U.S. History Unit 4: Forming a New Nation

Northwest Territory

lands northwest of the Appalachians, covered by the Land Ordinance of 1785

Articles of Confederation

plan for a national government passed in 1781. States’ power was much stronger, and Congress could not tax citizens, nor send military help across state borders.

Confederation

a group of individuals united for a purpose

Land Ordinance of 1785

law that established a plan for dividing the federally owned lands west of the Appalachian Mountains

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

law that described how the Northwest Territory was to be governed

Commerce

the activity of buying and selling

Constitution

the set of political principles by which a place or organization is governed, or the written document that records it

Republic

state, country, or nation in which people elect representatives to govern

Ratification

act of official confirmation

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting at which the U.S. Constitution was created. Around 55 members attended and decided to start over with the constitution. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were in Britain and France at the time, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry did not attend (anti federalists)

Founding Fathers

people who helped create the U.S. Constitution

James Madison

prominent advisor to the Constitutional Convention. Wrote Virginia Plan and wanted to balance the power of the states’ and federal government’s power

Virginia Plan

proposal for a two-house legislature in which each state would have representatives based on population in one house and an equal number of representatives in the other. proposed by ==James Madison==

New Jersey Plan

proposal for a legislature in which each state would have one vote. Written by ==William Paterson==

Great Compromise

agreement to establish a two-house national legislature, with all its states having equal representation in one house and each state having representation based on its population in the other house. written by ==ROGER SHERMAN==

Three Fifths Compromise

agreement that three fifths of a state’s slave population would be counted for representation and taxation

Executive Branch

government department that enforces laws

Judicial Branch

government department that interprets laws

Legislative Branch

government department that makes laws

Checks and Balances

the ability of each branch of government to exercise checks, or controls, over the other branches

Bill

a proposed legislation under consideration by legislature

Electoral College

the system that is used in the U.S. in presidential elections; the electors act as representatives for each state, and they elect the president and vice president

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body

Impeach

to charge with a crime or misdemeanor

U.S. Supreme Court

the highest court in the federal judiciary

U.S. Congress

the bicameral (two chambers) legislature (law-making body of people) of the federal government of the United States: the House of Representatives and the Senate

Justice

a judge or magistrate, in particular a judge of the Supreme Court

Representative

a person who has been chosen to act or make decisions on behalf of another person or group of people

Shay’s Rebellion

farmer’s protest of about 1,200 people that showed the weakness of the Articles to provide military protection across state lines

How a Bill Becomes a Law

1\. An idea is turned into a bill.

2\. The bill is sent to a committee in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.

3\. The bill is voted on by the entire Senate or the House of Representatives (50%).

4\. The bill is sent to a committee, this time in the other body in Congress.

5\. The bill is voted on (majority rule)

6\. The bill is sent to the President, where it can either be passed, vetoed, or pocket vetoed. Congress can override a presidential veto by a 2/3 majority vote

Debates at the Constitutional Convention

1. Representation of States (resulting in Great Compromise by Roger Sherman)
2. Slaves and Representation in Government (Three-Fifths Compromise)
3. Commerce and the Slave Trade (Commerce Clause, Import-Export Clause, Fugitive Slave Clause)
4. President (Electoral College, majority vote)
5. Federalism or Anti-federalism

Commerce Clause

Congress has the powers to regulate Commerce with foreign nations, and among the states, and with the native tribes

Import-Export Clause

prevents the states, without the consent of Congress, from imposing tariffs

Fugitive Slave Clause

requires a person held to service or labor who flees to another state to be returned to their master in the state from which that person escaped

Federalists

For the Constitution; wanted a system in which power is shared between central government and states. Included James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, John Adams, etc.

Anti-federalists

Afraid the Constitution would take too much power away from the states; feared that strong president could result in a new king. Patrick Henry, John Quincy Adams, Samuel Adams, and Thomas Jefferson were prominent members of this group

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments of the Constitution. Anti-federalists felt it necessary to have rights that could not be taken away; they would not support Constitution without it

Amendment 1

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

Amendment 2

Right to bear arms

Amendment 3

Quartering of Soldiers

Amendment 4

Search and Seizure

Amendment 5

Rights of accused persons

Amendment 6

Right to a speedy and public trial

Amendment 7

Trial by jury in civil cases

Amendment 8

Limits of fines and punishments

Amendment 9

Rights of people

Amendment 10

Powers of the state and people