Chapter 9: The Confederation and the Constitution (1776-1790)

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the U.S. establishing a confederation of sovereign states ratified in 1781

• attempted to unify the states’

• weakness was shown through Shay’s Rebellion

weak, limited, not, taxes

the Articles of Confederation created a ? federal structure with ? powers

• Congress could ? impose ?

stronger, Constitutional Convention

The Articles of Confederation were pivotal in making the Founding Fathers realize that there needed to be a ? national government

• this prompted the ?

Land Ordinance of 1785

legislative measure enacted by Articles of Confederation to organize the sale and settlement of Western lands

• led to future states such as Ohio and Indiana

• helped raise revenue for the government

townships, six, education

The Land Ordinance of 1785 divided land into ?, each ? miles square

• set land aside specifically for ?

successes, western

The Land Ordinance of 1785 was one of the few ? of the Confederation government

• fostered ? expansion

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A landmark piece of legislation that outlined the process for admitting new states to the Union from the Northwest Territory

• orderly settlement and development

• model for future territories

bill of rights, religious, trial, slavery

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was extremely orderly as it

• provided a ?

• gave ? liberty and a ? by jury

• prohibited ?

slavery

The prohibition of ? in the Northwest territories would set a significant precedent in the future when it came to the debate over the subject

• led to fostering of many abolitionists

Shay’s Rebellion

violent uprising by farmers in Western Massachusetts protesting economic injustices and government overreaches in 1786

• started by Daniel Shays

• fueled by economic turmoil

maintain order, stronger, Constitutional Convention

Shay’s Rebellion highlighted the federal government’s inability to ?

• called for a ? federal structure

• led to the ?

Alexander Hamilton

a Founding Father of the U.S. who served as the first Secretary of the Treasury under President George Washington

• supported a robust economy and capitalism

strong, bank, credit, Federalist

Alexander Hamilton advocated for a ? central government

• he established a national ?

• laid the groundwork for federal ?

• established the ? Party

Virginia Plan

one of the proposals at the Constitutional Convention in 1787

• wanted a bicameral legislature

• representation based on state population

• centralized authority

• mainly authored by James Madison

New Jersey Plan

one of the proposals at the Constitutional Convention in 1787

• wanted unicameral legislature under the Articles of Confederation

• equal representation regardless of population

• protect interests of smaller states

• need to limit federal government

Great Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that resolved the debate on representation in Congress

• combined both elements of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan

• established a bicameral legislature

Connecticut Compromise

The Great Compromise was also known as the ?

House of Representatives, Senate

The Great Compromise was crucial in the creation of the ? and the ?

House of Representatives

Part of Congress that is based on state population

• favors larger states

• Virginia Plan inspiration

The Senate

Part of Congress that utilizes equal representation

• only two senators per state

• protects the interests of smaller states

• New Jersey Plan inspiration

power, negotiation

Great Compromise allowed the balance of ?

• exemplified the spirit of ?

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 addressing how enslaved people would be counted for taxation and representation

• concerned with the moral implications of slavery

• 3/5 of enslaved population would be counted for representation in the House of Representatives

morals, fully, political power

The Northern states questioned the ? of slavery

The Southern states wanted slaves to be counted ? to increase their ?

division, slavery

Three-Fifths Compromise would highlight the deep ? over ? in America

Constitution of the United States

the supreme law of the U.S. that establishes the framework for the federal government and the rights of citizens

• ratified in 1788

• created during Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia

• 3 branches

  • Legislative

  • Executive

  • Judicial

checks, balances, powerful, legal, political

Constitution of the U.S. created a systems of ? and ? to make none of the 3 branches get too ?

• adapts to changing societal needs

• shaped the ? and ? landscape of the U.S.

Federalists

Supporters of the new Constitution during the late 18th century

• advocated for strong central government

• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

Federalist Papers

a series of essays that outlined the foundations of the new government and addressed ideas of tyranny

checks, balances, Constitution

The Federalist and Federalist Papers emphasized the importance of having ? and ?

• established the ? as the main framework for the American democracy

Anti-Federalists

group of individuals who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in the late 18th century

• thought that

  • the people would lose their liberties

  • the states would lose their rights

• George Mason, Patrick Henry

safeguards, encroach

The Anti-Federalists sparked widespread debate over the new Constitution as they were scared the new Constitution lacked ? for civil liberties and would ? on the rights of citizens

Bill of Rights

The Anti-Federalists were pivotal in contributing to the addition of the ? to the Constitution in 1791

• stressed the importance of protecting the liberties of the people

Society of the Cincinnati

Exclusive organization made by officers of the Continental Army to preserve the ideals of the American Revolution and promote camaraderie among veterans

• George Washington, Alexander Hamilton

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, civic virtue

The Society of the Cincinnati was named after Roman general ?

• exemplified ?

symbol, legacy, values

The Society of the Cincinnati remained as a ? of the Revolution’s ?

• preserved the ? of the time

Republican Motherhood

emphasized the role of women in nurturing the principles of republicanism and civic virtue within the family starting in the early 19th century

• raise well-informed children

women’s education, feminist

Republican Motherhood helped justify ?

• laid groundwork for future ? movements