Chapter 3- Articles of Confederation to Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Adopted by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War, this established a weak central government run by a Congress that met once per year. The Congress could declare war, raise armies, and sign treaties.

The Northwest Ordinance

Provided the basis for governing much of the new western territory won from England. Created rules for how the territories would be governed and become states. This document outlawed slavery in the western territory. Ohio eventually became a states as a result of this document.

Duties

Taxes on imported goods

Recession

Period of general economic decline

Shays' Rebellion

The failed attempt of angry farmers in western Massachusetts to seize control of a military arsenal and then march on to Boston. Though the attempt failed, it was significant because it caused many Americans to feel the need for a stronger central government.

Federalist

People who supported a stronger central government

Constitutional Convention

A meeting in Philadelphia of 55 delegates from the various states to revise the Articles of Confederation. Eventually, the delegates created our government as it exists today.

George Washington

President of the Constitutional Convention

James Madison

Kept detailed records of the Constitutional Convention and created the Virginia Plan. Eventually he became the 4th President of the United States.

Roger Sherman

He developed the Connecticut Compromise. The only man to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.

Virginia Plan

A proposal to get rid of the Articles of Confederation and to create a new national government with power divided between a legislative, executive, and judicial branch. The plan proposed that representation in Congress be based on population.

The Connecticut Compromise

Also called the Great Compromise. In one house of Congress, the House of Representatives, state representation would be based on population. In the other house, the Senate, each states would have equal representation.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Southern delegates to the Constitutional Convention wanted to count their slaves when determining how many representatives they would get in the House of Representatives. Northern delegates said it was not fair to count the slaves when determining representation. This compromise, said every five enslaved people would count as 3 free people when determining representation in the House of Representatives.

Popular Sovereignty

Rule by the people

Federalism

The division and sharing of power between the national government and the state governments.

Separation of Powers

To guarantee that no one person or group could take over the government, the power of the government is divided into three equal branches; the legislative, executive, and judicial.

Checks and Balances

The ability of a branch of government to have some control over the other branches. The purpose is to make sure that no branch becomes more powerful than the others.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution. Believed that power should be divided between a central government and the regional (state) governments.

Anti-federalists

Those against the Constitution. The major concern was who would get more power the national government or the states. These people feared too much power and control was being given to the national government. Wanted a Bill of Rights.

The Federalist Papers

A collection of 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Explain how the new Constitution worked and why it was needed.

The Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution. A promise of rights that would never be denied to the citizens. This guarantee clinched ratification of the Constitution.

Ratification

approval