American Heritage Exam 2

Front 1

• Oligarchy-

Back 1

government 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

Front 2

• Republican problem-

Back 2

question of how the benefits of self-government can be enjoyed without incurring its inherent problems

Front 3

• Constitutional structure-

Back 3

nature and arrangement of mechanisms in a constitution that organize the government

Front 4

• Constitutional drift-

Back 4

when power in the government doesn’t remain where it was originally placed

Front 5

• Confederation-

Back 5

defensive alliance among sovereign equals

Front 6

• Articles of confederation-

Back 6

document outlining an alliance of sovereign equal states in which there was a weak central governing Continental Congress

Front 7

• State Sovereignty-

Back 7

when ultimate political power resides in the state rather than the federal government

Front 8

• John Adams-

Back 8

founding father, proponent of a bicameral legislature, 2nd president

Front 9

• Bicameral legislature-

Back 9

2 houses of legislature

Front 10

• James Madison-

Back 10

4th president, called Father of the constitution, co-authored The Federalist with Hamilton and Jay, helped Jefferson create the Democratic-Republic party

Front 11

• Gouverneur Morris-

Back 11

Pennsylvania representative at constitutional convention, credited with authoring large sections of the Constitution including the preamble

Front 12

• Charles Pinckney

Back 12

-SC representative at constitutional convention. Strong promoter of federalism, helped persuade ratification in SC

Front 13

• George Mason-

Back 13

VA rep at the constitutional convention, refused to sign it because it didn’t have a declaration of rights

Front 14

• VA plan-

Back 14

plan where states would have proportional representation in congress

Front 15

• NJ plan-

Back 15

plan were states would have equal representation in congress

Front 16

• William Paterson-

Back 16

NJ rep at constitutional convention, presented the NJ plan

Front 17

• Great Compromise-

Back 17

proposed by Roger Sherman, brought together the NJ plan and VA plans; upper house equal representation by state, lower house representation proportional by population

Front 18

• Roger Sherman-

Back 18

CT delegate, proposed great compromise

Front 19

• Popular sovereignty-

Back 19

idea that power is created by and subject to will of the people; basis for Madison’s proportional representation in Congress and a justification by the South for its continuance of slavery

Front 20

• Benjamin Franklin-

Back 20

one of most well known founders, helped secure France as an ally in revolutionary war

Front 21

• Federalism-

Back 21

dividing powers between the national and state governments

Front 22

• 3/5 compromise-

Back 22

part of compromise on slavery, 3 out of every 5 slaves counted as part of state population for taxation and representation

Front 23

• Auxiliary precautions-

Back 23

structure in the government to make it more difficult for power to become concentrated in any one group’s hands, seen by founders as backup system to virtue

Front 24

• Constitutional mechanism-

Back 24

parts of the constitution that help organize and control power

Front 25

• Indirect election-

Back 25

when government officials are elected by previously chosen representatives and not directly by the people

Front 26

• Hume’s filter or filters of consent-

Back 26

when the people select most virtuous representatives, who in turn select even more virtuous government officials

Front 27

• Enumeration-

Back 27

written listing of powers of government

Front 28

• Separation of powers-

Back 28

dividing powers of government between 3 branches

Front 29

• James Wilson-

Back 29

primary framer of the Constitution, proposed 3/5 compromise

Front 30

• Checks and balances-

Back 30

bridging separation of powers between branches of government by placing part of each power within two separate branches

Front 31

• Faction-

Back 31

group of individuals who share the same specific political agenda

Front 32

• Poleis-

Back 32

city or city-state often self-governed by its citizens as were the ancient Greek city-states

Front 33

• Supermajority-

Back 33

specified majority of voters, in ratification of the constitution almost 70% of the states was required

Front 34

• Samuel Adams-

Back 34

organizer of the Boston tea party, served in continental congress, signed declaration of independence, opposed to a strong federal government

Front 35

• Anti-federalists-

Back 35

group that was against ratification of the constitution

Front 36

• Alexander Hamilton-

Back 36

founded federalist party, co-wrote The Federalist, championed a strong federal government

Front 37

• Federalists-

Back 37

group for the ratification of the constitution

Front 38

• Edmund Randolph-

Back 38

delegate to constitutional convention, proposed Madison’s VA plan, refused to sign constitution (no bill of rights), instrumental in persuading VA to ratify it

Front 39

• John Jay-

Back 39

president of Continental Congress, co-wrote the Federalist with Hamilton and Madison, 1st chief justice on supreme court

Front 40

• The Federalist-

Back 40

essays published in newspapers, for purpose of gaining support for ratification of the constitution

Front 41

• Natural rights

Back 41

-fundamental rights granted by nature, government can’t abrogate, government bound to protect

Front 42

• Civil rights-

Back 42

rights defined using narrow, concrete language, full of specific terms and qualifiers

Front 43

• Great oughts-

Back 43

natural rights that don’t proclaim an “is” so much as an “ought” about the world—the way things “should” be

Front 44

• Alien and sedition acts-

Back 44

laws to try and stifle the “seditious” writings of French propagandists against neutrality of US with regards to French and British war

Front 45

• Marbury vs. Madison-

Back 45

supreme court case in which judicial review was established

Front 46

• Original jurisdiction-

Back 46

authority of a court to hear certain kinds of cases first instead of waiting for those cases to be tried in a lower court

Front 47

• Judiciary act of 1789-

Back 47

act to form the federal court system and authorize writs of mandamus

Front 48

• Lame duck-

Back 48

time between election of a new official and when they take office

Front 49

• Midnight appointments-

Back 49

appointments of judges by John Adams shortly before he left office in response to Democratic Republican victory in congress and presidency

Front 50

• William Marbury-

Back 50

midnight appointment, used Madison for delivery of his commission which was being withheld by order of President Jefferson

Front 51

• Writ of mandamus-

Back 51

court document forcing an action by a certain party

Front 52

• Judicial review-

Back 52

power of the supreme court to rule on constitutionality of laws

Front 53

• Loyal opposition-

Back 53

when losers in the political game continue to support the system even when the system is against their ideology

Front 54

• Federalist party-

Back 54

political party founded by Hamilton and John Adams that envisioned a great Western empire with a strong federal government and a broad interpretation of Constitutional powers

Front 55

• Democratic-Republican Party-

Back 55

party led by Jefferson and Madison that championed a society of self-reliant individuals to protect rights, a smaller federal government, and a narrow and strict interpretation of the constitution

Front 56

• Original consent-

Back 56

giving consent to a provision or law the first time, such as the ratification of the Constitution

Front 57

• Periodic consent-

Back 57

giving continuing consent at certain intervals (through means like elections) to a provision or law to which original consent has already been given

Front 58

• Filtered consent-

Back 58

when the selection of government 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

Front 59

• Electoral college

Back 59

-the group of electors selected by the people who are responsible for the selection of the president

Front 60

• Majority-

Back 60

receiving more than 50% of the vote

Front 61

• Plurality-

Back 61

receiving the largest percentage of the votes

Front 62

• Single representative districts-

Back 62

representational structure where each geographical region elects its one representative independent of outcomes in other regions

Front 63

• Proportional representation

Back 63

-party representation in the legislative body is closely tied to the national or regional vote of that party

Front 64

• Deep change

Back 64

-fundamental alteration in the way life is lived. Usually unnoticed because it is a slow process

Front 65

• Boosterism-

Back 65

promoting one’s town or city, sometimes in an excessive or exaggerated manner; in order to increase both its quality and its public perception

Front 66

• Popular government-

Back 66

“government of the people, by the people for the people”

Front 67

• Democratic revolution

Back 67

-change in political power by the voting of the people

Front 68

• Trust-

Back 68

a business entity created to monopolize and dominate a market

Front 69

• Theodore Roosevelt-

Back 69

26th President of the US, Roosevelt was known for his boisterous personality. He was known for trust-busting, championing environmental causes, and promoting his “big stick” foreign policy that called for American policing of the Western Hemisphere to protect economic interests

Front 70

• Franklin D. Roosevelt-

Back 70

32nd President of the US, Roosevelt served 4 terms, only President to serve more than 2 terms. His exuberant public personality helped bolster the nation’s confidence as it struggled through the Depression and entered WWII

Front 71

• New Deal-

Back 71

plan by Franklin Roosevelt involving the creation of various government agencies and programs designed to stimulate the economy and help the US escape the depression

Front 72

• Big stick-

Back 72

part of the Theodore Roosevelt phrase “speak softly and carry a big stick” which represented the military might of the US

Front 73

• Woodrow Wilson-

Back 73

28th president, Wilson helped frame the Treaty of Versailles ending WWI and proposed 14 points that included the formation of the League of Nations

Front 74

• 14 points-

Back 74

moralistic ideals of Woodrow Wilson that were to the implemented after WWI in an attempt to have a lasting peace

Front 75

• League of Nations-

Back 75

one of Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points at the end of WWII; it called for the creation of a group of nations to help ensure peace. The US never joined because of a veto by Congress. After WWII the United Nations was formed with similar goals

Front 76

• Gibbons v. Ogden-

Back 76

supreme court case in which the power of the federal government was expanded by broad interpretation of the commerce clause

Front 77

• McCullough v. Maryland-

Back 77

supreme court case in which greater federal power was established by maintaining the national bank

Front 78

• Judicial activism-

Back 78

when the courts use judicial power to achieve social goals

Front 79

• Thomas Jefferson-

Back 79

3rd president, principal author of the Declaration of Independence and an influential founding father. He founded the Democratic-Republican Party and promoted the idea of a small federal government

Front 80

• Ordinance of 1784-

Back 80

plan of Thomas Jefferson to organize the national domain into discrete territories along with a three stage development of government institutions

Front 81

• Land Ordinance of 1785-

Back 81

called for the systematic survey of the Northwest Territory and division into mile-square plots and organization into townships

Front 82

• Northwest Territory-

Back 82

lands north of the Ohio River

Front 83

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Back 83

-called for the governmental development of the west based on creating self-governing republics that would be systematically added to the Union

Front 84

• Louisiana Purchase-

Back 84

land purchased by Thomas Jefferson from France. Consists of much of the Midwest United States

Front 85

• Napoleon Bonaparte-

Back 85

French Emperor and European conqueror who sold France’s North American holdings to the US as the Louisiana Purchase

Front 86

• Andrew Jackson-

Back 86

7th president he championed the US as a democracy, pushing for more political involvement by the common man. Vetoed the US bank’s charter and made other reforms to keep the federal government small

Front 87

• Public togetherness-

Back 87

aspect of party politics in which groups of political party members would gather together in order to have more solidarity and support

Front 88

• Party newspaper-

Back 88

journal used by a political party for disseminating party information to and encouraging more active participation among the grass roots voters

Front 89

• Popular campaigning-

Back 89

promoting candidates as being from (and therefore representing) the common masses, rather than as elite gentlemen politicians

Front 90

• Political convention-

Back 90

large meeting of party delegates for the purpose of nominating candidates often held with much pomp and ballyhoo

Front 91

• Get out of the vote activity-

Back 91

aspect of party politics in which voters are systematically rounded up and helped to get to the polling place

Front 92

• Political machine-

Back 92

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

Front 93

• John Quincy Adams

Back 93

-6th president, known for formulating the Monroe Doctrine

Front 94

• Daniel Webster-

Back 94

a leading American statesman and senator during the Pre-civil War era

Front 95

• Henry Clay-

Back 95

American statesman and congressman who founded the Whig Party

Front 96

• Frederick Jackson Turner-

Back 96

American historian who studied and wrote about the American experience and what made it unique

Front 97

• Robert E. Lee-

Back 97

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

Front 98

• Confederacy-

Back 98

alliance of southern states that seceded from the Union over slavery

Front 99

• George B. McClellan-

Back 99

Union General who failed to press his advantage at the Battle of Antietam and was later relieved of his command by President Lincoln

Front 100

• Antietam-

Back 100

a severe Civil War battle that took place on September 17, 1862. It was the bloodiest day in American history. After the battle Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation

Front 101

• Emancipation Proclamation-

Back 101

Presidential order issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 that freed slaves in the areas of insurrection

Front 102

• Secession-

Back 102

formal withdrawal of states or regions from a nation

Front 103

• Faction-

Back 103

a group of individuals who share the same specific political agenda

Front 104

• Factionalism-

Back 104

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

Front 105

• Sectionalism-

Back 105

factionalism on a larger more regional scale, with fewer but larger factions. Sectionalism during the 1800’s over the slaver issue nullified like benefits of Madison’s extended republic and led to the Civil War

Front 106

• Missouri Compromise-

Back 106

1820 agreement between slavery and anti-slavery factions in the US that regulated slavery in western territories prohibiting slavery above the border of Arkansas (except Missouri) and permitting it south of that border

Front 107

• Stephen A. Douglas-

Back 107

Illinois statesman, ran in the 1860 Presidential election on a popular sovereignty platform for slavery, authored the Kansas-Nebraska act which repealed the Missouri Compromise and heightened the slavery debate

Front 108

• John Brown-

Back 108

abolitionist, tried to start a slave rebellion and used sometimes violent guerrilla tactics in fighting against the institution of slavery

Front 109

• Republican Party-

Back 109

political party that stems from the controversy over slavery. It was dedicated to keeping future territories and states free from slaves

Front 110

• Dred Scott-

Back 110

slave who sued unsuccessfully for freedom because he lived with owner in states where slavery was illegal. Ruling determined that slaves were property and could not be freed by state laws. The ruling essentially nullified the Missouri Compromise, factor in Civil War

Front 111

• Roger B. Taney-

Back 111

5th chief justice of the supreme court, ruled in Dred Scott case that Missouri Compromise unconstitutional

Front 112

• John Breckenridge-

Back 112

senator from Kentucky, ran in 1860 election, extreme proslavery platform

Front 113

• John Bell-

Back 113

slave owner from Tennessee, served in House and Senate; ran in 1860 election, Constitutional Union Party, moderate pro-slavery platform

Front 114

• Abraham Lincoln-

Back 114

16th president, sought to end slavery and preserve the Union. Signed Emancipation Proclamation, delivered famous “Gettysburg Address”

Front 115

• 13th Amendment-

Back 115

abolished slavery

Front 116

• 14th amendment-

Back 116

defined citizenship, overturned 3/5 compromise for slaves when determining representation, repudiated Confederate debts, prohibited Confederate leaders from holding public office

Front 117

• 15th amendment-

Back 117

all male citizens have right to vote regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude