US Chapter 1 Flashcards
Constitutionalism
The belief in limiting government power by a written charter
Colony
A territory under the direct control of a parent state
John Locke
English political philosopher whose ides about political legitimacy influenced the American founders; father of Classical liberalism; freedom of an individual by limiting government power
Articles of Confederation
The first plan of a national government for the 13 American states; replaced by Constitution; states retained most political power; Nov. 1777
Confederation
A loose union of separate states
Shay’s Rebellion
A revolt by farmers from Massachusetts in 1786-1787 over lack of economic relief; led to belief that stronger central government was necessary
Annapolis Convention
The meeting of delegates from five states in Annapolis, Maryland in 1786 to consider a common policy for trade among the American states that resulted in a recommendation for a constitutional convention the following year
Northwest Ordinance
A major statute, enacted by Congress in 1787 under the Articles of Confederation, that allowed the development and government of lands west of Pennsylvania
Virginia Plan
The first plan of union proposed at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, called for a strong central government and numerical representation
New Jersey Plan
plan introduced at the Constitutional Convention in opposition to the Virginia Plan, emphasized dominance of the states and against numerical representation
Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
agreement at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to accept representation by population in the House and by states in the Senate
Three-fifths compromise
A temporary resolution to the controversy over slavery, allowing slave states to count each slave as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes
Federalists
a term for persons who advocated ratification of the Constitution in 1787 and 1788 and generally favored a strong central government; also the name of the dominant political party during the administrations of Presidents George Washington and John Adams
Antifederalists
persons who opposed ratification of the Constitution in 1787 and 1788 and opposed policies associated with a strong central government, such as a national bank
The Federalist
a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison that were published in NY newspapers urging ratification of the Constitution