Constitutional Convention
Successes of the Articles of Confederation
The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
New Jersey Plan
States would have an equal number of representatives regardless of their population (small state plan)
Articles of Confederation (1781)
The First American plan for government that established a confederation of states under a weak national government
Land Ordinance of 1785
A law that divided much of the United States into a system of townships to facilitate the sale of land to settlers.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
A law that established a procedure for the admission of new states to the country. It also banned slavery in the Northwest Territory,
Constitutional Convention (1787)
A meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government - the US Constitution.
Three-Fifths Compromise
An agreement where 3 out of every 5 enslaved individuals would count towards population
Great Compromise
Created a bicameral legislature in which states would have equal representation in one house and representation based on population in the other house
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
No power to tax, No executive to enforce laws, States have different currencies, No standing military or navy
Antifederalists
People who didn't support the new constitution because they thought a strong national government would take away the rights of people.
Federalists
People who supported the new constitution because they believed in a stronger national government
Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting .
Virginia Plan
Representation in Congress should based proportional based on a state's population (large state plan)
Senate
The upper house of congress based on equal representation (2 representatives per state)
House of Representatives
the lower house of congress where representation is based on population
