AP Govt. Flashcards 2.1-2.2

Constitutional Convention of 1787

A May 1787 gathering of fifty-five delegates in Philadelphia initially called to revise the Articles of Confederation

James Madison

Virginia delegate who arrived first in Philadelphia, recorded detailed informal notes of the proceedings, and devised the Virginia Plan.

George Washington

Revolutionary War general who served as president of the Constitutional Convention and was expected to lead the emerging national government.

Alexander Hamilton

Former military aide to Washington who emerged during the Philadelphia proceedings as a prominent advocate for a strong national government.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature where state representation in both houses would be based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal presented by William Paterson advocating a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state delegation.

Great Compromise

An agreement establishing a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.

3/5 Compromise

Enslaved individuals count as 3/5 of a person for calculation state representation in Congress

Compromise on Importation

A provision in Article I, Section 9 prohibiting Congress from banning the transatlantic slave trade prior to 1808.

Write of habeas corpus

A legal protection requiring government authorities to justify a person's detention before a judge.

Bill of attainder

A legislative act declaring a person or group guilty of a crime without a judicial trial, forbidden by Article I, Section 9.

Ex post facto law

Criminalizes an action that was legal at the time it was committed.

Article of Confederation and Perpetual Union

The first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1777 and ratified in 1781, which created a decentralized union of sovereign states with a weak central government.

Unicameral Legislature

A legislative body consisting of a single chamber, each state gets one vote on legislation no matter the population

Article VIII of The Articles of Confederation

The provision outlining that national expenses would be funded by states based on land values, though Congress lacked the authority to enforce tax collection.

Article IX of The Articles of Confederation

Congress has the sole power over foreign affairs and war, still giving individual states the right impose tariffs on foreign commerce.

Article XIII of The Articles of Confederation

The section requiring the unanimous consent of all thirteen states to pass any constitutional amendments.

Annapolis Convention

A 1786 meeting called to address interstate trade disputes, attended by only five states

Shay’s Rebellion

A 1786 armed uprising in Massachusetts by Revolutionary War veterans protesting debt, court foreclosures, and heavy state taxation.

Daniel Shays

A Revolutionary War veteran who led a 1786 popular uprising against the Massachusetts state government.

Effect of Shay’s Rebellion on George Washington

Prompted George Washington to emerge from retirement at Mount Vernon to attend the Philadelphia Convention, giving crucial legitimacy to the constitutional reform movement.