From Chaos to Constitution Vocabulary

For Q2 for Mr. Ippolito’s History Class At Rio Norte Junior High School

Articles of Confederation

America's first government; weak national authority, strong states.

Shay’s Rebellion

 Uprising showing the need for a stronger federal government.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting in Philadelphia to write a new government framework.

Great Compromise

Combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans; created a bicameral legislature.

Bicameral Legislature

A two-house Congress created to balance large and small state interests.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Counted 3 of every 5 enslaved people for population and taxation.

Checks and Balances

System preventing one branch from dominating the others.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into three branches.

Federalism

Division of power between national and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

Declares the Constitution the highest law in the land.

Ratification

Official approval of the Constitution by the states.

Federalists

Supported the Constitution and a strong national government.

Anti-Federalists

Opposed the Constitution without a Bill of Rights.

Representative Government or Republic

we elect leaders to make decisions on our behalf

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.