Forming a New Nation

Articles of Confederation

100

This event in 1787 led to the drafting of a new constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention

200

Name 1 reason why the Articles of Confederation were weak.

A weak national army, no power to tax, no power to regulate commerce, couldn't print money, to change the Articles all 13 colonies had to agree.

300

Where was the Northwest territory?

A region of the United States bounded by the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Great Lakes. The region given to the United States by the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

400

This 1787 law established a process for territories in the Northwest to become states and included provisions for the prohibition of slavery in these territories.  

The Northwest Ordinance

500

Who was the President of the Articles of Confederation.

The was no executive

Compromises

100

This compromise settled the dispute between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with equal representation in one house and representation based on population in the other.

The Great Compromise

200

This agreement determined that each slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person when determining a state’s population for representation in Congress.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

300

This compromise resolved the issue of how to elect the president.

The Electoral College Compromise 

400

This state had the most slaves by far in 1787.

Virginia

500

Name all 3 groups of people who did not get the right to vote in the original Constitution.

Enslaved people, women, and non-property-owning white men

Branches of Govt.

100

Which branch of government is Congress? What does Congress do?

Legislative - makes laws

200

Who is in charge of the executive branch, and what does the executive branch do?

The President - enforces the laws

300

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US. Which branch is the Supreme Court in? What does the Supreme Court do?

Judicial Branch - interprets the laws

400

This branch of government can override a Presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses.

Legislative branch

500

This system of government ensures that no one branch becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Checks and Balances

Key Figures

100

After serving as the commanding general of the Patriot forces, he served as the President of the Constitutional Convention

George Washington

200

This British general's army was captured at Yorktown by Patriot and French forces, effectively ending the Revolutionary War

Cornwallis

300

He famously gave the "give me liberty or give me death" speech

Patrick Henry

400

He was the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention. From the state of Pennsylvania, he is often considered to be the one of the most educated and respected men in early America.

Benjamin Franklin

500

This man is known as the “Father of the Constitution” for his significant role in drafting and promoting the U.S. Constitution.

James Madison

Events

100

The battle that is considered the turning point of the American Revolutionary War.

Saratoga

200

In 1786, this event saw indebted farmers in Massachusetts protesting economic injustices and weak governmental power.

Shay's Rebellion

300

These essays were written to persuade people to approve the new Constitution.

Federalist Papers

400

This 1783 treaty officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the independence of the United States.

Treaty of Paris

500

This landmark 1803 Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison