Unicameral legislature
Single house legislature
Bicameral legislature
2 house law making body
Articles of confederation
Original constitution for the union of the states
John Dickinson
Of Pennsylvania; led the congress to design a loose confederation of the 13 states
The new federal government
Consisted of a congress of delegates, chosen by state legislatures rather than by voters.
Northwest Territory
Lay north of Ohio river and west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River. Sold to speculators
Land Ordinance of 1785
Congress designed a system for dispensing public land; managed northwest territory
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Provides a basis for governing the northwest territory
Shay's Rebellion
Farmer leads a rebellion
Alexander Hamilton
Disliked democracy, very conservative, insisted that a balanced government should have some aristocracy & monarchy with some republicanism
James Madison
Eager to participate in the convention by arriving 11 days early; insisted that a strong nation was republic and not like Britain
Virginia Plan
MADISON PROPOSED. Government that divided power among 3 branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. National Congress would have the power to veto any state law just like parliament.
Called for a strong president but Patrick Henry worried a powerful p
New Jersey plan
Favored by small states, gave Congress power to regulate commerce and two tax, but it kept the three chief principles of the articles of Confederation. Wanted a unicameral legislature to rep the state as equals in size. Wanted a loose confederation.
Great Compromise
Delegates compromised between the Virginia and New Jersey plan.
Federalism
Divides government power between federal and state government
3/5 compromise
Counted each slave as 3/5 a person; gave southern states more seats in congress and more power in elections.
Ratification
Official approval... New constitution needed to be ratified by all 13 states
Federalist
Those who favored ratification of the Constitution
Anti-Federalist
Critics of the Constitution announced it as a retreat from the liberty one by the revolution. Disliked the lack of a Bill of Rights. Believed liberty could not survive unless the federal government remained weak
John Jay
Wrote essays that were published in New York's newspapers 1787&1788. Essays argued that the separation of powers in the three branches of government would prevent the concentration of power dreaded by anti-Federalist
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments of the Constitution. Something the anti-Federalist wanted. Bill of Rights was added after the ratification not as a condition for it. The promise of a Bill of Rights helped Federalist win remaining states votes.
Popular sovereignty
All government power comes from the people. Government gets political authority from the people
Limited government
Government leaders are not supposed to be above the law government's power is limited or restricted
Separation of powers
Constitution defined distinct legislative executive and judicial branches with different responsibilities to prevent misuse of power
Checks and balances
Designed to prevent the emergence of a single domineering center of power
Federalism
The federal government and the states government to share powers
Representative government
Citizens elect representatives to govern to make laws
Electoral college
Group of people chosen from each state to elect the president indirectly
Virginia plan II
Bicameral, representation is varied based on states population. Reps are chosen when members of House of Representatives are elected by popular vote
New Jersey plan II
Unicameral, representation is equal, representatives are elected by state legislatures
US Constitution provisions
Bicameral representation for each state in the Senate is equal house of reps varies based on State population
How did the Federalists' promise to support the Bill of Rights influence the ratification battle?
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What are some of the rights guaranteed to American citizens by the Bill of Rights?
1. guarantees freedom of religion speech press and assembly 2. guarantees right to bear arms 3. protect people from unreasonable searches and seizures
What is the significance of the ninth amendment?
The ninth amendment provides that people have rights beyond those stated in the constitution
Articles of Confederation II
Continental Congress adopts articles of Confederation in 1777 which establishes a limited national government in 1781. The articles of Confederation did provide a strong system of checks and balances
Three branches of government
The three branches of the government were legislative judicial and executive.
Why did the delegates at the convention create a national government with separation of power?
The delegates wanted a government but separation of power because they did not want the same government to be repeated as parliament
Did state or federal government have more power under articles of Confederation?
State had more power than federal government federal government was weak
Did James Madison support federal or state power
Federal
Why did the anti-Federalist support a weak national government
They supported a weak national government because they do not want the government to get too much power and become like Parliament. They had work too hard for their freedom to go back to an old routine