History chapter 9 vocab

Articles of Confederation

The first constitution of the United States, creating a loose alliance of states with a weak federal government.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Legislation that set up a system for surveying and selling land in the Northwest Territory.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A law that established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory and a method for admitting new states.

Shays Rebellion

A 1786 uprising led by farmers in Massachusetts protesting high taxes and debt relief issues.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a strong national government with a bicameral legislature, based on population.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a weak national government with a unicameral legislature, giving equal representation to each state.

Connecticut Plan/Great Compromise

A compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey plans that created a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

Common Law

Law derived from court decisions and customs rather than statutes.

Civil Law

Law based on written codes and statutes, as opposed to common law.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A compromise that counted three-fifths of a state's slave population for taxation and representation purposes.

Antifederalists

Opponents of the Constitution who favored strong state governments and feared a strong national government.

Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a strong national government.

The Federalist

A series of essays promoting the ratification of the Constitution, authored by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

Disestablish

To separate the church from the state, particularly in the context of religious freedom in post-Revolution America.

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

A statute that established religious freedom in Virginia and influenced the First Amendment.

Civic Virtue

The notion that citizens should be active participants in public affairs and uphold moral values.

Republican Motherhood

The idea that women had a role in shaping the morals and values of their children in a republican society.