Federalism

By asherperry

  • Articles of Confederation

    Federalism-- The Articles of Confederation was the first iteration and attempt at a national government in the United States. The States, at this point, were quite powerful and Anti-Federalism spirit ran high. The writers of the Articles wanted to satisfy the states and wrote the Articles as weak nationally as possible. This attempt at a national government ultimately failed as the federal government had little to no power to accomplish anything.

  • Constitutional Convention

    Federalism++ The Constitutional Convention was a step away from the Anti-Federalist attitude to create a new constitution for the United States as the Articles of Confederation failed miserably. This new constitution eventually lead to the ratification of the first version of the U.S. Constitution which created a much more powerful central government.

  • 10th Amendment

    Federalism-- The Tenth Amendment gave all powers not enumerated in the Constitution to the states. This amendment lessens the power to the federal government and allows the states to have more power over their own domain. States can create laws that the federal government cannot control.

  • Necessary and Proper Clause

    Federalism++ The Necessary and Proper Clause is a clause in the U.S. Constitution that allows the federal government to create any law that allows them to use their enumerated powers more effectively. This clause gives the federal government more power to elastically create laws.

  • Supremacy Clause

    Federalism++ The Supremacy Clause is a clause in the U.S. Constitution that states that the federal government creates the supreme law of the land. This clause allows the federal government to override state government laws with its own.

  • Gibbons v. Ogden

    Federalism++ The Gibbons v. Ogden case involves Gibbons, a steamboat owner, used his boat on a route that Ogden claimed was his route. This case was dismissed because the Supreme Court argued that Congress controls interstate commerce, not Ogden.

  • Civil War

    Federalism++ The Civil War was a war over the issue of slaves between states. Because the North won the battle, this showed the states that the federal government is in charge.

  • Formation of Land-Grant Colleges

    Federalism-- The formation of Land-Grant colleges allows the states to create a stronger education system which gives more power to the states.

  • 14th Amendment

    Federalism++ The 14th amendment allows for all citizens, regardless of race, to be naturalized and protected from discrimination. This amendment shows the states the the federal government is more powerful and uses the Supremacy Clause to enforce equality.

  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    Federalism-- The Plessy v Ferguson case involved Plessy sitting in a whites-only rail car and refused to leave because he was one-eighth black. Plessy was convicted because Louisiana is allowed to govern the railroad within its borders. This case shows the states' power within its borders regardless of the amendments.

  • 16th Amendment

    Federalism++ The sixteenth amendment allows Congress to collect income taxes. This amendment gives power to the federal government by taxing all states.

  • McCulloch v. Maryland

    Federalism++ McCulloch v Maryland is a case that reinforces the Necessary and Proper Clause by not allowing Maryland to tax the National Bank.

  • Gitlow v. New York

    Federalism++ Gitlow v New York involves Gitlow who advertised for taking down the New York government. He was convicted under the Criminal Anarchy Law to uphold the government.

  • New Deal

    Federalism++ The New Deal was a time where America needed to recover from the Great Depression. The federal government provided jobs and tried to work together with state governments to accomplish this.

  • Brown v. Board of Education

    Federalism++ Brown v Board of Education is a case dealing with the segregation of students in schools. The court ruled that segregation of students violated the fourteenth amendment. This case is an example of a federal law being supreme to a state law.

  • United States v. Lopez

    Federalism++ The United States v Lopez case is about Lopez bringing a gun to a school zone. He was convicted and had the law rewritten to not use interstate commerce as an excuse but the use of federal grants or money.

  • Civil Rights Act of 1964

    Federalism++ The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave rights back to a large portion of Americans by banning discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, or ethnicity. This act increased federalism by overriding state laws to directly give people their deserved rights.

  • Election of Ronald Reagan

    Federalism-- Ronald Reagan started New Federalism, a time of devolution or giving rights back to the states. His election is the start of the Reagan Revolution.

  • Americans with Disabilities Act

    Federalism++ The Americans with Disabilities Act prevents businesses or any establishment to discriminate against people with any type of disability. This is another example of the federal government directly helping the people.

  • 104th Congress

    Federalism-- The 104th Congress was a time of great support of devolution. Welfare and state funding reform gave power to the states, reversing the effects of the federal government reforms from the Great Depression.

  • Printz v. United States

    Federalism-- Printz v United States was a case involving background checks on local CLEOs (chief law enforcement officers). The court decided that state legislatures are not subject to federal direction because it is not applied to the Necessary and Proper Clause.

  • September 11th, 2001

    Federalism++ A terrorist attack on the World Trade Center that caused the War on Terrorism in the United States. This attack caused federal regulations to skyrocket and continue to get more restrictive because of it.