US History & Government Study Guide #1

US History & Government Study Guide #1 Influence of Geography Explain the advantages of the following four geographic features of the United States of America. 1. Mississippi River  Served as a way to move people & products. 2. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans  great for trade along the coast & with Europe  Promote fishing  Natural barrier—protection from foreign invasion 3. Great Plains  Breadbasket of America  Flat and easy to travel 4. Abundant Natural Resources  Tobacco, cotton, trees, crops, coal & oil  Developed into an economic powerhouse 13 Colonies Geography was the primary influence on colonial life. So were the practices brought from the homelands of the colonists. This divided the colonies into three major areas. Explain the main economic activities in the three colonial regions: New England Economy

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Soil is not good for farming - Could only grow enough food to support the population Fishing is a key economic activity Timber/wood supply is plentiful Valuable natural resources Ship building business will grow in New England

Middle Atlantic Economy  

Soil is excellent for farming Natural resources for future industrialization like coal, steel, iron, etc.

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NYC becomes center of finances (money) for the colonies Southern Colonies Economy

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Soil is not good for edible crops, BUT Soil is excellent for the production of Cash Crops. Cash crops—crops grown to sell not to eat Cash crops—1. Tobacco, 2. Cotton—harvesting/planting of these labor intensive crops needs many workers. Demand for slaves increases as farms expand

Foundations of US Government 1. Choose one of the key people and highlight their achievements and the impact these achievements had on this time period in this section. John Adams Samuel Adams Benjamin Franklin Alexander Hamilton Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson Jean-Jacques Rousseau Voltaire George Washington James Madison

2. Big Thinkers, Big Ideas for America Explain how the following Enlightenment Philosophers influenced American Government

 John Locke - Thomas Jefferson uses ideas from John Locke and the Enlightenment Thinkers to write the Declaration of Independence. Locke believed in:  Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness  Government had the responsibility of protecting an individual’s rights and liberties, and if the government did not protect them, people had the right to overthrow or abolish the government.

 Baron De Montesquieu - a French political analyst who lived during the Age of Enlightenment. He wrote The Spirit of Laws, which talked about the separation of powers.  Jean Jacques Rousseau - Rousseau argued that human beings are basically good by nature, but were corrupted by complex events in society.

3. Early Attempts at Self-Government Ideals of Democracy Mayflower Compact This was an agreement for the settlers on how to govern their colony. This was one of the first steps in American for selfgovernment (democracy). Virginia House of A law making assembly made up of representatives from the colony. Burgesses This is the first instance of limited self-government in the English colonies. Fundamental Orders The framework for the government of the Connecticut colony from of Connecticut 1639-1662. 4. What was the Proclamation Line of 1763? The proclamation forbade all settlers from settling past a line drawn along the Appalachian Mountains. It closed off the frontier to colonial expansion. The King and his council presented the proclamation as a measure to calm the fears of the Indians, who felt that the colonists would drive them from their lands as they expanded westward. The colonists resented this and ignored the King’s rule, which pushed them toward war with Britain. 5. Causes of the Revolution – Explain how the following led to the American Revolution CAUSES Reversal of Salutary Neglect—An economic system of mercantilism still exists BUT the mother country (England) begins to relax economic control over the colonies  equal to economic freedom = more $$$ POWER. When Britain tried to impose more rules and take control over the colonies again, the colonies were upset. Mercantilism— - Colonies exist to benefit the mother country - Raw materials are sold by the colony to the mother country (i.e. timber) - In return, mother country sells finished products back to the colony (i.e. desk - There are trade restrictions on the colonies selling to other countries. Stamp Act and Intolerable Acts—This law placed a tax on newspapers, pamphlets, legal documents, and most other printed materials. This was supposed to pay the cost of keeping British troops in America. The Stamp Act and Intolerable Acts angered the colonists and caused them to renew boycotts and to call to the people of all the English colonies to arm themselves and form militias. “No Taxation without Representation”— because the colonies didn’t have representation in the British Parliament, they felt the British had not right to force laws on the colonies. Therefore they used this argument to protest the Sugar Act.

6. Discuss three ideas the government expressed in the Declaration of Independence. a. The people have self-evident truths: All men are created equal and they have certain unalienable rights. b. The three unalienable rights are: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness c. The government derives its “just powers” from the =consent of the governed. 7. Explain the main ideas of each piece of literature by Thomas Paine and how each one influenced the American Revolution.

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Thomas Paine (1776) wrote Common Sense a 47-page pamphlet which discussed the Revolution. It convinced many readers to support a complete break with Great Britain. Articles of Confederation 1781-1789

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Strengths Successful conclusion of the American Revolution Negotiated the Treaty of Paris Passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 which set a pattern of how new states could join the nation. It also did not allow slavery in the Northwest Territory

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Weaknesses strong state governments and a weak central (national, federal) government One vote for each state, regardless of size No single national currency Congress could not collect taxes No separated executive branch to enforce acts of Congress Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce No national court system to interpret laws Amendment only with consent of all the states A 9/13 majority required to pass laws

Writing & Ratifying the Constitution, 1787-1789 Explain what the constitutional issue was for each compromise and how compromise was reached. Compromise Issue What compromise was reached Great New Jersey Plan: equal representation— A bicameral system was reached. Compromise favors smaller populated states. The New Jersey Plan was used for Create a new stronger central government the Senate (2 members per state).

and a weak state government Virginia Plan: representation based on population—favors larger populated states. 3/5 Compromise

The south wanted to count slaves as people for representation and as property for tax purposes. The North said—No, you can’t have it both ways

Trade Compromise

*Southerners opposed tariffs because their economy was heavily dependent upon trade. *Northerners wanted tariffs to protect their industries from foreign competition.

The Virginia Plan was used for the House of Representation (number of representatives based on population). They will count each slave as three fifths of a person, so 5 slaves = 3 people.

The Constitution allows the federal government to tax interstate trade but not intrastate trade.

Governments of the United States: 1781 and 1789 How the Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Were Corrected by the Constitution Articles of Confederation Constitution of the United States  States have most of the power. The  States have some power, but most is national government has little given to the national government  No executive officer to carry out  A president heads the executive the laws of Congress branch of the government  No national courts. Only state courts  Both national and state courts exist. exist  Congress is responsible to the people  Congress is responsible to the states  Laws may be passed by a majority  Nine out of 13 states have to vote of both houses of Congress approve a law before it can go into  Congress given the power to tax effect  Congress given the power to regulate  Congress has no power to tax interstate and foreign trade  Congress cannot regulate trade  Only the national government has the among the states power to coin money  Each state coins its own money. No national currency Definitions Ratification Reserved Powers Delegated Powers

Approve Powers reserved for the states Establish schools, Pass statewide laws, regulate intrastate trade Powers delegated to the federal government Regulate interstate trade, coin money, declare war, sign treaties

Concurrent Powers Federalism Federalist Papers Preamble Separation of Powers

Powers held and exercised by both the national and state governments A strong central government Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison & John Jay, they were a series of essays to persuade the NY State convention to agree to the Constitution The preamble describes the purpose of the government set up by the Constitution. We the people… 3 Branches of Government 1. Legislative Branch—make laws 2. Executive Branch—The President, enforces laws 3. Judicial Branch—Supreme & Federal Courts

Explain what the debate was between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Include who supported the Bill of Rights and why? The Great Debate Federalists Antifederalists -James Madison -Thomas Jefferson -They wanted a strong national government -Wanted strong state government -They were afraid the president would be like a king -They feared for Americans’ individual liberties The federalists added the Bill of Rights to appeal to the antifederalists. These were amendments designed to protect citizens’ rights. The Constitution

Implied Powers  Powers not written in the Constitution—future power  This makes the constitution a “living document” and gives the government most of its power today  Flexible document based on the necessary and proper (or elastic) clause  Gives the Legislative Branch flexibility to make laws today. i.e. radio, internet. Bill of Rights Right(s)         

1st Amendment Freedom of Speech Freedom of Religion Freedom of Press Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Petition 2nd Amendment Right to keep arms 3rd Amendment Right to protection from troops being quartered in homes during peacetime 4th Amendment Right against unreasonable search and seizure without a warrant 5th Amendment Rights of the Accused

 A census is given every 10 years to find out the population for representation in the House of Representatives and for electoral votes.  The number of electoral votes for each state is determined by the number of House of Representatives and Senators = the electoral Two Issues: How to select the President, and how long is he/she president. Two types of elections: Direct Election and Indirect Election Direct election: 1. People vote for a candidate 2. Person with the most votes wins Indirect election: 1. People vote for a representative 2. Representative votes for candidate. Election Compromise: 1. Indirect election for the President and Senate 2. Direct election for the House of Representatives Electoral College:

1. U.S. Senators 2 from each state times 50 states 2. House of Representatives % according to population A census is required every ten years to determine representation in Congress. A criticism of the Electoral College is that presidents may be elected without receiving the majority of the popular vote. You can win the population but lose the electoral vote. An example of this is Busch/Gore 2000 The Unwritten Constitution: Practices of the Government based on tradition & customs. Examples: political parties, political conventions Judicial Review The most important power of the Supreme Court is the ability to declare laws unconstitutional. The power of Judicial Review was a precedent set in the 1803 Marbury vs. Madison decision. It also serves a check on the laws passed by Congress and the actions and treaties of the President.

The War of 1812 (Also see DBQ handout)  Tension with Britain mounted  The war Hawks (South & West) were pro war and the Doves (New Englanders) were anti war  Tried to blame the impressment of our seamen and the ships being taken to British ports as the reason for the war, but the real  Motive for the war was for the expansion of the United States (Canada) The Monroe Doctrine (Also see handout)  US would defend Western Hemisphere from European interference  An end to European colonization in the Western Hemisphere  If Europe has a problem with the Western Hemisphere, see the US first “Big Brother,” because European interference was “dangerous to our peace and safety.”  *This assumes a leadership role in the Western Hemisphere  We are also flexing our muscles  No interference by the US in European affairs and European colonies. Missouri Compromise (Also see Missouri Compromise handout) 1. Maine—admitted as free state 2. Missouri—admitted as a slave state To maintain a balance of members of free and slave states

3. Rest of Louisiana Territory—states north of 36 30' would be free states below 36 30' would be slave states. Marshall Court Marbury vs. Madison  President Jefferson tried to deny the appointments of Federalist judges that President Adams appointed right before he left office. 

Under orders from President Jefferson, Secretary of State James Madison never delivered the papers.

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Marbury sued Madison demanding that the Supreme Court order the Secretary of State to let him take his office.

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Chief Justice John Marshall ruled against Marbury, declaring it was against the Supreme Court for the Supreme Court to order the executive branch.

**This was a victory for the Supreme Court for the case established the power of Judicial Review McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819  States were unhappy with the establishment of the second bank of the US  Maryland didn’t feel it was constitutional to have a national bank.  They charged the national bank a $15,000 tax for operating in Maryland.  The Supreme Court Ruled: it was necessary and proper to have a national bank and the tax was unconstitutional because the Federal Government supersedes the state government—national supremacy. Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824  Ogden received a license from NY State to operate steam-powered ferry boats between NY and NJ  Gibbons received a license from the Federal Government to carry passengers from NJ to NY  Ogden asked NY to forbid Gibbons landing rights to the port of NY and NY issued the injunction  The Supreme Court Ruled: The national government can regulate interstate commerce and the federal government supersedes the state government—national supremacy.