The Confederation Era
This document served as America’s first national constitution, establishing a weak central government with a single-house legislature.
What was the Articles of Confederation?
The Constitutional Convention met in 1787 in this city, where delegates gathered in Independence Hall.
What is Philadelphia?
Proposed by Roger Sherman, this compromise created a bicameral Congress with equal state representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.
What is the Great Compromise?
The principle that divides government power into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny.
What is the Separation of Powers?
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution are collectively called this.
What is the Bill of Rights?
This 1787 law provided a structured process for western territories to become states and prohibited slavery in the territory north of the Ohio River.
What was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787?
Known as the "Father of the Constitution," this delegate kept detailed notes during the convention's secret proceedings.
Who was James Madison?
This agreement determined that a fraction of enslaved persons would be counted toward both representation in Congress and direct taxation.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
The constitutional system that gives each branch of government mechanisms to limit or control the power of the other two branches.
What are Checks and Balances?
The First Amendment guarantees five basic rights: freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition, and ____________________.
What is religious freedom?
This 1786 armed uprising of angry Massachusetts farmers exposed the military and economic weaknesses of the Confederation government.
What was Shay's Rebellion?
This respected general presided over the meetings of the Constitutional Convention as its president.
Who was George Washington?
This agreement determined that a fraction of enslaved persons would be counted toward both representation in Congress and direct taxation.
Who were the Federalists?
The division of governmental powers between the national government and individual state governments.
What is Federalism?
This amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures of their person, home, papers, and effects.
What is the Fourth Amendment?
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government lacked the crucial power to enforce these two basic economic requirements.
What are the power to levy taxes and the power to regulate trade/commerce?
This respected general presided over the meetings of the Constitutional Convention as its president.
What is the Virginia Plan?
Opponents of the Constitution who feared the federal government would grow too powerful and demand a Bill of Rights were called this.
Who were the Anti-Federalists?
The opening section of the Constitution that begins with "We the People" and outlines the six goals of the new government.
What is the Preamble?
This minimum number of state ratifications was required to officially adopt the U.S. Constitution into law (out of the 13 states).
What is nine states?
This 1785 ordinance divided western land into six-mile-square townships and reserved proceeds from section 16 for public education.
What is the Land Ordinance of 1885?
Introduced by William Paterson, this plan advocated for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for every state.
What is the New Jersey Plan?
This series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay defended and explained the new Constitution.
What are the Federalist Papers?
Article VI declares that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the "supreme Law of the Land," a concept known by this clause name.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
The Tenth Amendment reserves all powers not specifically delegated to the national government to these entities.
Who are the states or the people?