America's First Government
Three-Fifths Compromise
A compromise made between the northern and southern states where black slaves would count as 3/5 of a person to determine population
Federalists
American Citizens who BELIEVED in the ratification of the new federal Constitution
Anti-Federalists
American citizens who DID NOT want to ratify the constitution because they believed it need a bill of rights
Senate
Part of the United States congress representing the upper house where each state is allowed two representatives
Ratified
Passed, Approved
Preamble
The intro or beginning
Veto
to reject
The Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting the ratification of the United States Costitution
Tyranny
A cruel or unjust government or rule
Roger Sherman
A delegate from Connecticut who devised a way to organize the government in such a way as to satisfy both the small and large states
William Paterson
A delegate from New Jersey who devised the New Jersey Plan
Magna Carta
A document, the first of its kind that limited the King's power
Impeach
A formal process in which an official is removed from office
Checks and balances
A fundamental principle of the United States government, whereby powers and responsibilities are divided among the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branch
Republic
A government in which citizens rule themselves through elected
Unicameral Government
A government with only one house as proposed in the New Jersey Plan
Land of Ordinance
A law established for surveying and settling the Northwest territory which created townships that could be sold to settlers for $650
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
A law that established a government in the Northwest territory which guaranteed basic rights to settlers, outlawed slavery, and created a new state once the territory had 60,000 settlers
Bill of Rights
A list of rights guaranteed to the citizens such as freedom of speech, assembly, and worship.
New Jersey Plan
A one house plan of government that allowed each state, regardless of population to have TWO representatives
Economic Depression
A period when business slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises
Great Compromise
A plan that was successfully presented by Roger Sherman that merged the New Jersey and Virginia plans together to satisfy the demands of both sizes of states
Central Government
A political authority which gives the entire nation (all the states)
Federalism
A system of government where the duties of the constitution are divided between a central government and the states
Virginia Plan
A two house plan that allowed the most populous to have the most representatives
English Bill of Rights
An English Document written in 1689 that limited the King's Power
Constitution
An instruction book for how to run the government
Shay's Rebellion
An uprising led by a Massachusetts farmer and former soldier in the revolutionary war. He protested against farms being seized and farmers imprisoned because they couldn't pay their debt.
Natural Rights
Any right that exists by virtue of natural law, they are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Posterity
Future Generations
House of Representatives
Part of the U.S. Congress representing the lower house where representatives are based on a stat's population
Due Process
System in which the government must follow the same fair rules in all cases brought to trial
Articles of Confederation
The first "Constitution" of the United State that gave all the power to the states and little power to the government.
Ratify
To approve
Baron De Montesqieu
a French political and social philosopher who believed that government must have a seperation of powers so that no one branch could become too powerful
James Madison
a delegate from Virginia who devised the Virginia Plan
Separation of Powers
a fundamental principle of the United States government where buy powers and responsibilities are divided among the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive Branch.
Confederation
a partnership
Representative Government
a system of government in which representatives are elected by people
John Locke
an English philosopher in physician who believed that citizens have natural rights
Self-incriminating testimony
to be forced to speak out against oneself which could result in the confession of a committed crime
Amend
to change
Debt
to owe money