The Founding and the Constitution (Video Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms, people, and concepts from the Founding era and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.

Articles of Confederation

The first U.S. constitution (1777–1789) creating a weak central government; states retained sovereignty; no president; unicameral legislature; no national power to tax; unanimous consent required to amend.

Annapolis Convention

1786 meeting to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation, leading to the calling of the Philadelphia Convention and the second founding.

Shays’s Rebellion

A 1786–87 Massachusetts uprising by small farmers challenging debts and taxes, highlighting the Articles’ weaknesses and prompting calls for a stronger national government.

Virginia Plan

A proposal for a bicameral national legislature with representation based on state population or wealth, favored by larger states.

New Jersey Plan

A proposal for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states, favored by smaller states.

Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)

1787 agreement creating a bicameral Congress: House representation by population and Senate representation equal per state.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Constitutional provision counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House.

Federalists

Supporters of a stronger national government and the Constitution; advocates for ratification (e.g., Hamilton, Madison, Washington).

Antifederalists

Opponents of a strong central government who favored more state power and demanded protections for individual rights (e.g., Henry, Mason).

Federalist Papers

A series of essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay defending the Constitution and arguing for ratification.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments guaranteeing individual liberties and limiting federal power; added to secure ratification.

Separation of Powers

Division of government into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent the concentration of power.

Checks and Balances

A system where each branch can limit the actions of the others to prevent tyranny.

Electoral College

A body of electors chosen by states to elect the president, rather than a direct popular vote.

Bicameral Legislature

A two-chamber legislature (House of Representatives and Senate) in Congress.

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers inferred from the Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause to carry out expressed powers.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Clause allowing Congress to make laws needed to execute its expressed powers.

Supremacy Clause

Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land, overruling state laws.

Article IV – Comity (Reciprocity)

States must treat citizens of other states with similar privileges and cannot discriminate—limits on interstate prejudice.

Federalism

Division of power between national government and state governments.

Ratification

Process by which states approve the Constitution; required nine of thirteen states for adoption.

Amendment Process (Article V)

Four methods to propose and ratify amendments; two-thirds in Congress or a national convention can propose; three-fourths of states (by legislatures or conventions) ratify.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States (1865).

14th Amendment

Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and guaranteed equal protection and due process.

15th Amendment

Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

19th Amendment

Granted women the right to vote (1920).

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 (1971).

Sugar Act (1764)

Taxed sugar and molasses and other commodities to raise revenue from the colonies.

Stamp Act (1765)

Taxed printed materials; sparked widespread colonial opposition.

Tea Act (1773)

Gave the East India Company a monopoly on tea imports, provoking colonial protest.

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to oppose the Tea Act; led to British blockades.

Declaration of Independence

1776 document declaring the colonies’ independence from Britain and outlining grievances and unalienable rights.