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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.
Note 
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