Creating the Constitution

Northwest Ordinance

Created a policy for administering the Northwest Territories. It included a path to statehood and forbade the expansion of slavery into the territories.

Ordinance of 1785

A law that set up a plan for surveying western lands; this method is still used today.

New Jersey Plan

The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

3/5 Compromise

the decision at the Constitutional convention to count slaves as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of deciding the population and determining how many seats each state would have in Congress

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Shay's Rebellion

ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes

Federalists

Supporters of the U.S. Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.

Yorktown

Last battle of the war of independence in 1789 where the British surrendered.

Federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

Articles of Confederation powers

Make war, make treaties, talk with other nations, Borrow money

Articles of Confederation weaknesses

•weak union (central gov.)
•no taxes imposed
•could not regulate trade
•no courts or President
•no army