Unit 3: US Constitution and the First Three Presidents

A comprehensive vocabulary review deck covering the US Constitution, the Constitutional Convention, key foundational compromises, government powers, and the administrations of the first three US Presidents.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising by armed farmers protesting debt and taxation that demonstrated the national government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention

The 1787 gathering of delegates in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, convened to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and write a new U.S. Constitution.

George Washington (Constitutional Convention)

The trusted military leader chosen as the president and leader of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, whose presence gave authority and credibility to the proceedings.

The Great Compromise

The agreement settling the debate between large and small states by creating a bicameral Congress with equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House of Representatives.

Federalist Party

The political party associated with leaders like John Adams and Alexander Hamilton that advocated for a strong central government to promote national growth and stability.

Three-Fifths (3/5) Compromise

An agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention to count three out of every five enslaved individuals when determining a state's population for congressional representation and direct taxes.

Supreme Law of the Land (Supremacy Clause)

The constitutional principle establishing that the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties take legal precedence over conflicting state and local laws.

Articles of Confederation

America's first national constitution, which created a very weak national government that lacked the power to collect taxes, regulate trade, or enforce laws.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, designed specifically to protect the individual rights, liberties, and freedoms of citizens.

Federalist Papers

A series of political essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to convince citizens and state conventions to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

James Madison

A Virginia statesman and co-author of the Federalist Papers who is recognized as the "Father of the Constitution" for his major role in drafting and shaping it.

Alexander Hamilton

A prominent Federalist leader from New York and one of the three principal authors of the Federalist Papers.

John Jay

An American statesman and diplomat who collaborated with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison to write the Federalist Papers.

Compromise

A settlement of differences in which each side gives up certain demands or positions in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.

Representation

The state or system of having elected delegates or officials speak, vote, and act on behalf of the people in government.

Delegate

An individual selected or authorized to represent, speak, and vote for a larger group, community, or state.

Washington's Farewell Address

George Washington's final message to the nation in which he cautioned Americans against the dangers of permanent foreign alliances and divisive political parties.

Alliance

A formal partnership or mutual agreement between sovereign nations to cooperate for specific military or political purposes.

Neutrality

The foreign policy approach of not taking sides or participating in wars and conflicts between foreign countries.

Louisiana Purchase (1803)

A landmark land deal in 1803 negotiated during Thomas Jefferson's presidency in which the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France.

Thomas Jefferson

The third U.S. President, who acquired the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803 and authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.

John Adams

The second U.S. President and leader of the Federalist Party, whose administration handled the diplomatic controversy known as the XYZ Affair.

XYZ Affair

A diplomatic scandal during John Adams' administration where French agents demanded a bribe from American envoys before agreeing to hold peace negotiations.

Judicial Review

The legal power of the courts, especially the Supreme Court, to examine laws and executive acts and declare them void if they violate the U.S. Constitution.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The Supreme Court case that formally established the doctrine of judicial review.

First Amendment

The constitutional amendment guaranteeing core individual rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press.

Second Amendment

The amendment in the Bill of Rights that protects the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.

Freedom of the Press

The legally protected liberty of newspapers and journalists to publish news and critique government actions without censorship.

Presidential Cabinet

The group of appointed department heads and advisors that meets with and advises the President on governing the country.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the proposed U.S. Constitution who favored stronger state authority and insisted on adding a Bill of Rights to prevent executive tyranny.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government (Congress) responsible for writing laws, raising taxes, and declaring war.

Executive Branch

The branch of government led by the President that executes laws, commands the armed forces, issues pardons, casts vetoes, and negotiates treaties.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government comprising the court system that has the authority to interpret the laws and ensure they conform to the Constitution.

Veto

The constitutional power of the President to reject a bill or law passed by Congress.

Pardon

An executive power that allows the President to forgive crimes or eliminate the legal punishments of convicted individuals.

Treaty

A formal, legally binding international agreement negotiated between sovereign nations by the executive branch.

Virginia Declaration of Rights

A Virginia founding document that proclaimed inherent human rights and served as a direct inspiration for the federal Bill of Rights.

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

A landmark Virginia law supporting the separation of church and state, which provided a model for religious freedom in the First Amendment.

Separation of Church and State

The governing principle that civil government and organized religious institutions must remain independent and not interfere with one another.

United States Senate

The upper chamber of Congress where every state receives uniform, equal voting power ($2$ senators per state), regardless of population size.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress in which each state's number of representatives is determined proportionally by its total population.

Reserved Powers

Powers that are not given to the federal government and are saved exclusively for state governments, such as running public schools.

Currency Confusion under the Articles

An economic flaw of the Articles of Confederation where individual states printed their own separate currencies, causing widespread confusion and harming trade.

One Vote Per State Rule

A legislative feature of the Articles of Confederation that gave each state a single vote in Congress, granting small states excessive power relative to their population size.

Unanimous Consent Rule

A weakness of the Articles of Confederation that required all thirteen states to agree before any rule or amendment could be altered.

Presidential Election Process of 1789

The original constitutional election rule where the candidate receiving the highest number of votes became President and the runner-up became Vice President.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

An expedition organized to explore, map, and document the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and the American Northwest.

Bicameral Legislature

A legislative body divided into two separate chambers or houses, such as the U.S. Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.