Building a Nation: Creating Republican Institutions and the Constitution (1754-1800)

Vocabulary flashcards covering republican institutions, Constitutional compromises, and the ratification debates from Period III (1754-1800).

John Adams

Promoted republican institutions including a mixed government, a bicameral congress, an elected governor with veto power, and an appointed judiciary.

Abigail Adams

Advocated to "Remember the ladies" to end oppressive laws and customs that prevented women from owning property, arranging contracts, and initiating lawsuits.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Law that divided and organized land northwest of the old Proclamation Line, creating a path to statehood, earmarking funds for public education, and banning slavery.

Shays' Rebellion

A rebellion led by former Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays and Massachusetts farmers facing property seizures over debts, demonstrating the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation

The initial national framework characterized by a weak central government that favored state power and lacked an executive or judiciary branch.

VA Plan

A proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, favoring a powerful national government whose laws superseded state laws.

NJ Plan

A proposal favoring smaller states that called for equal state representation in the national legislature.

Great Compromise

An agreement combining elements of the VA and NJ plans into a bicameral legislature: a lower house (House of Representatives) based on population and an upper house (the Senate) with 2 members per state.

3/5 Compromise

An agreement to appease Southern states by counting 60% of slaves towards population for representation in Congress.

Federalists

Proponents of ratifying the Constitution who favored a strong central government led by educated elites; mostly comprised of easterners.

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratifying the Constitution who feared a strong central government run by wealthy elites and criticized the absence of a bill of rights; mostly comprised of backcountry residents.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton to promote ratification by arguing that a centralized government preserves republican ideals.

Bill of Rights

A promised addition to the Constitution protecting individual liberties, which persuaded many Antifederalists to support ratification.

Constitution of 1787

The governing document created to address financial issues such as debts, taxes, and tariffs by replacing the failing Articles of Confederation with a strong federal government.