Constitutional Foundations Vocab

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Articles of Confederation

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

Connecticut Compromise

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Consent of the governed

The idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people.

Constitution

A document that spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society

Declaration of Independence

the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain

Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail.

Federalist Party

1792-1816. Formed by Alexander Hamilton. Controlled the government until 1801. Wanted strong nationalistic government. Opposed by Democratic Republicans.

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Limited government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Natural rights

the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

Second Treatise of Civil Government

written by John Locke, it contains the blueprint principles found in the Declaration of Independence.

Shays’ Rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

Three-fifths Compromise

Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.

Unalienable rights

basic rights of the people that may not be taken away

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.