Chapter 7 SS vocab

Bicameral

Two house legislature to divide the work of government

Ordinance

A law or regulation

Depreciate

to fall in value

Depression

A period when economic activity slows and unemployment increases

Manumission

the freeing of individual enslaved persons

Proportional

having the proper size in relation to other objects or items

Compromise

settlement of a dispute by each side giving up some demands

Convention

meeting

Amend

to change or revise

Federalism

A form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and state governments

Legislative Branch

The law-making branch of government

Executive Branch

The branch of government that executes, or carries out, the law and that is headed by the president

Electoral College

A special group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice

Judicial Branch

Branch of government that interprets the law; it includes courts that settle disputes and questions the law

Checks and Balances

A system by which each branch of government limits the power of other branches so that one branch does not become too powerful

Tradition

a long standing cultural belief or practice

Amendment

a change, correction or improvement added to a document

Republic

A government in which citizens rule through elected officials

Richard Henry Lee

President of Congress

Articles of Confederation

Nation's first constitution

Ordinance of 1785

Established a process to survey and sell the lands north of the Ohio River

The Northwest Ordinance

Created a single Northwest Territory from lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi. Bill of Rights for settlers in the territory

Land Act of 1800

Made it easier for people to buy land in the territory

John Adams

Ambassador to Great Britain

Shay's Rebellion

Massachusetts 1786. Forced courts in the western part of the state to close. January, 1787 about 1,200 supporters marched to the federal arsenal and were met by soldiers who killed 4 farmers

Philadelphia Convention

May, 1787 - Alexander Hamilton called for a meeting to discuss trade issues

Virginia Plan

Edmund Randolph of Virginia proposed a strong national government

New Jersey Plan

Proposed by William Patterson. Legislature would have a single house, with each state having one vote

Great Compromise

Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed different representation in the two-house legislature. Senate and House of Representative

The Three Fifths Compromise

Every 5 enslaved persons would count as 3 persons in the state's population and taxes