Articles of Confederation
Ratified in 1781, this document created a loose union of states and served as the nation’s first written framework of government.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This 1786 meeting initially addressed interstate commercial disputes but led delegates to call for a broader convention in Philadelphia.
What was the Annapolis Convention?
This principle holds that government derives its legitimate authority from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
Supporters of the Constitution who argued that a stronger national government was necessary to preserve order and the Union were known by this name.
Who were the Federalists?
This amendment protects freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
What is the First Amendment?
Under the Articles, this requirement made revising the national government’s framework extraordinarily difficult.
What was unanimous approval by all 13 states to amend the Articles?
This Revolutionary War leader presided over the Philadelphia Convention.
Who was George Washington?
This principle requires government officials to exercise only powers granted by the Constitution and laws.
What is limited government?
Opponents of ratification who feared that the proposed national government endangered state authority and individual liberty were known by this name.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
This amendment protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
This weakness prevented Congress from raising reliable revenue to pay war debts or fund national programs.
What was the lack of power to levy taxes?
Proposed by James Madison, this plan favored a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.
What was the Virginia Plan?
Dividing governing authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches illustrates this principle.
What is separation of powers?
These 85 essays, written principally by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, defended ratification of the Constitution.
What are The Federalist Papers?
Protection against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and deprivation of life, liberty, or property without due process is found in this amendment.
What is the Fifth Amendment?
This 1785 law organized the survey and sale of western land and reserved one section in each township for public education.
What was the Land Ordinance of 1785?
This agreement established a bicameral Congress with equal state representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.
What was the Great Compromise, also called the Connecticut Compromise?
This constitutional arrangement divides power between the national government and state governments.
What is federalism?
This number of state ratifying conventions was required before the Constitution could take effect.
What is nine states?
This amendment guarantees rights of criminal defendants, including a speedy and public trial and the assistance of counsel.
What is the Sixth Amendment?
This uprising of indebted Massachusetts farmers demonstrated that the Confederation government could not effectively respond to internal disorder.
What was Shays’ Rebellion?
This morally indefensible compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation and direct taxation.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This clause establishes that the Constitution, valid federal laws, and treaties take precedence over conflicting state laws.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
This concession helped secure ratification in closely divided states by addressing concerns about explicit protections for individual liberties.
What was the promise to add a Bill of Rights?
This amendment reserves powers not delegated to the national government, nor prohibited to the states, to the states or the people.
What is the Tenth Amendment?