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American Heritage test 2
n/a
108
History
Undergraduate 1
02/15/2011
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Term
Oligarchy:
 Definition
A form of gov where most or all political power effectively rests with a small segment of society, typically the most powerful, whether by wealth, family military strength, ruthlessness, or political influence
Term
Republican problem:
 Definition
The question of how the benefits of self-government can be enjoyed without incurring its inherent problems
Term
Constitutional structure:
 Definition
The nature and arrangement of mechanisms in a constitution that organize the governement
Term
Constitutional Drift:
 Definition
When power in the government does not remain where it was originally placed. 
Term
Confederation:
 Definition
Defensive alliance among sovereign equals.
Term
Articles of Confederation:
 Definition
Document outlining an alliance of sovereign equal states in which there was a weak central governing Continental Congress.
Term
State Sovereignty:
 Definition
When ultimate political power resides in the state rather than the federal government.
Term
John Adams:
 Definition
Founding Father and proponent of a bicameral legislature. 
Term
Bicameral legislature:
 Definition
A legislature in which there are 2 separate divisions or houses. 
Term
James Madison:
 Definition

  • 4th president of U.S. 
  • "Father of the Constitution."
  • Co-authored The Federalist with Hamilton and Jay
  • Helped Jefferson create the Democratic-Republican Party.
Term
Virginia Plan:
 Definition
Plan presented during the Constitutional Convention in which each state would have proportional representation in the Congress. 
Term
New Jersey Plan:
 Definition
Plan presented during the Constitutional Convention in which each state would have equal representation in the Congress. 
Term
The Great Compromise:
 Definition

  • Proposed by Roger Sherman.
  • Brought together the New Jersey and Virginia Plans by having the upper congressional house representation equal by state and the lower house representation proportional by population. 
Term
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: 
 Definition

  • No executive
  • No power to enforce conflicts between states
  • No power to tax
  • No common currency, exchange disputes
  • Not binding if passed
  • No judiciary to resolve disputes
  • State Wars (Penn-Conn)
  • Conflicts between state laws
  • State trade problems
  • States made own international treaties, states were played off each other. 
Term
Strengths of the Articles of Confederation
 Definition

 

  • Experience gained helped in the creation of the Constitution
  • States acted as experimental labs
  • Provided some solutions in convention
  • Got through the Revolutionary War
  • Ended western land claiming by states
  • Was a product of the people

 
Term
Gouverneur Morris
 Definition

  • Pennsylvania representative
  • Authored large sections of the Constitution, including the Preamble
Term
Charles Pinckney:
 Definition

  • South Carolina representative
  • A strong promoter of Federalism and helped persuade ratification of the Constitution in South Carolina
Term
George Mason:
 Definition

  • Virginia representative
  • Mason refused to sign the Constitution because it did not contain a declaration of rights. 
Term
William Paterson:
 Definition

  • New Jersey representative
  • Presented the New Jersey Plan (gave equal representation to states regardless of size or population)
Term
Roger Sherman:
 Definition

  • Connecticut delegate 
  • Proposed the great compromise of one legislative house having proportional representation while the other had equal representation. 
Term
Popular Sovereignty:
 Definition

  • The idea that power is created by and subject to the will of the people.  
  • It was the basis for Madison's proportional representation in Congress and a justification by the South for the continuance of slavery. 
Term
Benjamin Franklin
 Definition
One of the most well-known Founders, Franklin was also a leading printer, scientist, inventor; and diplomat.  He helped secure France as an ally during the Revolutionary War. 
Term
Federalism:
 Definition
Dividing powers between the national and state governments. 
Term
Three-fifths Compromise:
 Definition
Part of the compromise on slavery, where 3 out of every 5 slaves were counted as part of state population for taxation and representation. 
Term
Compromise on Slavery:
 Definition

  1. Slave trade could not be abolished for 20 years.
  2. Slaves counted as 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation.
  3. Fugitive slaves were to be returned to their owners. 
Term
Auxiliary Precautions:
 Definition
Structure in the government to make it more difficult for power to become concentrated in any one group's hands, seen by the Founders as a backup system to virtue.  Madison talks about this in Federalist 51. 
Term
Constitutional Mechanism:
 Definition
Parts of the Constitution that help organize and control power. 
Term
Indirect election:
 Definition
When government officials are elected by previously chosen representatives, and not directly by the people.  
Term
Hume's Filter or filters of consent:
 Definition
When the people select the most virtuous representatives, who in turn select even more virtuous government officials. 
Term
Enumeration:
 Definition
The written listing of the powers of government. 
Term
Separation of Powers:
 Definition
Dividing powers of government between the three branches. 
Term
James Wilson
 Definition

  • A primary framer of the Constitution
  • Proposed the 3/5's compromise for slave representation and election of the President by the people.
  • He was a key in Pennsylvania's ratification of the Constitution. 
Term
Checks and Balances
 Definition
Bridging the separation of powers between branches of government by placing part of each power within two separate branches. 
Term
Faction:
 Definition
A group of individuals who share the same specific political agenda. 
Term
Poleis:
 Definition
City or city-state, often self-governed by its citizens as were the ancient Greek city-states
Term
Supermajority:
 Definition
A specified majority of voters.  In the ratification of the Constitution almost 70% (9 of 13) of the states was required. 
Term
Samuel Adams:
 Definition

  • Second cousin to John Adams
  • a Massachusetts statesman
  • Organizer of the Boston Tea Party
  • Served in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence
  • Opposed to a strong federal government
Term
Anti-federalists:
 Definition

  • Political group that was against the ratification of the Constitution. 
  • Emphasized virtue
  • Emphasized personal sovereignty
Term
Alexander Hamilton:
 Definition

  • Served as the first Secretary of the Treasury under Washington
  • Founded the Federalist Party
  • Co-wrote The Federalist 
  • Championed a strong central government
Term
Federalists
 Definition
A political group that was for the ratification of the Constitution. 
Term
Edmund Randolph:
 Definition

  • Governor of Virginia and delegate to the Constitutional Convention
  • Proposed Madison's Virginia Plan
  • Ultimately refused to sign the Constitution in Philadelphia because it had no bill of rights
  • He was later instrumental in persuading Virginia leadership to ratify it. 
Term
John Jay:
 Definition

  • A founding father
  • Served as a President of the Continental Congress
  • Co-wrote The Federalist  with Hamilton and Madison
  • Served as the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. 
Term
The Federalist
 Definition

 

  • Series of Essays published in NY newspapers under the pseudonym Publius for the express purpose of gaining support for ratification of the Constitution.  
  • Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

 
Term
Natural Rights:
 Definition
Fundamental rights granted by nature that government can not abrogate and which government is bound to protect. 
Term
Arugments Against the Bill of Rights:
 Definition

  • States already had bill of rights--it was unneeded
  • Enumerating rights was very difficult
  • Enforcing rights was very difficult
Term
Arguments For a Bill of Rights:
 Definition

  • The Federalists promised during Ratification debate
  • A rather large, powerful central government was just created
  • Could not hurt to enumerate things the government cannot do (especially in the shadow of King George)
Term
Civil Rights:
 Definition
Rights defined using narrow, concrete language, full of specific terms and qualifiers. 
Term
The Great Oughts:
 Definition

Natural rights that don't proclaim as "is" so much as an "ought" about the world--the way things "should" be. 

"Three Great Oughts"

  • Freedom of conscience (found in 1st amendment) 
  • Freedom of expression (found in 1st amendment)
  • Right to privacy (implied in 1st, 3rd, and 4th)
Term
Alien and Sedition Acts:
 Definition
Laws passed in 1798 to try and stifle the "seditious" writings of French propagandists against the neutrality of the US with regards to the French and British War. 
Term
Marbury vs. Madison:
 Definition
Supreme court case in which judicial review was established. 
Term
Original Jurisdiction:
 Definition
The authority of a court to hear certain kinds of cases first instead of waiting for those cases to be tried in a lower court. 
Term
Judiciary Act of 1789:
 Definition

  • Congressional act passed in 1789 to form the federal court system and to authorize writs of mandamus.
  • Also specified areas of Supreme Court jurisdiction, mostly in expanding the realm of their original jurisdiction.  
Term
Lame Duck:
 Definition
The time between the election of a new political official and when they take office.  Refers specifically to the outgoing official's frequent lack of influence or power during that period. 
Term
Midnight appointments:
 Definition
Judiciary appointments of Federalist judges made by Federalist president John Adams shortly before he left office, in response to the Democratic-Republican victory in the Congress and Presidency. 
Term
William Marbury:
 Definition

A "midnight Appointment" by John Adams.  

Marbury sued Secretary of State James Madison for delivery of his commission, which was being withheld by order of President Jefferson. 
Term
Writ of mandamus:
 Definition
A court document forcing an action by a certain party. 
Term
Judicial Review:
 Definition
Power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of laws. 
Term
Loyal Opposition:
 Definition
When losers in the political game continue to support the system, even when the system is against their ideology. 
Term
Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State:
 Definition

 

  • Devoted to the ideal of a society composed of free, self-reliant individuals with a small gov to protect their rights.
  • Used "yeomen farmers" to describe the people who would dominate his ideal society.  
  • This ideal society would produce intelligent, virtuous people in little need of gov.  
  • Supported the French Revolution underway.
  • Part of the Democratic-Republican Party
  • Narrow Interpretation of constitutional powers 

 
Term
Alexander Hamilton as Secretary of Treasury:
 Definition

  • He viewed Jefferson's "yeomen farmers" vision with disgust.
  • Believed there must always be the rulers and the ruled.  
  • He envisioned the main task before the new gov as being the creation of a great empire that would dominate the western hemisphere.  
  • Supported Alliances with Great Britain
  • Powerful federal government
  • Broad interpretation of constitutional powers
  • Part of the Federalist party
Term
Federalist Party: 
 Definition
Political party founded by Hamilton and John Adams that envisioned a great Western empire with a strong federal gov and a broad interpretation of Constitutional powers. 
Term
Democratic-Republicans
 Definition
Political party led by Jefferson and Madison that championed a society of self-reliant individuals to protect rights, a smaller federal gov, and a narrow and strict interpretation of the Constitution. 
Term
Original Consent:
 Definition
Giving consent to a provision or law the first time, such as the ratification of the Constitution. 
Term
Periodic Consent:
 Definition
Giving continuing consent at certain intervals (such as elections) to a provision or law to which original consent has already been given.  
Term
Filtered Consent:
 Definition
When the selection of gov officials is distanced from direct election by the people in order to protect against mob rule and public whim.  Filters include indirect election, time between elections, and size of representative regions. 
Term
The Electoral college:
 Definition
The group of electors selected by the people who are responsible for the selection of the president. 
Term
Majority:
 Definition
Receiving more than 50% of the votes
Term
Plurality:
 Definition
Receiving the largest percentage of the votes
Term
Single Representative Districts:
 Definition
Representational structure where each geographical region elects its one representative independent of outcomes in other regions. 
Term
Proportional Representation:
 Definition
Party representation in the legislative body is closely tied to the national or regional vote of that party. 
Term
Ordinance of 1784:
 Definition
Plan of Thomas Jefferson to organize the national domain into discrete territories along with a three-stage development of government institutions. 
Term
Land Ordinance of 1785:
 Definition
Called for the systematic survey of the Northwest Territory and division into mile-square plots and organization into townships.
Term
Northwest Territory:
 Definition
Lands north of the Ohio River
Term
Northwest Ordinance of 1787:
 Definition
Called for the governmental development of the west based on creating self-governing republics that would be systematically called to the Union. 
Term
Louisiana Purchase:
 Definition
Land purchased by Thomas Jefferson from France.  Consists of much of the midwest United States.
Term
Napoleon Bonaparte:
 Definition
French Emperor and European conqueror who sold France's North American holdings to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. 
Term
Andrew Jackson:
 Definition

The 7th President of the United States.

He championed the U.S. as a democracy, pushing for more political involvement by the common man.  He also vetoed the U.S Bank's charter and made other reforms to keep the federal government small. 
Term
Public Togetherness:
 Definition
Aspect of party politics in which groups of political party members would gather together in order to have more solidarity and support. 
Term
Party Newspaper:
 Definition
A journal used by a political party for disseminating party information to and encouraging more active participation among the grass roots voters. 
Term
Popular Campaigning:
 Definition
Promoting candidates as being from (and therefore representing) the common masses, rather than as elite gentlemen-politicians. 
Term
Political Convention:
 Definition
Large meeting of party delegates for the purpose of nominating candidates, often held with much pomp and ballyhoo.  
Term
Get out the vote Activity:
 Definition
Aspect of party politics in which voters are systematically rounded up and helped to get to the polling place. 
Term
Political Machine:
 Definition
Group of party loyalists organized to deliver the vote on election day.  Historically they often used questionable or illegal means such as buying votes or intimidation at the polls. 
Term
John Quincy Adams:
 Definition

6th President of the U.S.

Known for formulating the Monroe Doctrine
Term
Daniel Webster:
 Definition
A leading American statesman and senator during the Pre-Civil War era. 
Term
Henry Clay:
 Definition
American statesman and congressman who founded the Whig party. 
Term
Frederick Jackson Turner:
 Definition
American historian who studied and wrote about the American experience and what made it unique. 
Term
Robert E. Lee
 Definition
Confederate general and commander of the Army of Northern Virginia during the Civil War.  After surrendering at Appomattox on April 9, 1865, Lee urged reconciliation with the North. 
Term
Confederacy:
 Definition
Alliance of southern states that seceded from the Union over slavery. 
Term
George B. McClellan
 Definition
Union General who failed to press his advantage at the Battle of Antietam, and was later relieved of his command by President Lincoln. 
Term
Antietam:
 Definition
A severe Civil War battle that took place on Sept 17, 1862.  It was the bloodiest day in American history.  After the battle Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 
Term
Emancipation Proclamation:
 Definition
Presidential order issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 that freed slaves in the areas of insurrection.
Term
Secession:
 Definition
Formal withdrawal of states or regions from a nation.
Term
Faction:
 Definition
A group of individuals who share the same specific political agenda. 
Term
Factionalism:
 Definition
When a city-state or nation has multiple factions that compete against each other.  Madison felt that an extended republic would prevent factionalism from leading to tyranny because no faction could be large enough to dominate. 
Term
Sectionalism:
 Definition
Factionalism on a larger, more regional scale, with fewer but larger factions.  Sectionalism during the 1800s over the slavery issue nullified the benefits of Madison's extended republic and led to the Civil War. 
Term
Missouri Compromise:
 Definition
1820 agreement between slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States that regulated slavery in western territories, prohibiting slavery above the border of Arkansas  (except Missouri) and permitting it south of that border.  
Term
Stephan A. Douglas
 Definition

An Illinois statesman who ran against Lincoln, Bell, and Breckinridge in the 1860 Presidential election on a popular sovereignty platform for slavery.

He also authored the Kansas-Nebraska act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise and heightened the slavery debate. 
Term
John Brown:
 Definition
A controversial abolitionist who tried to start a slave rebellion and used sometimes violent guerrilla tactics in fighting against the institution of slavery.
Term
Republican Party:
 Definition
Political party that stems from the controversy over slavery.  It was dedicated to keeping future territories and states free from slavery. 
Term
Dred Scott:
 Definition
Slave who sued unsuccessfully for his freedom in 1857 because he had lived with his owner in several states where slavery was illegal.  The ruling of Dred Scott vs Sandford determined that slaves were property and could not be freed by state laws.  The ruling essentially nullified the Missouri Compromise and was a major factor contributing to the Civil War. 
Term
Roger B. Taney:
 Definition
Fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Taney ruled in Dred Scott v Sandford that the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional. 
Term
John Breckinridge:
 Definition

A senator from Kentucky and the 14th vice president of the U.S.

Ran against Lincoln, Bell, and Douglas in the 1860 presidential election on an extreme pro-slavery platform. 
Term
John Bell:
 Definition

A wealthy slaveowner from Tennessee who served in both the House and the Senate.

Ran for President with the Constitutional Union Party on a moderate pro-slavery platform. 
Term
Abraham Lincoln:
 Definition

16th president of the United States.

He south to end slavery and preserve the Union.  

He signed the Emancipation Proclamation and delivered his famous "Gettysburg Address."
Term
13th Amendment:
 Definition
Abolished slavery in the United States.
Term
14th Amendment:
 Definition
Defined citizenship and overturned the 3/5 compromise for slaves when determining representation, repudiated Confederate debts, and prohibited Confederate leaders from holding public office.
Term
15 Amendment:
 Definition
All male citizens are granted the right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 
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