Term
| Articles of Confederation |
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Definition
| The first "constitution" governing the US after the Revolution; it was ratified in 1781 and it provided for a "firm league of friendship;" the legislative branch (Congress) had no power to regulate commerce or forcibly collect taxes and there was no national executive or judicial branch; it was an important stepping-stone towards the present constitution because without it the states would never have consented to the Constitution. |
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| Annapolis Convention (1786) |
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Definition
| A precursor to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. A dozen commissioners form NY, NJ, Penn., Delaware and VA met to discuss reform of interstate commerce regulations, to design a US currency standard and to find a way to repay the federal government's debts to Revolutionary War veterans. Little was accomplished, except for the delegates to recommend that a further convention be held to discuss changes to the form of the federal government; the idea was endorsed by the Confederation Congress in February, 1878, which called for another convention to be held in May that year in Philadelphia. |
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| Led by Captain Daniel Shays, Revolutionary war veteran. An uprising that flared up in western Mass. Impoverished back country farmers, many of them Revolutionary war veterans, were losing their farms through mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies. They demanded cheap paper money, lighter taxes, and a suspension of mortgage foreclosures. Hundreds of angry agitators attempted to enforce these demands. Massachusetts authorities supported by wealthy citizens, raised a small army under General Lincoln. |
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| Beginning on May 25, 1787, the convention recommended by the Annapolis Convention was held in Philadelphia. All of the states except Rhode Island sent delegates, and George Washington seved as president of the convention. The convention lasted 16 weeks, and on Sept. 17, 1787, produced the present Constitution of the US, which was drafted largely by James Madison. |
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Term
| John Locke's Second Treatise of Government (1690) |
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Definition
| He wrote that all human beings have a right to life, liberty, and property and that governments exist to protect those rights. He believed that a contract existed between a government and its people, and if the government failed to uphold its end of the contract, the people could rebel and institute a new government. |
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| A series of articles written in NY newspapers a source of propaganda for a stronger central government. The articles, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, were a way for the writers to express their belief that it is better to have a stronger central government. The papers turned out to be a penetrating commentary written on the Constitution. |
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| This essay from the Federalist Papers proposed setting up a republic to solve the problems of a large democracy (anarchy, rise of factions which disregard public good). |
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| A red letter law which stated that disputed land the Old Northwest was to equally divided into townships and sold for federal income; promoted education and ended confusing legal disagreements over land. |
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| Land Ordinance of 1787 (Northwest Ordinance) |
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Definition
| They said that sections of land were similar to colonies for a while, and under the control of the Federal Government. Once a territory was inhabited by 60,000 then congress would admit it as a state. The original thirteen colonies were charters. Slavery was prohibited in these Northwest Territories. This plan worked so good it became the model for other frontier areas. |
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| People against federalists in 1787; disagreed with the Constitution because they believed people's rights were being taken away without a Bill of Rights; also did not agree with annual election on the non-existence of God in government. |
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Term
| Necessary and Proper Clause |
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Definition
| Section 8 or Article I contains a long list of powers specifically granted to Congress, and ends with the statement that Congress shall also have the power "to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the forfegoing powers." These unspecified power are known as Congress' "implied" powers. There has long been a debate as to how much power this clause grants to Congress, which is sometimes referred to as the "elastic" clause because it can be "stretched" to include almost any other power that Congress might try to assert. |
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