Outline 11

Question 1

This first governing document of the United States, which spoke of a “perpetual union” of the states, was in effect from its ratification in 1781 until its replacement by the Constitution in 1789. It begins with the words: “To all whom these Presents shall come, we the under signed Delegates of the States.”

Answer 1

Articles of Confederation

Question 2

This word means “ultimate of supreme power, control, or authority.” The word was used under the Articles to refer to the right of a state to govern itself.

Answer 2

Sovereignty

Question 3

Considered one of the achievements under the Articles, the stipulations of this legislation determined how western land wold be divided (for the purpose of sale); in addition, the 16th section was earmarked for schools.

Answer 3

Great Land Ordinance of 1785

Question 4

Considered one of the achievements under the Articles, the stipulations of this legislation forbade slavery in the territories and set the terms and conditions for a territory to become a state.

Answer 4

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Question 5

This word means “one house legislature” or “having a single legislative chamber.”

Answer 5

Unicameral

Question 6

This word means “two house legislature” or “having two legislative chambers” (as in the U.S. Congress, which is comprised of the Senate and House of Representatives)

Answer 6

Bicameral

Question 7

This word means to revise, change, edit, or update. The Articles were never amended; there are 27 Amendments to the Constitution

Answer 7

Amend

Question 8

This 1786 Massachusetts conflict, started by a farmer/Revolutionary War veteran, saw the attempt by the poor to close the court system; it was far from a “little rebellion” as described by Thomas Jefferson at the time because it was indicative of the socioeconomic unrest that convinced upper class Americans that a stronger central government was needed.

Answer 8

Shay’s Rebellion

Question 9

This word means to end or conclude by reaching the highest point of evidence

Answer 9

Culminate

Question 10

This type of economy, usually favored by debtors, means that there is more money in circulation…it is not necessarily synonymous with depression or recession.

Answer 10

Inflated economy

Question 11

Born Edmund Fiske Greene, his best known work is the Critical Period of American History which dealt with the time span between the end of the Revolutionary War and the adoption of the Constitution.

Answer 11

John Fiske

Question 12

This terminology was first used in reference to the Article of Confederation by John Quincey Adams at a Harvard commencement in 1787 as he mused that the country was “groaning under the intolerable burden of…accumulated evils” while the Articles were in effect.

Answer 12

“Critical Period”

Question 13

This 1786 court decision, which was handed down by Judge David Howell of the Rhode Island supreme court, ruled that the stiff fines imposed against creditors who refused to accept depreciated paper currency in the state were unconstitutional.

Answer 13

Trevertt v. Weeden

Question 14

This 1783 crisis that pitted civilian against martial law began at army headquarters at a site some eight miles form West Point. It is now viewed as a testament to George Washington’s farsighted vision of the future as he convinced the soldiers to obey the laws of the Continental Congress, preventing a potential military coup.

Answer 14

Newburgh Conspiracy

Question 15

This refers to a series of 1778-1787 correspondence that criticized George Washington suggesting that he be removed as commander in chief of the Continental Army and replaced him with Horatio Gates.

Answer 15

Conway Cabal

Question 16

A signer of the three most important documents in U.S. governing history, he served from 1781 to 1784 as Superintendent of Finance, handling the economy of young America under the Articles of Confederation.

Answer 16

Robert Morris

Question 17

This Latin terminology means a swift or sudden overthrow that is deemed unconstitutional

Answer 17

Coup d’état

Question 18

This refers the authority of a higher court to examine the decisions of a lower court to determine constitutionality.

Answer 18

Judicial Review

Question 19

This terminology refers to the role of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus in Ancient Rome; the Newburgh conspiracy, they failed military coup in early America, has been compared to the struggles of the Roman Republic.

Answer 19

First Triumvirate

Question 20

This word means lasting forever of into eternity.

Answer 20

Perpetual

Question 21

This retired erstwhile British general fought on the side of the colonists during the American Revolution. He served as adjutant general to George Washington and disallowed the service of blacks in the Continental Army.

Answer 21

Horatio Gates

Question 22

This word means “honorable” or “respectable” due to service, etc.

Answer 22

Venerable

Question 23

This simply means the “same money”

Answer 23

Uniform Currency

Question 24

This was used in states such as New Jersey in an effort to coerce creditors to accept worthless money as legal tender, and it also denied trial by jury for anyone refusing to accept such money as payment.

Answer 24

“Forcing Act”

Question 25

He argued in his economic interpretation of the Constitution that the period under the Articles was not “critical” as previously supposed.

Answer 25

Charles Beard