Founding Documents
This 1787 document established the framework for the U.S. government, including separation of powers and federalism.
What is the Constitution?
Without the ability to regulate this between states, trade disputes and tariffs became a major source of tension.
What is Interstate Commerce?
This compromise resolved the dispute between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature with one chamber based on population and one giving equal representation.
What is the Great (CT) Compromise?
These supporters of the Constitution argued that a strong central government was necessary to maintain order and preserve the union.
Who are the Federalists?
Montesquieu strongly influenced this principle, which divides government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
What is Separation of Powers?
Added to the Constitution to protect individual liberties, these first ten amendments were a major Anti-Federalist demand.
What is the Bill of Rights?
This requirement made it extremely difficult to change the Articles, even when most states agreed reform was needed.
What is Unanimous Consent of States?
To appease Southern states, this compromise counted a portion of enslaved people toward representation in Congress.
What is the 3/5 Compromise?
This group opposed the Constitution because they feared it gave too much power to the national government and lacked explicit protections for individual rights.
Who are the Anti-Federalists?
James Madison argued for this idea in Federalist No. 51 to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
What are "Checks and Balances"?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote these essays to persuade states to ratify the Constitution.
What are the Federalist Papers?
Because Congress lacked this power, the national government had to rely on voluntary state contributions to pay debts.
What is the power to tax?
This compromise temporarily allowed the importation of enslaved people, preventing Congress from banning it until 1808.
What is the Slave Trade Compromise?
This Federalist argued that a large republic could best control factions and protect minority rights, countering Anti-Federalist concerns.
This structure divides power between the national government and the states, keeping authority from being too centralized.
This founding document required unanimous state approval to amend, making national reform nearly impossible.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This 1786–1787 uprising exposed the national government’s inability to maintain order or raise an army.
What is Shay's Rebellion?
This compromise allowed Congress to levy taxes on imports but not on exports, appeasing Southern agricultural states.
What is the Commerce Compromise?
Federalists claimed that this system, dividing power between national and state governments, would prevent tyranny while still creating a strong union.
What is federalism?
If Congress passes a law and the Supreme Court strikes it down as unconstitutional, this democratic principle is in action.
What is Limited Government?
James Madison wrote this Federalist essay explaining why a large republic is better at controlling factions than a small one.
What is Federalist #10?
The absence of this branch left Congress unable to enforce its own laws or resolve disputes between states.
What is an Executive Branch or National Judiciary?
The Electoral College was created as a compromise between those who wanted Congress to select the president and those who wanted this method of choosing the chief executive.
What is the direct popular vote?
Anti-Federalists feared this branch, if too powerful, could become “a monarch in disguise” and dominate the other branches.
What is the Executive Branch?
Allowing citizens to vote directly on laws or policies reflects this democratic concept, even though it’s rare at the national level.
What is Direct Democracy?