Social Studies STAAR

Test Review

Government and
the Constitution

1. Articles of Confederation
First U.S. Constitution.
Weak National government.

3. Northwest Ordinance
Set up an
orderly system
to bring in new
states,
specifically
Ohio, Michigan,
Illinois, Indiana
and Wisconsin.

2. Philadelphia Convention of 1787

Called to revise the Articles of Confederation
New Constitution was written.

Blueprint for American Government

4. Development of Political Parties

Anti-Federalists
Important Leaders

Federalists

Thomas Jefferson
George Mason
James Madison

John Adams
Alexander Hamilton

Government

Weak National
Government

Strong National
Government

Constitution

Strict Interpretation

Loose Interpretation

Economy

Based on agriculture

Based on industry

Democracy

Fear of rule by one or a

few

Fear of mob rule

Foreign Affairs

Closer ties with France

Closer ties with England

ISSUES

5. Federalism and Anti-Federalism

Anti-Federalist

Federalist

Too much government power

Creates Checks and balances to

prevent Tyranny

Took too much power from the states

Tyranny of Majority not possible

because of U.S. diversity

Tyranny of the Majority

Supported Bill of Rights to be added

after ratification

Legislative should be more powerful

than the executive

Federalist Papers were written to

support a new constitution

Needed a Bill of Rights to protect

individuals

6. Federalist
For the Constitution

7. Federalist Papers
Written by
Hamilton,
Madison, and
Jay to gain
support for
the
Constitution.

8. Anti-Federalist
Against the Constitution

Feared a loss of rights

Creating A New Government:

Major Principles of the
Constitution

10. Popular Sovereignty

Means the government was
created by the people in order
to govern themselves
Power of
the People

11. Republicanism
Government in which the
desires of people are
represented in government by
elected representatives

People Elect

Representatives

12. Federalism
Power of the government is
shared between the states and
national government

13. Separation of Powers

Split the powers of government into
three branches:
Legislative Executive
Judicial

Make
Laws

Carries
out
Laws

Court
System

14. Checks and Balances

Each branch makes sure the others
are working the way they are
supposed to
EXAMPLES:

15. Limited Government

Placed strict
limits on
government
to protect the
people

16. Individual Rights

The first 10 amendments of the
Constitution protect individual
rights against the power of the
government
Known as the Bill of Rights

17. Bill of Rights

1st Amendment-Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion,

Petition, and Assembly

2nd Amendment-Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment-protection from quartering troops
4th Amendment-protection from unreasonable
search and seizure
5th Amendment-grand jury, protection from self

incrimination

18. Bill of Rights

6th Amendment-Right to jury for criminal trial, Right
to a speedy trial
7th Amendment-Right to jury in civil cases

8th Amendment-No cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment-Protection of rights not stated in the

Constitution
10th Amendment-Powers not listed go to the states
and the people

First Four Presidents

19. George Washington

1st president (unamisouly chosen); encouraged no
political parties and wanted American isolationism
from foreign affairs

20. John Adams

2nd president; dealt with the XYZ Affair, Alien and
Sedition Acts

21. Thomas Jefferson

3rd president, Marbury v. Madison(Judicial Review),
Louisiana Purchase (1803) purchased from France
for $15 million, doubled the size of the United
States, Embargo Act of 1807 which restricted trade

with any country

22. James Madison

4th president, War of 1812-U.S. gains worldwide
respect and helped spark Industrial Revolution,
Henry Clays American system

The Four Presidents

Presidents

Major Events

George Washington

Farewell Address- preached isolationism

and no political parties

John Adams

XYZ Affair- a political scandal

Alien and Sedition Acts- harsh
immigration policies

Thomas Jefferson

Marbury v. Madison Judicial Review

and constitutionality
Louisiana Purchase of 1803- doubled the
size of U.S.
Embargo Act of 1807- limited
international trade

James Madison

War of 1812- a spark for Industrial

Revolution and international respect
Henry Clays American system- an
American Economic Plan(tarriffs, national
bank, and internal improvements)

23. War of 1812

Causes

Effects

England prevented trade with other

countries

Foreign Affairs-proved it could

protect itself

England impressed (kidnapped)

sailors and forced them into the
British Navy

Economy-America became more

independent of foreign trade; created
their own goods, sparked the
Industrial Revolution

England encouraged Native

Americans to attack settlers

Nationalism-helped Americans feel

more Patriotic about their

Early Nation

75. Great Compromise

Set up Congress into 2 houses

House of Representatives:
Based on states population
Senate- Two for each state

76. Three-Fifths Compromise

Settled how slaves would be
counted for taxation and
representation purposes.

77. Branches of Government

ExecutivePresident:
Carries out the
laws.
LegislativeCongress:
Makes laws.
Judicial- Courts:
Interprets the
laws.

78. Bill of Rights

First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution
Protects Unalienable rights

79. Amendment Process

Addition or
change to the
Constitution.
2/3 approval vote
in both houses of
Congress.
approval of
states.

80. Federalist Party

Alexander
Hamilton
Believed in a
strong
national
government

81. Democratic-Republican Party

Thomas Jefferson

Weak national government

82. Bank of the United States

Bank chartered by the National
government to provide bank notes to be
used as money and to regulate state
banks.

83. Washingtons Farewell Address

Warned against political parties, foreign
entanglements, regional differences,
and having a debt.

84. 1803
Year Thomas Jefferson purchased the
Louisiana Territory from France for $15
million.
Doubled the size of the U.S.

85. Marbury v Madison

John MarshallSupreme Court
case which
established
Judicial Review.
Supreme Court
can declare a
law
unconstitutional.

86. James Madison

Father of
the
Constitution

87. War of 1812

War with Britain over impressment,
interference with American trade,
and military aid to Indians.

88. James Monroe

His doctrine
stated
European
countries
were to stay
out of the
Western
Hemisphere.

89. Missouri Compromise

Missouri- slave state. Maine free
state.
First sectional issue between the
North and South.

90. Sectionalism
When one part of the country
looks out for its own interests.

Industrial
Revolution

91. Industrial Revolution

Production of goods and products
in factories by machines.
Led to more goods being produced
at lower prices.

92. Urbanization
Major movement of people from
rural (Countryside) to cities
(urban).

93. Interchangeable Parts

Eli Whitney.
Parts are made exactly the same to make
it easier to replace defective parts.

94. Agricultural Inventions

Cotton Gin- Eli
Whitney- Created a
demand for slaves.
Steel Plow- John
Deere- Increased
agricultural
production.

Mechanical ReaperCyrus McCormickIncreased grain

production.

95. Transportation
Steamboat- Robert Fulton.
Decreased travel time on water.
Canals- Man made waterways
found mainly in the Northeast.
Connected cities by water.
Railroads- Fastest form of
transportation on land. Led to
growth of cities and westward
expansion.

96. Commerce
McCulloch v. MarylandSupreme Court case
which stated Congress
had the power to carry
out its power stated in
the Constitution.
Gibbons v. OgdenSupreme Court case
which stated Congress
could regulate interstate
commerce.

Maryland,
you cant
tax the
Bank of
the U.S.

97. Improvement in Communication

Telegraph- Samuel Morse
Allowed people to communicate
over long distances.