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State of nature
The hypothetical condition of human life without government or before the existence of government.
Natural Rights
Rights that individuals are born with, such as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Social Contract
An agreement between the government and the people, where the people agree to follow the laws in exchange for the government's protection of their rights.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of America, which established a weak national government.
Northwest Ordinance
A bill that granted people in the northwestern lands the right to organize their own government.
Treaty of Paris
The treaty that officially recognized America as an independent country.
Declaration of Independence
A document that declared the 13 colonies as independent states, free from British rule.
Tories/Loyalists
People who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution.
Patriots
Colonists who supported the American cause during the Revolution.
Shays' Rebellion
A protest by farmers against the Articles of Confederation, highlighting the need for a stronger government.
Constitutional Convention
A meeting held to revise the Articles of Confederation, resulting in the creation of the United States Constitution.
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.
New Jersey Plan (Equal Representation)
A proposal that advocated for each state to have an equal number of votes in Congress.
Virginia Plan (Proportional Representation)
A proposal that suggested states with larger populations should have more votes in Congress.
Great/Connecticut Compromise
A compromise that created a bicameral Congress, with one house based on equal representation and the other based on proportional representation.
3/5 Compromise
A compromise that counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for both taxation and representation purposes.
Fugitive Slave Clause
A clause in the Constitution that required escaped slaves to be returned to their owners.
Enumerated Powers
Specific powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution.
Necessary and Proper Clause
A clause that gives Congress the power to make laws necessary for carrying out its enumerated powers.
Federalists
Supporters of the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the ratification of the United States Constitution.
Bill of Rights
Amendments added to the Constitution to protect individual rights and limit the power of the government.
Ratification
The approval or acceptance of the Constitution by the states.
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