SS Study Guide PDF - Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation - Study Guide

Declaration of Independence You should be able to... ​ Identify the two main reasons for the Declaration of Independence -​ To declare the independence from Britain -​ To motivate foreign allies to join the fight ​ Identify the person that they blamed most of their gri...

Declaration of Independence You should be able to... ​ Identify the two main reasons for the Declaration of Independence -​ To declare the independence from Britain -​ To motivate foreign allies to join the fight ​ Identify the person that they blamed most of their grievances on -​ King George lll ​ Explain the background behind some of the grievances listed in the Declaration -​ In times of peace KG3 (King George lll) kept some of his armies in the US -​ KG3 cut off the US’s trade with all parts of the world -​ KG3 imposed taxes without the US’s consent -​ KG3 plundered the US seas -​ KG3 deprived the US, in many cases, of the benefits of a jury -​ KG3 burned down US towns Articles of Confederation You should be able to... ​ Identify & explain the 6 main parts of the Articles of Confederation -​ Each state had 1 vote in congress -​ Congress could pass laws with the approval of only 9 of the 13 states -​ Congress could declare war, make peace, and make money -​ States could choose their own military leaders -​ All the states would help to raise money for the central governments ( the congress could not require the state to pay taxes ) -​ Congress could not regulate trade or arguments between the states ​ Identify & explain the major problems with the Articles of Confederation -​ The Articles of Confederation set up a very loose organization of states which granted the national government more power which became a big problem. The US owed over 45 million dollars to other countries from the revolutionary war but had no way to pay it back, resulting in no pay for the veterans who served. The congress couldn't do anything about the money. -​ Many of the states were taxing goods that crossed their borders which made the states argue with each other frequently -​ Spain closed its port in New Orleans because they wanted to encourage the US citizens to join the Spanish in Spain. They offered trade deals to those who joined the Spanish and the US Government had no way to stop them. -​ During the war both New York and New Hampshire claimed Vermont, both states used their own state militias to ¨solve the problem.¨ Vermont wanted to ally with the British if the US government would not allow them to become their own state, this led to many fights and there was no way anyone could stop them -​ Britain refused to take away their troops from the Ohio River Valley but the US had no army to use against the British to push them out. The British also supported the Native Americans which wasn't good for the US either.  -​Congress and each individual state printed out their own money which made it difficult to determine money's worth. Congress had no gold or silver to make any more coins so there was a major problem when purchasing goods from another state ​ Explain the details of Shay's Rebellion -​ Because of the money shortage farmers in Massachusetts were ordered to sell their lands and pay their debts. Many if not all of the farmers were war veterans who had never been paid for their service. Daniel Shays led the rebellion by closing down courthouses to keep the judges from stealing their farms and to prevent the government from arresting any of the debtors. They also seized an arsenal of weapons. Congress did not have an army to stop the rebellers so they couldn't do anything. Congress eventually sent in a militia to stop them, this whole rebellion showed congress how little power they actually had. The Rebellion caused congress´ eyes to be open and to change the Articles of Confederation. Constitution You should be able to... ​ Explain the details of the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and the Connecticut Compromise The Virginia Plan -​ The power of the government would be spread among three branches - the executive, legislative, and judicial -​ The legislative branch had two sections - The senate and house of representatives -​ In both sections (or houses) the number of representatives would be based on the states population The New Jersey Plan -​ Only one house in the legislative branch -​ Each state only had one vote The Connecticut Compromise -​Three branches -​Two houses in the legislative branch - The senate and house of representatives -​The senate will have two representatives per state -​The number of representatives in the house of representatives would be based on the population ​ Explain the details of the debate between large and small states about equal voting vs. population-based voting -​ ​ Explain the details of the debate between Northern and Southern states about whether enslaved people should count as property or population Northern - -​ Enslaved people only count as property for taxation -​ Enslaved people should not count as population  -​ The National Government should set a date to outlaw the international slave trade Southern - -​Enslaved people should count as part of the population for determining the number of representatives their state had in the house of representatives -​ Enslaved people should not count as property for taxation -​ The national government should help southerners to help catch runaway slaves ​ Explain the 3/5's Compromise -​ Each enslaved person would count as three-fifths of a person for taxation and representation -​ Every 5000 slaves count as 3000 ¨persons¨ -​ The constitution also required that the importation of new slaves from Africa would end by 1808 ​ Identify who was at the Constitutional Convention and the groups of people not represented Who was at the Constitutional Convention -​ 55 delegates from twelve of the thirteen states (minus Rhode Island) -​ These men were all members of the countries social, economic, and political elite -​ Many had been members of the continental congress -​ All were white males nearly all were wealthy -​ More than half were lawyers and more than half owned slaves The groups of people not represented -​ Women -​ Native Americans -​ Enslaved people ​ Identify who took the most notes at the Constitutional Convention and wrote most of the Constitution itself -​ James Madison ​ Explain the 3 Branches of Government and their roles Executive -​ Ran by the president -​ responsible for carrying out or enforcing the laws passed by congress -​ President - serves a four year term, can be re-elected only once, the commander in chief of the armed forces and is responsible for directing foreign relations, able to appoint a cabinet, cabinets act as the president's advisors, elected by electors in the electoral college Legislative -​ Makes the nations laws -​ Consists of two parts - the house of representatives and the senate -​ Senate - each state has two senators, each senator serves six years each term, senators are elected directly by the people from their state (50 states = 100 senators)  -​ House of representatives - the number of representatives is determined by the population of each of the states, representatives serve two years each term, each representative is elected directly by those from their congressional districts, there are 435 members of the house of representatives -​ Making laws - congress makes new laws by proposing bills, the bills must be approved by by the house of representatives and the senate and then by the president before it becomes a law Judicial -​The court systems of local, state, and federal governments -​Responsible for interpreting the laws -​Supreme court - has the power to determine whether or not a law or government action goes against the laws in the constitution, this is called the power of judicial review, the top court, has nine justices, once appointed a justice you serve for life, interpret the law, reviews cases that involve the constitution, justices are chosen by the president and approved by the senate ​ Explain the System of Checks & Balances -​ The system set up by our government to make sure that each branch of government has some power over the other branches -​ By checking the power of the other branches, the power of each branch stays in balance ​ Identify specific Checks & Balances that each Branch of Government has against the other Legislative -​ President can veto a law -​ Supreme court can rule that any law passed by congress is unconstitutional -​ If the house of representatives passes a law the law can be rejected by the senate Executive -​ The senate can reject any treaty the president has negotiated -​ Congress can refuse to pay for any act the president wants to take -​ Congress can override the veto if ⅔ of the senators and representatives agree -​ congress can remove the president from office through impeachment Judicial -​ The president can check the judicial branch by only picking judges who agree with the president -​ Congress can make an amendment to the constitution if they want to override a supreme court decision -​ The president can pardon people who are convicted for federal crimes Bill of Rights You should be able to... ​ Identify each of the Rights listed in each of the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights (in order) -​ The freedom of religion, speech, and the ability to protest peacefully -​ The right to bear arms -​ No forced quartering of soldiers -​ The right against an unlawful search and seizure -​ The right to no double jeopardy, to remain silent, a trial, and public property -​ The right to a speedy trial, a lawyer, being told what your being charged for, public trails and an impartial jury -​ The right to a trial by jury -​ The right to no cruel or unusual punishments, an appropriate bail -​ Citizens have more rights than listed here -​ Congress doesn't have more rights than what's listed here