The Federalist Papers

A collection of essays answering objections to the proposed Constitution and supporting its ratification; written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Ray, the primary spokesmen of the Federalist

Anti-Federalist

Members of ratification conventions in each state who rejected the proposed Constitution; members included Patrick Henry and George Mason

Federalist

Members of ratification conventions in each state who were advocates of the proposed Constitution; members included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

New Jersey Plan

Presented by William Paterson of New Jersey, this plan advocated a unicameral congress, maintaining the one state, one vote principle of the Confederation. Congress, under the New Jersey Plan, would also elect a weak plural executive with members who could be removed by a majority vote of the state governors

Ben Franlkin

Writer, politician, and helped draw up the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence

Monticello

Thomas Jefferson's home

Non-cameral

No house legislature

Monism

Theory or doctrine that denies the existence of an distinction or duality in some sphere; such as the between matter and mind or God and the world

James Madison

Father of the Constitution; fourth president

Mount Vernon

George Washington's home

Connecticut Compromise

Proposed that representation in the lower house be based on state population and that representation be equal for all states regardless of size

Bicameral

Two house legislature

3/5 Compromise

3/5 of a states slaves would count towards its representation in the house but a slave state would also would have to pay taxes on the slaves at the same rate

Thomas Jefferson

Third president and drafted the Declaration of Independence

Virginia Plan

Basis for the constitution

George Washington

First President

Deism

Religious outgrowth of the enlightenment

Unicameral

One house legislature without a national executive or judiciary

John Hancock

Signed first with a large, bold signature; president of continental congress, Declaration of Independence

First Continental Congress

Gathered in Philadelphia in September with representatives from every colony except Georgia

Articles of Confederation

Document that the second continental congress ratified in 1781; proposed a central government based on the consent of the newly formed state government

Second Continental Congress

Colonial American assembly that existed from 1775 to 1779 and oversaw America's independence from Great Britain and its transformation into a constitution and government

Age of Enlightenment

Time period that emphasized natural law; its principles are reflected in the Declaration of Independence

House of Burgesses

First representative assembly in the New World

Declaration of Independence

Formal document, written by Thomas Jefferson that established the principles of government that justified the American Colonies break from England

Boycott

Act of protest in which businesses is withheld or refused