HUSH1 Fill in Blank Quiz 1783-1788

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father who helped draft the Constitution; known as the wise old man at the Constitutional Convention.

Daniel Shays

Farmer and former soldier who led Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts to protest high taxes and debt.

George Washington

Called for the Constitutional Convention to rewrite the Articles of Confederation; chairman of the Convention and leader of the Continental Army.

James Madison

Secretary for the Constitutional Convention; wrote the Virginia Plan; known as the “Father of the Constitution.”

Roger Sherman

Proposed the Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan) combining the Virginia and New Jersey Plans.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence; supported states’ rights; was in Paris during the Constitutional Convention.

William Paterson

Proposed the New Jersey Plan favoring equal representation for small states.

Checks and Balances

System that ensures no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each to limit the others.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments; national handles foreign affairs and defense

Republic

Government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions.

Republicanism

Belief that people should choose leaders who represent their interests.

Executive Branch

Headed by the President; carries out laws

Legislative Branch

Congress (House of Representatives and Senate); writes laws

Judicial Branch

Made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts; interprets laws and the Constitution

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution; created a weak national government that could make laws and treaties but couldn’t tax

The Constitution

Replaced the Articles of Confederation; established the structure and powers of the federal government; created the Electoral College.

The New Jersey Plan

Proposed by William Paterson; one-house legislature where each state had one vote; favored small states.

The Virginia Plan

Proposed by James Madison; two-house legislature with representation based on population; favored large states.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Divided new western lands into square townships for sale and settlement.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Created a process for new states from western territories; set population requirements and banned slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Shays’ Rebellion

Uprising of farmers in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays to protest high taxes and debt; showed weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Rhode Island

The only state that didn’t send delegates to the Constitutional Convention; feared a strong national government and wanted to keep state independence.