Establishing a New Government (1777-1788)

Critical Period

The time period between 1781-1789, where the United States was a new country and was under the Articles of Confederation that was too weak to hold the country together... It ended with the Adoption of a new Constitution.

Federalist Papers

A series of 85 essays written by Federalists Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay that successfully persuaded Americans that the U.S. Constitution must be adopted.

Constitutional Convention

After Shay's Rebellion, intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, decide to get rid of the Articles and write new Constitution instead.

Articles of Confederation

America's first government; Created a weak national government due to fears of a powerful government; Lasts from 1781-1789. Replaced by government under U.S. Constitution. Successes include the Northwest Ordinance and Failure's include Shay's Rebellion.

Shay's Rebellion

Crisis that killed the government of the Articles of Confederation, poor farmers upset over growing debts, march upon the state capital. The state militia was able to stop it, but it scared the colonists into calling the Constitutional Convention.

Northwest Ordinance

Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states

"Great Compromise"

Larger states (Virginia) wanted representation according to population size, while smaller states (New Jersey) wanted every state equal. Connecticut proposed a compromise that created a legislature with 2 houses (a bicameral legislature) House of Reps - Population / Senate - 2 senators per state

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the new Constitution. Feared it would create a government that was too strong. Also wanted a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties and more powers given to the states. Included - Patrick Henry and George Mason

Checks and Balances

Preventing any branch of government from becoming too powerful, it provided for different ways each branch could check the power of the other and keep power balanced among the three

"Three-Fifths Compromise"

The Southern States wanted their slaves counted for representation purposes (they did not want to give them freedom citizenship) in the House of Representatives, the compromise counted every of 5 slaves as free persons for both taxation and representation

Federalism

The division of power between the national government and the state governments

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that the people are the source of power for the government. The people exercise that power by electing representatives to Congress, and indirectly electing the President

Ratification

The process of approving the new U.S. Constitution. Special conventions held in each state to decide upon it.

Federalists

Those who supported the new Constitution and felt that the national government needed more power to protect the nation. They wrote the Federalist Papers in order to persuade the nation that more power was necessary. Included - Alexander Hamilton, James Madison

Amendment

a change or update to the Constitution that allows for the Constitution keep with up with changes in the nation, the process is difficult to prevent constant changes that would create chaos

Limited Government

belief that the powers of government should be limited, our national government has no duties or powers other than those given to it by the U.S. Constitution

Republicanism

democratic government chosen by the people, decision are made by elected representatives and not by a king

Commerce Compromise

stated that only imported goods could be taxed; exported goods could not be taxed.