Key Figures, Principles, and Compromises in Early U.S. History

1. Patrick Henry

prominent Anti-Federalist, fought against the ratification of the Constitution in fiery letters

2. Daniel Shays

led Shays Rebellion, was put to death but later pardoned, wanted to free himself from the debt-ridden government

3. Alexander Hamilton

founding father, Federalist, wrote 51 of the Federalist Papers in support for the Constiution, advocate for a powerful central government,

4. James Madison

4th U.S. President, founding father, wrote the Constitution, wrote 29 Federalist Papers

5. primogeniture

legal principle that the oldest son inherits all family land or property. The younger sons, forced to seek their fortunes elsewhere, pioneered early exploration and settlement of the Americas.

6. checks and balances

system in government, where each branch "checks" the power of the others

7. sovereignty

supreme political power

8. civic virtue

willingness of the part of citizens to sacrifice personal self-interest for the public good. Deemed a necessary component of a successful republic

9. republican motherhood

ideal of family organization and female behavior after the American Revolution that stressed the role of women in guiding family members toward republican virtue

10. states' rights

rights of states to govern themselves, supported by anti-federalists

11. popular sovereignty

the sovereign people of a given area should be able to decide whether or not to allow slavery

12. civil law

body of written law enacted through legislative statutes or constitutional provisions

13. common law

laws that originate from court rulings and customs, as opposed to legislative statutes

III. Describe and state the historical significance of the following (as described in this chapter):

14. Articles of Confederation

1st American Constitution, established the United States as a loose confederation of states under a weak national Congress, which was not granted the power to regulate commerce or collect taxes. Replaced in 1789 by Constitution

15. Northwest Ordinance

created a policy for administering the Northwest Territories. It included a path to statehood and forbade the expansion of slavery into the territories.

16. Shays' Rebellion

1786, armed uprising of western Massachusetts debtors seeking lower taxes and an end to property foreclosures. Though quickly put down, the insurrection inspired fear of "mob rule" among leading revolutionaries

17. 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

18. New Jersey Plan

small state plan, proposed equal representation by state, regardless of population, in a unicameral legislature.

19. "Great Compromise"

1787, measured that reconciled the New Jersey and Virginia Plans at the Constitutional Convention, giving states proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. Broke the stalemate, paved the way for subsequent compromises over slavery and the Electoral College

20. "Three-Fifths Compromise"

1787, determined that slaves would count as ⅗ of a person for the purpose of apportioning taxes and representation, grated disproportionate political power to southern slave states

21. Electoral College

mechanism for electing U.S. presidents, creates "indirect" presidential elections

22. Land Ordinance of 1785

provided for the sale of land in the Old Northwest and earmarked the oriceeds towards repaying the national debt

23. Federalists

proponents of Constitution, favored a strong central government, argued that the checks and balances in the new Constitution would safeguard the people's liberties

24. Anti-federalists

against Constitution, claimed it would lead to tyranny and encroach on states' rights

25. The Federalist

collection of essays written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison is support of the Constitution, have served as an important source for constitutional interpertation