Unit 2: U.S. Constitution, Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists, and American Government

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Constitutional Convention, Federalists versus Anti-Federalists debates, constitutional principles, powers, and key terms in early American governance.

Federalists

Supporters of the new Constitution, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington, who favored a strong central government to maintain national order, economic stability, and global respect.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the new Constitution, including George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson, who favored strong state governments to preserve sovereignty and feared federal overreach similar to British rule.

Massachusetts Compromise of 1788

A solution to ratification where Anti-Federalist opposition was resolved by agreeing to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution to protect individual liberties and citizen rights.

Declaration of Independence

The document adopted on July 4th, 1776, announcing that the American colonies were free and independent from British rule.

Thomas Jefferson

The main author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States.

Ben Franklin

A Founding Father, inventor, and diplomat who helped gain French support during the American Revolution, contributed to the Declaration of Independence, and helped shape the U.S. Constitution.

John Adams

A Founding Father who supported independence from Britain and served as the second president of the United States.

Articles of Confederation

The first plan of government for the U.S., written in 1777, which created a weak central government and left most power with the individual states.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Structural flaws including Congress's inability to tax citizens directly or regulate interstate trade, the absence of an executive to enforce laws or national courts to resolve disputes, and requiring unanimous agreement among all 13 states to pass laws.

U.S. Constitution

The supreme law of the U.S., written in 1787 to replace the Articles of Confederation, establishing the structure, powers, and responsibilities of the national government.

James Madison

A Founding Father known as the 'Father of the Constitution' for his major role in drafting and supporting it, proposing the Virginia Plan, and arguing that individual rights were already implied in the document.

George Washington

The commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, first president of the U.S., prominent Federalist, and President of the Constitutional Convention.

Ratification

The official approval of a document, law, or agreement; Federalists established that 9 out of 13 states needed to approve the Constitution to put it into effect.

Virginia Plan

A constitutional proposal introduced by James Madison calling for a strong national government with three branches and congressional representation based on state population, favoring larger states.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal introduced by William Paterson calling for a unicameral legislature with equal representation and one vote per state regardless of population, supported by smaller states.

Connecticut Compromise

An agreement proposed by Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth creating a bicameral Congress with representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.

Commerce & Slave Trade Compromise

An agreement between Northern and Southern states that granted Congress the power to regulate interstate and foreign trade, but barred it from taxing state exports or banning the slave trade until 1808.

3/5ths Compromise

An agreement between Northern and Southern delegates stipulating that enslaved individuals would be counted as three-fifths of a person for both congressional representation and direct taxation.

Electoral College

The mechanism established at the Constitutional Convention to elect the president through electors chosen by each state rather than via a direct popular vote.

Amendment

A formal change, addition, or correction made to the U.S. Constitution, enabling it to adapt to changing times and national needs.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added in 1791 to safeguard individual liberties including freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and due process of law.

Framers

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention who wrote, debated, and helped shape the U.S. Constitution.

Federalism

A system of government in which sovereign power is divided and shared between a central national government and individual state governments.

Limited Government

The constitutional principle that the government is restricted to exercising only the powers specifically granted to it and must adhere to the rule of law.

Separation of Powers

The constitutional division of governmental authority into three distinct branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each with its own independent responsibilities.

Checks and Balances

A constitutional system granting each branch of government powers to restrain or limit the actions of the other branches, preventing any single entity from acquiring excessive power.

Delegated Powers

Powers specifically granted by the Constitution to the national government.

Expressed Powers

Powers explicitly written and listed in the text of the Constitution, particularly those enumerated for Congress in Article I, Section 8.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly detailed in the Constitution but considered necessary and proper to carry out the government's expressed powers.

Inherent Powers

Powers that belong to the national government simply by virtue of the United States being a sovereign state, such as controlling immigration and entering treaties.

Concurrent Powers

Powers exercised simultaneously by both national and state governments, such as levying taxes, borrowing money, and creating court systems.

Reserved Powers

Powers not delegated to the national government nor prohibited to the states, which remain with the states under the Tenth Amendment.

Supremacy Clause

A provision in Article VI of the U.S. Constitution declaring that the Constitution, federal statutes, and national treaties constitute the supreme law of the land, overriding conflicting state laws.

Elastic Clause

Also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, it authorizes Congress to make all laws needed to execute its expressed powers.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

A constitutional requirement mandating that each state recognize and uphold the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

Two-Party System

An electoral arrangement where two dominant political parties hold primary control over elections and government operations.

Democratic Party

One of the two major American political parties, typically favoring a broader federal government role in addressing social and economic issues.

Republican Party

One of the two major American political parties, typically advocating for limited government intervention, reduced taxation, and free-market economic policies.

Minor / Third Parties

Political organizations operating outside the Democratic and Republican parties, such as the Green, Libertarian, and Constitution parties, often dedicated to specific issues or ideological platforms.

Incumbent

An official currently holding a political office who is seeking reelection, benefiting from established name recognition, campaign funding access, media visibility, and a record of public service.