U.S. Constitution and Revolutionary War Era Key Terms

Republic

a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Unicameral Legislature

One-house legislature

Bicameral Legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Articles of Confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

Northwest Territory

lands northwest of the Appalachians, covered by the Land Ordinance of 1785

Anti Federalist

Anti-Federalists rose up as the opponents of the Constitution during the period of ratification. They opposed the Constitution's powerful centralized government, arguing that the Constitution gave too much political, economic, and military control. They instead advocated a decentralized governmental structure that granted most power to the states

Federalist

A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.

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.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Created the Northwest Territory (area north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania), established conditions for self-government and statehood, included a Bill of Rights, and permanently prohibited slavery

Shay's Rebellion

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.

The 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

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Executive

Enforces laws

Judicial

Interprets the laws

Interstate Commerce

trade between two or more states

Legislative Branch

the branch of government that makes the laws

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Taxes

Fees for the support of government required to be paid by people and businesses.

1st, Amendments

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd, Amendments

Right to bear arms

3rd, Amendments

No quartering of soldiers

5th, Amendments

protects those accused of a crime, no double jeopardy, due process, no self-incrimination, right to counsel, trial by jury, no torture