthusiastic) fueled party polarization.
    • Whiskey Rebellion (1794): A protest in Pennsylvania against an excise tax on whiskey; highlighted the power of the federal government and Washington's role in putting it down.

    Maintaining Neutrality

    • Foreign policy challenges: Response and response to wars between France and Britain, and conflicts with France that resulted in a very tense relationship, requiring US to maintain neutrality.
    • Jay's Treaty (1794): Treaty with Great Britain to resolve disputes and regulate trade. Publicly controversial.
    • Pinckney's Treaty (1795): Treaty with Spain addressing borders and trade.
    • Washington's Farewell Address: Warned against factionalism and foreign entanglements.
    • Domestic conflicts: Problems with France resulted in the XYZ affair.

    The XYZ Affair and the War with France

    • Undeclared naval war with France.
    • Alien and Sedition Acts: Federalist legislation intended to silence republican opposition, and punish anyone who criticized the government. Sparked outrage and raised tensions.
    • Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798-1799): Republican responses condemning the Alien and Sedition Acts. Asserting the rights of states to nullify federal laws.

    The Election of 1800

    • Republican victory: Thomas Jefferson's election marked the end of the Federalist dominance.
    • Tie in the electoral college: Congress ultimately chose Jefferson over Aaron Burr, defining a significant point in US political history.

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    Description

    Explore the foundational principles of republicanism in America, emphasizing the role of people in governance and the evolution of state governments. This quiz covers state constitutions, legislative structures, and the balance of power. Understand how these principles shaped the political landscape of early America.

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