GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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These were used as a form of pure democracy in colonial New England by the Puritans. All white landowning males would be eligible to participate and vote in electing town officials and conducting town affairs at this.

Town Meetings

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Many Colonial communities were controlled by this. This was almost in complete control of some communities, especially by Puritans in New England.

Established Church

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This was the legislative body that was placed over the colony of Virginia. Patrick Henry made his famous “Liberty or Death” speech in the House. Now known as the House of Delegates, this body still presided over Virginia.

House of Burgesses

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These were small portions of colonial governments that communicated between colonies during the Revolutionary War. They were an integral part in uniting the colonies and using more collectively organized force to defeat the British.

Committees of Correspondence

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This was a secret group of pro-independence radicals that frequently resorted to violence and destruction of property to undermine British rule in the colonies. These actions were made famous at the Boston Tea Party.

Sons of Liberty

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The purpose of this Congress was to decide a collective course of action by the colonists by representatives from twelve colonies. The Congress passed a petition against the Intolerable Acts, but nothing else was accomplished.

1st Continental Congress

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When deciding representation in Congress, the Virginia Plan requested representation based on population. The New Jersey Plan sought for equal representation. The Compromise creates a bicameral legislature with a body based on population and a body of equal representation.

The Great Compromise or Connecticut Compromise

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This was a compromise for the population counting of slaves. The north and the south agreed on the 3/5 compromise, where each slave would count as 3/5 of a person when counting population.

3/5 Compromise

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The Constitution was created with a method of changing it as the needs of the country changed. It required a supermajority in congress and a 2/3 majority among state legislatures

Amendment Process

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Desired a strong government with a central banking system to oversee the Banking in the United States. Alexander Hamilton was this and he created the central bank. John Adams was the only President from this party.

Federalists

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They believed that the state governments should have more power and influence than the central government. They opposed the Constitution. Patrick Henry was this.

Anti-Federalists

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The Constitution had to be ratified by 9 of the 13 states in order for it to be implemented. The constitutional government began on March 4, 1789.

Ratification

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As a result of the Great Compromise, the Constitution creates this system that included a Senate and a House of Representatives. Neither body has power over the other.

Bicameral Congress

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This is the body that is equally represented by each state. Each state has two representatives. They are elected to 6 year terms.

Senate

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This a legislative body based on population of states. There are currently 435 members. They are elected to two year terms.

House of Representatives

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This branch of the government along with the executive and the legislative is responsible for interpreting the Constitution. It is the highest court in the United States.

Supreme Court (judiciary)

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These are the powers that are given to Congress by the Constitution. These powers are what Congress is limited to based on the Constitution.

Delegated Powers

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Powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution are reserved for the states or for the people based on the tenth amendment.

Reserved Powers

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These are powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution, but are referenced and interpreted to be powers by the Supreme Court.

Implied Powers

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Strict Construction refers to those who believed the constitution should be taken literally. Loose Construction refers to those who believed heavily in implied powers in the Constitution.

Strict vs. Loose Constructionist

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A set of people who actually elect officials to office. They do not have to vote the same as the public they represent vote.

Electoral College

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A contested battle between two canidates who had achieved an equal number of electoral votes. The House of Representatives voted Jefferson into office. This was also known as the Revolution of 1800 because a new political party moved into the White House.

Election of 1800

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This party was formed from the Anti-Federalists and were generally Strict Constructionists. Jefferson was the first of this to enter office in 1800.

Democratic Party

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Maine was admitted to the Union as a free state, while Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state. The Compromise also led to all future territories north of the southern border of Missouri to be Free States.

Missouri Compromise

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The Fugitive Slave law was more enforced and new Territories would be able to determine slave status via popular sovereignty to appease slave-owners. On the other side, D.C. would cease slave trade and California would be admitted as a free state.

Compromise of 1850

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This was a short-lived party that existed before the Civil War. Their main platform was that all territory gathered from Mexico should not have slaves.

Free Soil Party

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Was created mostly from the old Whig party and had a platform of preservation of the United States and the destruction of slavery. Lincoln was the first President of this party.

Republican Party

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Since the Democratic party had two candidates for this election, the divided democratic vote allowed the Republican parties Abraham Lincoln to win.

Election of 1860

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They advocated for harsh treatment for the rebellious south after the Civil War. The Wade Davis Bill was an integral part of the their plan for reconstruction.

Radical Republicans

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He was impeached as a result of appointing an new Secretary of State contrary to the Tenure of Office Act. Impeachment could only be used when a law was broken by the President. Andrew Johnson was not convicted by the Senate.

Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

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An informal deal that allowed Hayes to become President on the stipulation that he would remove Federal Troops from the South.

Compromise of 1877

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A period during the 1950’s when many American citizens were accused of communist sympathies. These actions were led by Senator McCarthy.

McCarthy Trials

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This was a investigative committee that aided in the McCarthy trials to discover communist sympathies. It was later dissolved into the House Judiciary Committee.

House Un-American Activities Committee

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- National Association for the Advancement of Colored PeopleThis Civil Rights group is committed to achieving racial justice. It was founded in 1909.

NAACP

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- Southern Christian Leadership ConferenceThis Civil Rights group had close ties to Martin Luther King Jr. It was founded mainly as a result of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

SCLC

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- Student Non-violent Coordinating CommitteeThese students played an integral role in the American Civil Rights movement and helped organize the 1963 March on Washington.

SNCC

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This was an African American Political Party that promotes Black Power. This party advocated defense of black citizens from white cruelty.

Black Panthers

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It is not interested on fiscal conservatism, and it is centered around environmentalism. It reflects the Marxist ideology “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” It is a strong advocate of social justice, and it destroys competition in monetary earnings.

Liberal Ideology

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Admits that the United States is a Christian nation and presents a capitalistic economy and it is anti communism. It advocated a small federal government and lower taxes.

Conservative Ideology

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The Republican platform is one of fiscal conservatism and it is mostly against abortion and gay marriage. The Democratic platform is one of attempting to create a socialist utopia by discouraging self advancement.

Modern democrat/republican platforms

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Organizations that seek to influence politics to be the greatest profit to them. They have little regard for clients and are solely interested in a greater profit.

Special Interest Groups (AARP, Sierra Club, etc.)