Chapter 3 Flashcards
a social system based on a rigid social and political hierarchy based on the ownership of land
Feudalism
the ownership for forced labor of one people by another
Slavery
the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power.
Popular Sovereignty
wrote common sense in 1776, persuaded many Americans to to support the revolutionary cause. Called for rejection of the king, for independence, and a republic.
Thomas Paine
the political document that dissolved the colonial ties between the united states and Britain
Declaration of Independence
the rules that establish a government
Constitution
first constitution of the U.S. (1777) an association of states with a weak central government
Articles of Confederation
a government in which independent states unite for common purpose but retain their own sovereignty.
Confederation
the unrestrained power of the people
Popular Tyranny
a grassroots uprising (1787) by armed Massachusetts farmers protesting foreclosures.
Shay’s Rebellion
the assembly of fifty five delegates in the summer of 1787 to recast the Articles of Confederation, the result was the U.S. Constitution.
Constitutional Convention
George Washington, George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and James Madison. Ben Franklin, Alex Hamilton
Founding Fathers (Framers)
Leader of American Revolution
George Washington
Brilliant politician who made greater impact on constitution than anyone combined.
James Madison
a political system in which power is divided between the central and regional units
Federalism
supporters of the constitution who favored a strong central government
Federalists
advocates of states’ rights who opposed the constitution
Anti-Federalists
a proposal at the constitutional convention that congressional representation be based on population, thus favoring the large states.
Virginia Plan
a proposal at the constitutional convention that congressional representation be equal, thus favoring the small states.
New Jersey Plan
the constitutional solution to congressional representation : equal votes in the Senate, votes by population in the House
Great Compromise (Connecticut)
the formula for counting five slaves as three people.
Three-fifths Compromise
process through which a proposal is formally approved and adopted by vote
Ratification
a series of essays written to build support for ratification of the Constitution
The Federalist Papers
groups of citizens united by some common passion or interest and opposed to the rights of other citizens or to the interests of the whole community
Factions
a summary of citizen rights guaranteed and protected by a government; added to the constitution as its first ten amendments in order to achieve ratification
Bill of Rights
