Studying for Civics!

Articles of Confederation

The original plan for America's government that was far too weak, had no power to tax, no executive, and was thrown out after the Constitutional Convention.

Shay's Rebellion

Many former farmers are now farmers with high debt. Daniel Shays leads a group to rebel over owed back pay in Massachusetts. Federal government is unable to help. Local militia raised to put down the rebellion. Shows that Articles are too weak and a new government is needed.

Great Compromise

A solution where both large and small states would be fairly represented by creating two houses of Congress

New Jersey Plan

A plan, unsuccessfully proposed at the Constitutional Convention, providing for a single legislative house with equal representation for each state.

Virginia Plan

James Madison's plan outlined a strong national government with 3 branches: Legislative, judicial, and executive

Constitutional Convention

55 State Delegates compose a new U.S. Constitution together.

3/5 Compromise

Counted enslaved people as ⅗ of a person for state population.

Preamble

The people of the United States want to reform the government by establishing the Constitution. The very beginning of the Declaration of Independence.

George Washington

He led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War. He served as both a general and a commander-in-chief for the military and the first president of the United States.

Checks & Balances

Provides each branch of government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing rights to the citizens.

Valley Forge

Badly needed winter clothing and nutritious food but Congress didn't have enough money. During this time Washington made several key additions to his officer corps, such as the Prussian General Friedrich von Steuben, who was tasked with implementing a new training regimen, and Nathanael Greene, who served as quartermaster general, relieving Washington of the duty of supply procurement.

Shot heard round the world

The opening shot of the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Benedict Arnold

An American Revolutionary War general best known for his defection from the Continental Army to the British side of the conflict in 1780.

Paul Revere

Took part in the Boston Tea Party and famously alerted the Lexington Minutemen about the approach of the British in 1775.

Molly Pitcher

A patriot who carried pitchers of water to soldiers and helped with cannon duty during the American Revolution's Battle of Monmouth.

James Madison

The 4th president believed in a balanced federal government and is known as the "Father of the Constitution". He wrote the first drafts of the Constitution and sponsored the Bill of Rights.

Thomas Jefferson

He was a Founding Father who wrote the Declaration of Independence and as the 3rd U.S. president, completed the Louisiana Purchase causing the U.S. territory to double.

Boston Massacre

British soldiers killed 5 civilians and injured 6 others in Boston.

Grievances

This is a list of all of the bad things and complaints that England did to the U.S. when they were their colonists.

Patriot, Neutral, Loyalists

Patriot or colonists that rejected the British Rule during the American Revolution, Neutral or colonists that didn't choose either side- British or America, and Loyalists are colonists who remained loyal to the British during the American Revolution.

Northwest Territory

Area between the Ohio and Mississippi River which includes Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. It was settled by the Northwest Ordinance beginning in 1785.

Popular Sovereignty

AKA Social Contract Theory, meaning believing in consent of the governed and the people rule.

Amendment

The changes to the Constitution

Article 1

About Congress

Article 2

About the President

Article 4

About the Relations Among the States

Article 5

About the Amendments

Ratify

Approved

Anti-Federalist

People who were against ratifying the Constitution.

Federalist

People who supported the Constitution.

Federalism

Government based on a Federal System. Power is shared by the Federal/National Government and the individual state governments.

Bicameral

This means that they were divided into 2 parts, or houses.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that both the Federal and state government have in common.

Supremacy Clause

The Constitution and Laws of the United States are the "supreme law of the land."

Electoral College

A group of people that would be made up of electors, or delegates, named by each state legislature. Voters in each state now choose electors.

Legislative Branch

The lawmaking power of Congress.

Executive Branch

The law-enforcing part of government led by a president and vice president.

Judicial Branch

This branch interprets the laws and sees that they are fairly applied.

Intolerable Acts

A series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in order to punish the Massachusetts colonists.

Elastic Clause

Gives Congress the power to pass all laws needed for carrying out the powers listed in Article 1

Enumerated Powers

Powers that have been made clear or explicit. They have been listed in some place.

Expressed Powers

Powers stated by the Constitution of the government

Implied Powers

Powers that aren't as clear or explicitly listed. They are assumed.

Inherent Powers

Powers that are not stated in the Constitution, and how to interpret them.

8th Amendment

It's about cruel and unusual punishment.