Chapter 11: Establishment of New Political Systems (1787–1800)

Virginia Plan

Virginia Plan

During debate over the Constitution, the plan proposing a bicameral legislature with representatives determined by proportional representation.

New Jersey Plan

During debate over the Constitution, the plan proposing one legislative body for the country, with each state having one vote.

Great Compromise

Connecticut plan stated that one house of Congress would be based on population while in the other house all states would have equal representation.

Electoral College

Procedure for electing the president and vice-president of the United States as outlined in the Constitution; electors from each state, and not the popular vote, ultimately elect the president.

Three-Fifths Compromise

As the Constitution was being created, the plan stated that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a free person when determining a state’s population for tax purposes and electing members of the House of Representatives.

Federalists

Party in the first years of the republic that favored a larger national government; was supported by commercial interests. Federalists were opposed by Jeffersonians, who wanted a smaller national government.

Alien and Sedition Acts

Proposed by President John Adams, gave the president power to expel “dangerous” aliens and outlawed “scandalous” publications against the government.

1787

Constitutional Convention ratifies U.S. Constitution

1788

U.S. Constitution ratified by states

1789

Washington sworn in as first president

1790

Hamilton issues plans proposing to protect infant U.S. industries

1791

Establishment of First National Bank Ratification of the Bill of Rights

1793

Democratic-Republican clubs begin to meet

1794

Whiskey Rebellion begins

1795

Jay’s Treaty with England/Pinckney’s Treaty with Spain

1796

John Adams elected president, Thomas Jefferson, vice-president (each from a different political party)

1798

XYZ Affair Sedition Act of John Adams issued Kentucky and Virginia Resolves

1800

Convention of 1800 Thomas Jefferson elected president

May 25, 1787

delegates from all 13 states met in Philadelphia.

George Washington

President of Constitutional Convention

Virginia Plan

James Madison's ___ dominated the Constitutional Convention debate.

legislative, executive, and judicial branches

Madison's framework called for a federal government with ________________.

James Madison

Father of the Constitution

New Jersey Plan

Proposed a unicameral, one-vote Congress.

Great Compromise

The advocates of the two competing plans argued until Connecticut delegates proposed the ____. This called for proportional representation in the lower house and two upper house seats for each state.

Constitutional Convention

The delegates at the _______ were not believers in pure democracy. They believed an unchecked majority could be as tyrannical as a king.

Three-Fifths Compromise

The delegates settled on the ________, which allocated House seats based on a state's slave population.

Federalists

They believed the new federal government would meet national needs and protect American liberties.

Anti-Federalists

They were unwilling to trust a stronger central government. They pointed out that the proposed consitutions had no bill of rights

July 26, 1788

New York became the eleventh state to ratify the Constitution on _______.

September 13, 1788

Congress ratified the Constitution on _________

May 29, 1790

Rhode Island ratified the Constitution last on ______.

George Washington

First US President

Bill of Rights

It has become a symbol of American freedoms like religion, speech, and assembly.

Bill of Rights

It protected the right to bear arms and prohibited soldiers from living in homes.

Bill of Rights

It also protected defendants with jury trials and a ban on "cruel and unusual punishments."

Ninth Amendment

This states that listing rights in the Constitution does not "disparage" others held by the people.

Tenth Amendment

This gives states and people all powers not granted to the federal government or forbidden to them by the Constitution.

John Jay

In 1794, the British began searching and seizing American ships trading with the French West Indies. Washington sent Chief Justice ________ to London to resolve these issues.

Thomas Pinckney

He negotiated with Spain to open the Mississippi River to American navigation.

John Adams

He served two terms as Washington’s vice president. In the election of 1796, he ran as a Federalist.

Executive Mansion

In 1800, Adams became the first president to live in the _______.

1778 alliance

The French resented the US's failure to uphold the ______ with the overthrown royal government.

XYZ Affair

American public opinion supported the Americans' indignant refusal. This was named after Talleyrand's emissaries' codes.

Napoleon Bonaparte

By 1800, he had taken control of France, and diplomacy resumed.

Alien Act

This allowed the president to imprison or deport "dangerous" aliens.

Sedition Act

This allowed the president to prosecute "malicious" administration critics.

French Revolution

This began in summer 1789, just months after George Washington became president.

Declaration of Neutrality

President Washington issued a _________. He hoped the US could avoid joining the world war.

Public Credit

Hamilton realized that the US's chaotic finances had to be addressed if it was to become a great commercial and manufacturing power. His Report on ________ proposed a bold plan to stabilize the US economy.