Articles of Confederation
This 1777 document created a loose association of states while preserving each state’s sovereignty, freedom, and independence.
The Articles of Confederation
This compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person when determining representation, resolving conflict between Northern and Southern states.
Three-Fifths Compromise
This system divides power between the national government and state governments.
Federalism
George Washington set a precedent by serving how many terms as president?
This 1793 statement by George Washington declared that the United States would not support any European country at war.
Neutrality Proclamation (1793)
This uprising of Massachusetts farmers (1786–1787) protested high taxes, debt, and foreclosures.
Shays’s Rebellion
This 1787 meeting in Philadelphia was called to revise the Articles of Confederation but ended up creating a new Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
This branch of government makes laws and is described in Article I of the Constitution.
Legislative branch
This group of advisers to the president includes the heads of executive departments like State, Treasury, and War.
The Cabinet
This practice involved Britain forcibly taking American sailors to serve in its navy.
Impressment
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had this major limitation, which prevented it from directly raising money.
Inability to tax
This compromise created a bicameral legislature with representation by population in one house and equal representation in the other.
The Great Compromise
This presidential power allows the rejection of a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law.
Veto power
In 1791, this person proposed to stabilize the economy by creating a central bank (the Bank of the United States).
Alexander Hamilton
This treaty, negotiated in 1794, helped reduce tensions between the United States and Britain.
Jay’s Treaty
This principle means government gets its power from the people, who elect leaders to make laws.
Republicanism
This issue divided Federalists and Anti-Federalists and led to demands that specific freedoms be added to the Constitution before ratification.
Lack of a Bill of Rights
This principle ensures that each branch of government can limit the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Checks and balances
This debate involved interpreting the Constitution either strictly (only what is written) or loosely (implied powers).
Strict vs. loose construction
This political party, led by Alexander Hamilton, supported a strong national government and close ties with Britain.
The Federalist Party
This 1786 law declared that government control over religious beliefs is tyrannical and helped establish religious freedom.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
This delegate, often called the “Father of the Constitution,” created the Virginia Plan.
James Madison
This process begins in the House of Representatives and can lead to the removal of a president if two-thirds of the Senate agrees.
Impeachment
This 1794 uprising tested federal authority when farmers resisted a tax on whiskey, leading George Washington to send troops to stop it.
Whiskey Rebellion
This 1798 laws allowed the government to deport immigrants and punish citizens for criticizing the government, sparking protests over free speech.
Alien and Sedition Acts