Articles of Confedertion & Constitutional Convention

Republic

A country governed by elected representatives.

Northwest Ordinance

A law passed by Congress in 1787 that explained how western lands would be governed.

Northwest Territory

A region of the US between the Ohio, Mississippi rivers and Great Lakes. (Northern midwest to the South). This region was given to the US by the Treaty of Paris.

Constitution

A written plan that provides the basic framework of a government.

Shays' Rebellion

Shays was a farmer who was frustrated because he wasn't able to pay his taxes. Other farmers, who also felt frustrated joined with Shays to form a small rebellion. The rebellion proved that the Articles of Confederation were too weak to govern the US.

Why did small states dislike the Virginia Plan?

Small states has smaller populations, which meant that they were have a smaller presence in Congress, and a smaller influence.

What did small states favor the New Jersey Plan?

Smaller states like this plan because it gave them equal representation in Congress.

The Virginia Plan

Strong National Government with 3 branches- Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. This plan had a House of Representatives and a Senate. Each state's representation would depend on the state's population.

New Jersey Plan

Strong national government, with 3 branches- legislative, judicial, executive, and one house instead of two. Each state would have an equal vote in congress despite their population.

Articles of Confederation

The first written plan of government established after the Revolutionary War.

Why did large states dislike the New Jersey Plan?

The larger states wanted a larger influence in Congress because they has a larger population.

Great Compromise

The plan of government adopted at the Constitutional Convention that established a two-house Congress. The House of Representatives, representation is based on state population. The Senate, each state has 2 representatives.

Ratify

To formally approve a form of government.

Why did large states favor the Virginia Plan?

Virginia's Plan was based on population. The larger states favored this plan because it would give them more representation in Congress.