Founding of American Government and the Articles of Confederation

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts regarding the founding of the American government, the Articles of Confederation, and the transition to the Constitution.

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States that established a weak national government.

Constitutional Convention

A gathering of state representatives in 1787 aimed at amending the Articles of Confederation.

Shays' Rebellion

A 1786 uprising in Massachusetts led by farmers protesting economic injustices and weak government.

Great Compromise

The agreement at the Constitutional Convention that established a bicameral legislature combining elements of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.

Virginia Plan

A proposal to establish a strong national government with a bicameral legislature based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal that aimed to amend the Articles of Confederation by maintaining equal representation for all states.

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes.

Federalism

A system of governance where power is divided between a national government and state governments.

Separation of Powers

A principle that divides government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that no one branch of government gains too much power by allowing each branch to oversee and limit the others.