The Constitution, Chapter 5

Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry was a leader of the American Revolution and a famous orator who spoke out against British rule of the American colonies.

How and why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights are 10 Constitutional Amendments specifying freedom or states and citizens, they were added to the Constitution because. Many Americans did not like the Constitution because they felt that a strong national government could take away people's rights. Therefore, most Americans wanted a Bill of Rights added onto the Constitution. Because the Constitution had already been written and placed into effect, the Bill of Right could be added only by making amendment to the Constitution. At this time, the United States Congress made a list of rights that would be amendments to the Constitution, giving us the Bill of Rights.

Confederation

A Confederation is an alliance. Different powers are granted to state governments or national governments (depending on the situation).

Township

A Township is a division of a country with some cor.porate powers

Alexander Hamiliton

Alexander Hamilton was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and leader of the Federalist. He was the first secretary of the treasury.

Anti-Federalists

Anti-federalist are individual who oppose ratification of the Constitution.

Checks and Balances

Checks and Balances are the provisions in the U.S. Constitution that prevent any branch of the U.S. government from dominating the other two branches.

Daniel Shays

Daniel Shays was an American Revolutionary solider and insurrectionist who led an uprising known as the Shays's Rebellion (1786-1787). Massachusetts farmers opposed to the state's debt and tax polices disrupted court proceedings and attempted to capture a government arsenal, but they were defeated by the states militia.

Federalists

Federalists are supporters of the Constitution, and of a strong national government.

James Madison

James Madison was a delegate from Virginia that proposed the Virginia Plan in the Constitutional Convention that proposed having a bi-cameral legislature whose membership was based on each state's population.

John Jay

John Jay wrote the first five Federalist Papers. He argued for a strong federal government to protect the Union from foreign force and influence.

Ratify/Ratification

Ratification is the official approval of the Constitution, or of an amendment, by the states.

Roger Sherman

Roger Sherman was a political leader for Connecticut who suggested the Great Compromise in which each states would have equal representation in the Senate, or upper house. The size of each state's population would determine its representation in the House of representatives, or lower house.

Shays Rebellion

Shays' Rebellion was an uprising of debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers protesting increased state taxes in 1787.

In what ways did the Articles of Confederation fail?

The Articles of Confederation failed because they left too much power with the states. The federal government had no power to levy or collect taxes, no power to regulate trade, and no power to enforce laws. There was also no executive branch under the Articles of Confederation, and no national court system. Also, all states had to give consent in order for amendments to be passes 9 out of 13 states had to give consent in order for laws to be passed. This rarely happened, because there were hardly ever enough delegates to pass a laws an 5 small states could completely block what larger states wanted. The only power the federal government had was to make war and peace, send and receive ambassadors, enter into treaties, raise and equip a navy, maintain an army by requesting troops from the states, appoint senior military officers, fix standers of weight and measures, regulate Indian affairs, establish post offices, and decide certain disputes among states.

Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was a written ratified in 1781 by the thirteen original states. The Articles of Confederation gave the new national government power to declare war, make peace, and sign treaties. It could borrow money, set standards for coins and weights and measures, establish a postal service, and deal with Native American people.

Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights were the first 10 amendments in the U.S. Constitution, added in 1791 and consisting of a formal list of citizens' rights and freedoms.

Executive Branch

The Executive Branch is the branch of the government that administers and enforces the laws, (the president).

Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch is the branch of the government that makes the laws.

Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch is the branch of government that interprets the laws, and the Constitution.

Land of Ordinance of 1785

The Land of Ordinance of 1735 was a law that established a plan for surveying and selling the federally owned lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was a law the established a procedure for the admission of new states to the Union. Congress appointed territorial governor and judges. With 5,000 voting resident and 60,000 free inhabitants.

Great Compromise

The Great Compromise was in 1787. This compromise was between the large and small states of the colonies. The Great Compromise resolved that there would be representation by population in the House of Representatives, and equal representation would exist in the Senate. Each state, regardless of size, would have 2 senators. All tax bills and revenues would originate in the House. This compromise combined the needs of both large and small states and formed a fair and sensible resolution to their problems.