Road to the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation — Vocabulary Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the Articles of Confederation, the road to the Constitution, the Constitutional Convention, key plans and compromises, federalism, the executive and judiciary, ratification, and the Bill of Rights.

Articles of Confederation

First US constitution; created a national government with a unicameral Congress, no separate executive or judiciary; states retained sovereignty; centralized power was weak.

Unicameral Congress

Legislature with one chamber; used under the Articles of Confederation; each state had one vote.

Sovereignty (Articles context)

States retained independence and ultimate authority; the central government had limited powers.

Treaty of Paris (1783)

Ended the American Revolution; recognized American independence and set borders and terms with Britain.

Requisitions

Requests by Congress for money and troops from the states; often unenforced due to weak central authority.

Shays’ Rebellion

1786–87 protest by debt-ridden farmers highlighting economic distress and the weaknesses of the Articles.

Constitutional Convention (1787)

Philadelphia meeting May–Sept 1787 to draft a new framework to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Virginia Plan

Proposed a strong central government with a bicameral legislature based on population; favored larger states.

New Jersey Plan

Proposed a unicameral legislature with equal state representation; expanded federal powers to tax and regulate commerce.

Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise)

Established a bicameral Congress: House of Representatives with proportional representation and Senate with equal representation; revenue bills originate in the House.

Committee of Detail

Group that drafted clearer constitutional language and provisions for Congress.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Gives Congress power to make laws needed to execute its enumerated powers; supports implied powers.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, overruling conflicting state laws.

Federalism

Division of power between the national government and the states; states retain certain powers (police powers).

Republican representation (Federalist idea)

Indirect representation to prevent tyranny of the majority and protect rights; supports an extended republic.

Presidential election and the Electoral College

An indirect system where electors selected by states cast votes for president; majority wins; if no majority, the House selects the president.

Presidential Powers (Constitution)

President can veto legislation, act as commander-in-chief, negotiate treaties with Senate approval, and appoint judges and officers with Senate consent.

Judiciary (Constitution)

Establishment of a Supreme Court; Congress can create inferior courts; judges appointed by the president with Senate advice/consent.

No Bill of Rights initially

The Constitution initially lacked a Bill of Rights; later amendments protected individual rights.

Ratification Process

Constitution required 9 states; ratified by state conventions; Delaware (1st) -> New Hampshire (9th) -> Rhode Island (last) in 1790.

Bill of Rights

First ten amendments ratified in 1791; protect individual rights; added after Anti-Federalist concerns about liberties.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the Constitution who feared central power and the absence of a Bill of Rights.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who argued for a stronger national government and a checked, balanced system.

Delaware (1st ratification)

First state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.

New Hampshire (9th ratification)

Reached the 9-state threshold on June 21, 1788, allowing the Constitution to go into effect.

George Washington

Elected unanimously as the first president under the new Electoral College system; took office in 1789.

James Madison and the Bill of Rights amendments

Madison proposed 19 amendments; 12 were proposed; 10 were ratified and became the Bill of Rights in 1791.