Creation of the United States Constitution and Early National Government

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms, legislative plans, constitutional compromises, and political conflicts surrounding the founding of the American government from 1776 to the early 1790s.

First Two-Party System

The early political division pitting the Federalists against the Democratic-Republicans, centered primarily on the scope and power of the central government versus the states.

Articles of Confederation

The initial governing framework approved in 1781 that created a loose confederation of 13 independent states with a unicameral legislature, one vote per state, no executive branch, and no federal court system.

Continentals

Paper money issued by the Continental Congress that depreciated dramatically in value, giving rise to the derogatory phrase 'not worth a Continental.'

Treaty of Paris (1783)

The treaty concluding the American Revolution that allowed Congress to survive the war, but left unresolved issues regarding British and Spanish forts on American soil, restitution for confiscated loyalist property, and compensation for lost slave property.

Shays' Rebellion

An uprising in Massachusetts fueled by heavy land and poll taxes on impoverished farmers and debtors demanding paper currency, tax relief, and debt relief, which convinced national leaders that the republic was nearing anarchy.

Constitutional Convention of 1787

A meeting convened in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, where 55 delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) gathered to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation and draft a new Constitution.

James Madison

Known as the 'father of the Constitution,' a Virginia delegate who championed a strong national government with three branches, an upper chamber to temper poorly framed laws, and the supremacy of national authority.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal favored by populous states that called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, a single executive, and a national veto over state laws.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal supported by smaller states that advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal state representation, a plural executive, and no national veto.

Great Compromise

The agreement that resolved the debate between the Virginia and New Jersey plans by establishing a bicameral legislature with representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of two members per state in the Senate.

Separation of Powers

The constitutional principle dividing governing authority among executive, legislative, and judicial branches to keep any single branch from amassing excessive power.

Checks and Balances

A constitutional mechanism established to counterbalance the three branches of government and prevent any one branch from dominating.

Senate

The upper legislative chamber designed as a conservative check on the House and President, originally elected for six-year terms by state legislatures to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority.

Electoral College

A compromise mechanism for selecting the president wherein local electors—equal to each state's combined total of senators and representatives—cast the decisive votes.

Three-Fifths Clause

A constitutional rule counting three-fifths of enslaved persons for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives and Electoral College, granting Southern states disproportionate political representation.

Publius

The collective pen name under which Alexander Hamilton (50 essays), James Madison (30 essays), and John Jay (5 essays) published the Federalist papers to advocate for the ratification of the Constitution.

Federalist No. 10

An essay written by James Madison arguing that political factions would be controlled and checked effectively in a large, heterogeneous republic.

Tenth Amendment

A constitutional amendment that reserves all powers not specifically delegated to the national government to the individual states.

Compromise of 1790

A political compromise where Southern representatives agreed to support Alexander Hamilton's federal assumption of state debts in exchange for situating the permanent national capital on the Potomac River.

Tariff of 1789

A 5% tax levied by Congress on a wide array of imported foreign goods to generate revenue for the new federal government.

Excise Tax of 1791

A federal internal tax placed on sugar, salt, carriages, and alcoholic beverages, which prompted intense backlash among frontier farmers who depended on whiskey as a profitable commodity.

Bank of the United States

A national financial institution proposed by Alexander Hamilton responsible for holding government funds, issuing loans to the government and banks, and managing the money supply by regulating state bank currency.