Articles of Confederation
Ratified in 1781, this document created America's first national government but gave Congress no power to tax.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
Delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles, but instead produced this document.
What is the Constitution?
Because no one had previously held the office, this president established traditions such as forming a cabinet and serving only two terms.
Who was George Washington?
This election is often called the "Revolution" because it marked the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties.
What was the Election of 1800?
Jackson gained national fame after leading American forces to victory in this War, even though the battle occurred after the peace treaty was signed.
What was the War of 1812?
Under this system of government, Delaware and Virginia had the same voting power in Congress despite their different populations.
What is one vote per state?
Proposed by large states, this plan called for representation in Congress based on population.
What was the Virginia Plan?
Issued in 1793, this policy attempted to keep the United States out of the conflict between Britain and France.
What was the Neutrality Proclamation?
Because no candidate received a majority in the Electoral College, this body selected Thomas Jefferson as president.
What was the House of Representatives?
Jackson claimed this election had been stolen after John Quincy Adams became president despite Jackson winning the most popular and electoral votes.
What was the Election of 1824?
This 1786–1787 uprising by indebted Massachusetts farmers convinced many leaders that the national government was too weak.
What was Shays' Rebellion?
This agreement combined the Virginia and New Jersey Plans by creating a House based on population and a Senate with equal representation.
What was the Great Compromise?
As Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton proposed that the federal government take responsibility for these obligations left over from the Revolution.
What were state debts?
Purchased from France in 1803, this acquisition doubled the size of the United States.
What was the Louisiana Purchase?
Jackson rewarded loyal supporters with government jobs through this practice.
What was the spoils system?
Passed in 1787, this law established a method for territories to become states and prohibited slavery in much of the Northwest Territory.
What was the Northwest Ordinance?
This compromise partially settled disputes between Northern and Southern states by counting enslaved people for representation purposes.
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
Western farmers challenged federal authority during this rebellion caused by a tax on whiskey.
What was the Whiskey Rebellion?
Although he wanted a strict interpretation of the Constitution, Jefferson struggled with whether this action was specifically authorized by the document.
What was purchasing the Louisiana Territory?
South Carolina argued it could ignore federal tariffs during this conflict between state and federal authority.
What was the Nullification Crisis?
One major weakness of the Articles was that changing the government required approval from this number of states.
What was all 13 states (unanimous consent)?
Written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay under the name "Publius," these essays argued that the Constitution would create a stronger and more effective government.
What were the Federalist Papers?
During John Adams's presidency, French agents known only as X, Y, and Z demanded bribes before negotiating with American diplomats.
What was the XYZ Affair?
One cause of the War of 1812 was Britain's practice of forcing American sailors into service in the Royal Navy, known as this.
What was impressment?
Despite the Supreme Court's decision in Worcester v. Georgia, Jackson supported policies that led to this deadly forced migration of the Cherokee and other tribes.
What was the Trail of Tears?