The Critical Period & Articles
This term describes the 1780s, when Americans questioned whether the new nation could survive.
What is the Critical Period?
Under the Articles, the national government had the power to do this in wartime.
What is wage war?
This 1786 meeting was held to improve trade relations between the states.
What is the Annapolis Convention?
This delegate presided over the Philadelphia Convention.
Who is George Washington?
This date marks when the Constitution was approved and sent to the states for ratification.
What is September 17, 1787?
This was the nation’s first constitution, creating a loose confederation with a weak central government.
What are the Articles of Confederation?
This major power was missing, forcing Congress to request money from the states.
What is the power to collect taxes?
All states except this one sent delegates to the Philadelphia Convention.
What is Rhode Island?
Known as the “Father of the Constitution,” he kept detailed notes of the convention debates.
Who is James Madison?
This number of states had to ratify the Constitution before it could take effect.
What is nine out of thirteen states?
This man drafted the Articles of Confederation in Philadelphia in 1776.
Who is John Dickinson?
This 1786 uprising exposed the national government’s weakness.
What is Shays' Rebellion?
This compromise created a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate and population-based representation in the House.
What is the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
These three men were serving as U.S. ambassadors and did not attend the convention.
Who are Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Patrick Henry?
This group supported the Constitution and a strong national government.
Who are the Federalists?
Under the Articles, this type of legislature had one house with one vote per state.
What is a unicameral legislature?
This financial issue included unpaid war debts and worthless paper money.
What are financial problems?
This plan called for a bicameral legislature based on population.
What is the Virginia Plan?
This principle means that government power comes from the people.
What is popular sovereignty?
These essays were written to persuade Americans to ratify the Constitution.
What are the Federalist Papers?
This number of states had to approve laws under the Articles of Confederation.
What is nine out of thirteen states?
This realization followed Shays’ Rebellion and pushed leaders to consider revising the Articles.
What is that the national government was powerless to stop rebellions?
This agreement counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxes.
What is the Three-Fifths Compromise?
This principle divides power between a central government and state governments.
What is federalism?
These first ten amendments protect individual rights and liberties.
What is the Bill of Rights?