government 4.1-4.3

Mayflower compact

the forerunner of the constitution; established the principles of laws, submission to authority, self-initiative, etc.

Charters

Original "constitutions" for the colonies; Viewed as the “higher laws”

State constitutions

gave the founding fathers experience in creating a constitution

Convention method

used by Massachusetts; constitution was created by delegates but approved by the people

Articles of confederation

first national constitution in America’s history; created by the second continental congress during the war

1781

the articles of confederation were completely ratified by the states by this year

Confederacy

means “firm league of friendship”

Land Ordinance of 1785

surveyed and sold land to western settlers

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

created governments for western territories (equal to other states)

Shay’s Rebellion

a rebellion led by Daniel Shays as a result of a financial crisis for debt-ridden farmers in post-Revolution America

“The critical period”

the years under the Articles of Confederation

Mt Vernon

George Washington’s home that held 2 conferences dealing with interstate commerce and navigation

Annapolis Convention

an attempt was made in 1786 to discuss a new constitution; was rescheduled to 1787

1786

the year of the first annapolis convention; it failed and only five delegates attended

1787

the annapolis convention was rescheduled to be held in Philadelphia in this year

55

number of delegates (representatives of a state) attended the convention

Washington and Ben Franklin

the two most famous delegates at the constitutional convention

James Madison

Father of the Constitution; promoted the “chosen plan” and helped explain the constitution to the people

Independence Hall (PA)

the site of the Constitutional Convention

Great Decision

early decision that created a new constitution instead of revising the old articles

Representation

the issue that caused conflict at the constitutional convention

Virginia Plan

the plan that was a bicameral legislature; representation would be proportional (based on population) to each state

Edmund Randolph and James Madison

proposed the Virginia Plan

New Jersey plan

the plan that was a unicameral legislature; representation would be equal

William Patterson

proposed the New Jersey Plan

Connecticut (great) compromise

created a bicameral legislature; the upper house (senate) would have equal representation; the lower house (representatives) would be proportional to the population

Roger sherman

proposed the connecticut compromise

Three-Fifths Compromise

3 of every 5 slaves living in a state would be counted towards representation

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

interstate and foreign commerce would be regulated by Congress; slavery would be lightly taxed

Federalists

the people who supported the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

those who opposed to the constitution

Federalist Papers

written mostly by Alexander Hamilton; collection of essays that simply explained the Constitution to Americans

There was no Bill of Rights

main issue with the constitution

James Madison

promised to add a bill of rights to the constitution

9 of the 13

number of states needed to approve the document

Delaware

was the first state to ratify

New Hampshire

9th state to ratify in 1788

1788

date that new hampshire ratified teh constitution

Rhode Island

last state to ratify in 1790

1790

date that rhode island ratified the constitution

New York City

chosen to be the capital city

George Washington

first president in 1789

1789

date that george washington became the first president

Bill of Rights

ratified in 1791

1791

date that the bill of rights was ratified

Article VI

made the constitution the “Supreme Law of the Land”; the linchpin of the Constitution