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The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were the first form of a constitution in the United States. The States had all the power in government. The Articles were in favor of a weak central government. -
The Commerce Clause
The Commerce Clause is also Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 in the Constitution. The Commerce Clause allowed the Federal Government to intervene in affairs from state to state, resulting in the Federal Government gaining more power. -
The Necessary and Proper Clause
Congress has the power, “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers". The Necessary and Proper Clause is also known as Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution. -
Supremacy Clause
The Supremacy Clause, also known as Article 6, Section 2, of the constitution, stated that the Constitution was the “law of the Land” in the United states. This enhances the power of the power of the Federal Government. The Supremacy Clause also -
The 10th Amendment
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. This amendment was created with the intention of balancing federal and state powers. -
McCulloch v. Maryland
The case started with a dispute after the creation of the national banks began to become taxed by the state. The Verdict of the case validated implied powers. This increased the power of the Federal Government. -
Gibbons v. Ogden
This Court Case decided that the Federal Government had the right to regulate/intervene interstate commerce. This increased the Power of the Federal Government. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott was a slave who lived in a free state and his master died, and he wanted to declare his freedom, but loses the case. The Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens, even if they were free, therefore they could not sue in court. The court also said congress could not ban slavery. -
The Civil War
The Civil War was a war fought in the United States between the North and the South. They fought over the abolition of slavery. The North believed slavery should be abolished and the South believed slavery should stay up to the states, before the war the states got to chose whether they wanted to keep slavery or abolish it. The end result of the war took the right to chose slavery away from the states. The central government made it a law for all the slaves to be free. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment of the Constitution provides equal protection under the law.This took away the Southern state’s power to oppress newly freed slaves by saying they are equal, this was a result of the Civil War. This Amendment decreased the power of the states. -
Sherman Antitrust Act
The Sherman Antitrust act was established in 1890. It made monopolies illegal.This act gave the Federal Government the power to get rid of every single monopolistic business in any state. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This case ruled that the states could make laws regarding the separation of races in public places. This allowed the states to gain power. -
Pure Food and Drug Act
The pure food and drug act was created to prevent food and drugs from being contaminated. This act forces states to adhere to the proper selling and manufacturing standards set by the Federal Government. -
The 16th Amendment
The 16th Amendment allowed congress to establish Federal income tax. This benefits the Federal Government, because they are collecting the money. -
The New Deal
The New deal was a plan Created by FDR to help get the United states economically stable again after the Great Depression. This put the Federal government ahead, because the states were dependent on The Federal Government for money. -
Social Security Act
The Social Security Act established a system of old-age benefits for workers, so they don't have to work anymore but still are given money to live off of for the rest of their lives. The Social Security act is a nation wide program, therefore, it provides more power to the federal government. -
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education was a court case that ruled segregation unconstitutional. This took the power of segregation in public places away from the states. -
The Civil Rights Act
An act that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This act took the State's power to discriminate away. -
State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act
The State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act divided $30,000,000,000 in thirds between State and local Governments over a five year span of time. One third went to state governments and the other two thirds went to Local Governments. -
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade was a supreme court case about Abortion. The court ruled that women had the right to have abortions. This increased the power of the Federal government, because before the case states could control abortion procedures. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The American Disabilities Act outlaws discrimination against people with disabilities in public places. It favored the Federal Government, because the Program was created by the Federal Government. -
United States v. Lopez
The case came to be when a high school student was discovered carrying a concealed weapon. The state initially charged him, but the state’s charges were dismissed and he was then charged by federal agents with violating a federal criminal statute. This case limited the power of congress. -
No child left behind
The National Government created this program during the Bush Administration. This took Power away from the states when it came to education, because the government created the SOLs to sets a standard around the country for education. -
The Development of the Department Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security was created after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Homeland Security handles preparations to deal with terrorism. Homeland Security is a creation that gives power to the federal government in the event of a terrorist attack. -
September 11th Terrorist Attack
On September 11th the two twin towers in New York had two planes smash into them. This terrorist attack was coordinated by the Islamic Terrorist Group al-Qaeda.
