Missouri Compromise of 1820
The Missouri Compromise of 1820 was a watershed moment in the history of sectional conflict between the American North and South. Since the three-fifths…
Internal Improvements
One of the early and ongoing disputes engendered by federalism was whether the federal government has the constitutional authority to develop economic infrastructure on…
Compromise of 1850
The sectional conflict that led to the Missouri Compromise of 1820 again came to a head after the Mexican War. Two issues aroused bitter…
Clark, Jane Perry
Jane Perry Clark (Carey) (September 16, 1898 - October 24, 1981) was a political scientist who taught international relations, American government, and constitutional law…
Welfare Policy
Federalism has had a profound impact on welfare policy in the United States. States and the federal government have been partners in developing and…
Slavery
From the drafting of the Constitution in 1787 to the ratification of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments in the years following the end…
Homestead Act of 1862
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave a citizen, or an immigrant who intended to become a citizen, the right to buy 160 acres of…
Governors and Federalism
Each American state selects its governor, the state’s chief executive official, through a popular election. In the early twentieth century, most governors served two-year…
Federal Courts
Article III of the U.S. Constitution authorizes federal courts when it provides that “the judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in…
Economic Development
“Economic development policy” refers to government actions that are intended to affect growth in the economy, either through development (a structural change in production)…
Lincoln, Abraham
Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, sought to defend the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, maintain order, and preserve the…
Secession
“Secession” refers to the act of withdrawing from a formal organization, most commonly a political entity. Although secession movements have occurred throughout the world,…
Civil Rights Act of 1875
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 stated that “all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall be entitled to the full and…
