The Articles Of Confederation Flashcards
Suffrage
The right to vote
Articles of confederation
Government were Congress would become the single branch of the national government, but it would have very limited powers in order to protect the liberties of the people
Ratification
Official approval
Land ordinance of 1787
A system set up for surveying and dividing Western lands, they were split into townships
Northwest territory
In THIS, Illinois Michigan Indiana Ohio Minnesota and Wisconsin agreed that this area would be divided into smaller territories with a governor appointed by Congress. When the population of a territory reach 60,000 it’s settlers could draft their own constitution or ask to join the union
Teriffs
Taxes on imports and exports
Interstate commerce
Trade between two or more states
Inflation
Increased prices for goods and services combined with the reduced value of money
Depression
A period of low economic activity combined with a rise in unemployment
Shays’ rebellion
An uprising of farmers to protest high taxes and heavy debt
Constitutional convention
Held in May 1787 this was called for to improve the articles of confederation however this would lead to the new US Constitution
Virginia plan
It was bicameral or two houses. It would be chosen on the basis of state populations. Larger states would have more representatives than smaller states
New Jersey plan
It’s called for a unicameral or one house legislator. It gave each state and equal number of votes in the federal government.
Great compromise
The legislative branch would have two houses. Each state regardless of its size would have two representatives in the Senate. But the house of representatives numbers would be determined by the states population.
Three – fifths compromise
They would count 3/5 of the slaves in each state would be counted for representatives in a state
Popular sovereignty
Political authority belongs to the people
Federalism
This is the sharing of power between a central government and the states. Under the previous confederal system the states had more power
Checks and balances
This keeps any branch of government from becoming too powerful
Antifederalists
People who opposed the constitution
Federalists
People who believe that the United States needed a stronger central government. This included James Madison George Washington Ben Franklin Alexander Hamilton and John Jay
Federalist papers
One of the most important defenses of the constitution appeared in a series of essays.
Amendments
Added to the constitution as official changes
Bill of rights
10 of 12 proposed amendments intended to protect citizens rights were added to the constitution and ratified December 1791
Federal system
Divided powers between the states and the federal government
