Unit 5 - The Constitutional Convention

Ratify

To approve

Regulate

To manage or control

Enforce

To make people obey a rule or law

Amendment

A change or addition, usually to an existing text or law

Representation

When citizens’ voices, opinions, and prespectives “heard” in the government

Factions

A group of people within a larger organization who share a common interest or goal

Compromise

An agreement in which both side in an argument agree to give up something that they want

Bill

A potential new law that has been introduced to a lawmaking body but hasn’t been passed yet

Federal System/Federalism

System of government in which power is shared between the national government + the states

Social Contract

Agreement in which people allow leaders to govern as long as they protect their freedoms + rights

Daniel Shays

A farmer and former soldier who led a protest called Shays' Rebellion in 1786. He and other farmers in Massachusetts were upset because high taxes and debts were causing them to lose their farms. This rebellion showed that the government under the Articles of Confederation was too weak, which helped lead to the writing of the U.S. Constitution

Roger Sherman

A delegate from Connecticut at the Constitutional Convention who played a major role in shaping the new government. He proposed the "Great Compromise," which settled a major debate by creating a two-house Congress, with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate giving equal representation to each state. His idea helped unite the delegates and was crucial to the final structure of the U.S. Constitution

James Madison

A key delegate from Virginia at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and is often called the "Father of the Constitution." He took detailed notes during the meetings, which became a valuable record of the debates. He also proposed the Virginia Plan, which outlined a strong central government with three branches, influencing the final structure of the U.S. Constitution

Benjamin Franklin

The oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention, he brought wisdom and experience to the debates. As a respected statesman, he helped encourage compromise among the delegates when they disagreed. His support and steady presence played a key role in uniting the delegates to create the U.S. Constitution

George Washington

A respected leader from the American Revolution who served as the President of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. In this role, he helped guide the discussions calmly and fairly. His support for a stronger central government encouraged other delegates to work together, leading to the creation of the U.S. Constitution

Alexander Hamilton

A young delegate from New York who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He thought the Articles of Confederation made the national government too weak, so he helped organize the convention to create a stronger system. At the convention, he argued for a strong central government, which led to the writing of the U.S. Constitution

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the US, the document that explained how the US government worked

National Government

Level of government that is in charge of matters affecting an entire country

State Government

Level of government that handles the day to day operations of running a state (laws, courts, enforcing, etc)

Unicameral Legislature

A legislature that is made up of ONE group of lawmakers

Bicameral Legislature

A lawmaking body that is divided into two chambers, or houses, of people

Shays Rebellion

(1786) Uprising of Massachusetts
farmers concerned about the loss of their lands

Constitutional Convention

(1787) Meeting in which the Constitution of the U.S. was debated and agreed upon

Large States

The states that had greater populations + believed representation in Congress should be based on population

Small States

States with smaller populations + believed representation in Congress should be equal for each state.

Equal Representation

The idea that each state should have the same number of representatives in Congress

Proportional Representation

Representation in Congress is based on the population of each state (more people = more representatives)

The Virginia Plan

The plan for the US government that had three branches + a bicameral legislature w/ proportional representation

The New Jersey Plan

The plan for the US government that had three branches and a unicameral legislature with equal representation

Great Compromise

Agreement that used parts of the VA + NJ Plans to create a more fair bicameral legislature

Three/Fifths Compromise

Compromise that stated that each enslaved person should count as ⅗ a person in the HOR

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments in the US Constitution which protect citizens’ basic rights and freedoms

Federalists

Supporters of the United States Constitution

Anti-Federalists

An opponent of the central government as defined by the Constitution; against its ratification