Articles of Confederation
First government documents created after the Revolutionary war with Britain, these were too weak for a strong central government. They had too much power for the states.
Constitutional Convention
In 1787, In Philadelphia, The Government met to rewrite the Articles of Confederation. They wrote the Constitution to give more power to the Government.
Shay's Rebellion
In 1787, a bunch of farmers in Massachusetts rose up and almost overthrew the government. This is a major reason why the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution- it put pressure on the government to get stronger
Alexander Hamilton
One of the framers of the Constitution, he was the first Secretary of the Treasury, and he developed the Gold Standard for the US Treasury.
James Madison
One of the framers of the Consitution, he was the fifth President, and he wrote most of the Constitution.
John Dickinson
wrote the Articles of Confederation. Ben Franklin also looked it over. The Articles were in effect from 1781-1789
The Critical Period
1781-1789, when the Articles of Confederation were in effect, before the Constitution
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
1. Each state could coin its own money.
2. No Executive Branch existed
3. No regulation of interstate commerce
4. No national court system.
5. No army
6. 9 of the 13 states had to agree to pass ANY law
7. All 13 states needed to agree to pass an amendment
Land Ordinance of 1785
This helped give guidance for settling the West (now known as the Midwest). The land of the West was divided into townships containing 36 sections for purchase. One of the few accomplishments of the Articles of the Confederation
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
This is one of the few accomplishments of the Articles of the Confederation. It provided statehood for areas that reached 60,000 inhabitants. No slavery would be allowed in the Northwest Territories.
Philadelphia Convention
55 delegates assembled in Philadelphia in 1787. They planned to amend the Articles of Confederation, but instead, they wrote a new Constitution (that we still use today)
Virginia Plan
James Madison wanted a bicameral (2 house) legislature based upon population. The bigger the population of a state, the more representatives it would have.
New Jersey Plan
William Paterson wanted representation to be equal so that the smaller stater (with less population) would still get a voice.
The Great Compromise
Created the current bicameral (2 house) legislature where the House of Representatives is based upon population, and the Senate has equal representation (2 Senators per state).
census
a count of the population done in the US every 10 years. The census determines the population of each state, and how many representatives it gets in the House of Representatives.
3/5 (three-fifths) Compromise
The Northern States wanted slaves to count for taxation, but not representation. So the slaves would count for the slave-owners to pay taxes, but not to get representatives in the House of Representatives.
The Southern States wanted slaves to count for re
Trans-Atlantic Slave trade
The legal kidnapping and sale of African people in the United States. It was legal to sell African people in the United States until 1808, 20 years after the Constitutional Convention.
Commercial Compromise
Gave the federal government the power to tax imports, but not exports (this is called a tariff)
Customs duties
means the same thing as tariff- a tax on imports.
Federalist
Federalists were in favor of a federal government created by a Constitution. Some important Federalists were: James Madison, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton. This is closer to what the Democrats believe today
Anti-Federalists
Anti-Fereralists were afraid that the Constitution would give too much power to the federal government. They were led by James Winthrop, John Hancock, George Clinton and George Mason. They are closer to what the Republicans or Tea Party believe today.
The Federalist Papers
A set of 85 essays that argued for a strong Constitution, these were written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison. These were written to persuade New Yorkers as well as the other doubters that the Constitution should be ratifiedl
Federalist Paper #10
written by James Madison, this argued that a large republic needed the Constitution. It argues that a strong union would be able to control tyrannical factions.
faction
group of people who disagree with the majority
tyrannical
ruling by fear or force
Bill of Rights
ratified in 1791, this was promised at the Constitutional Convention, and made it possible for the Anti-Federalists to accept the Constitution. It protects important freedoms such as the right to bear arms, the right of free speech, and the right to an at
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 looked to
Provide a plan for the incorporation of new states.
Shay's Rebellion revealed what flaw of the Articles of Confederation?
Absence of a national army.
All of the following were a part of the Constitution ratified in 1788 EXCEPT:
The Bill of Rights