U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights Flashcards
Anti-Federalists
Name given to those figures critical of the 1787 Constitution because they objected to a stronger US government, which they believed would weaken the sovereignty and prestige of the individual states. The Bill of Rights was crafted in response to their criticisms.
Anti-Federalist Papers
The name given to the loose collection of writings, dating from after the first draft of the US Constitution, by those opposed to the firmer union of states envisioned by the draft.
Articles of Confederation
The agreement between the original 13 states, ratified in 1781. Due to concerns that it created an overly weak federal government, it was superseded by the US constitution in 1789.
Bill of Rights
The collective name for United States Constitution’s first 10 amendments, which list specific rights and limit the power of Congress: created September 25, 1789 and ratified December 15, 1791.
Connecticut (or Great) Compromise of 1787
The name for the agreement, narrowly accepted by the Constitutional Convention, the resolved the debate between large and small states over representation in the new government. It outlined the House of Representatives (with proportional representation) and Senate (with two representatives for each state).
Delaware
The first state to ratify the US Constitution, by unanimous vote, on December 7, 1787.
Federalist Papers
The collection of writings by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, under the pseudonym Publius, that promoted ratification of the US Constitution without a Bill of Rights. Published as a collection 1788.
Alexander Hamilton
The first Secretary of the United States Treasury, founder of the Federalist Party, and chief author of the Federalist Papers.
Patrick Henry
Prominent revolutionary orator and Anti-Federalist.
Incorporation
The process by which portions of the Bill of Rights, originally intended only to limit federal government powers, have been applied to state governments by the US Supreme Court.
John Jay
First chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, and delegate to the First and Second Continental Congress. One of the pseudonyms authors of the Federalist Papers.
James Madison
A founding father who played a pivotal role in drafting both the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and one of the authors of the Federalist Papers, who later became the fourth President of the United States.
Marbury v. Madison
(decided 1803) US Supreme Court ruling that held that Congress cannot pass laws contrary to the Constitution, and that the role of the judicial system includes interpreting what the Constitution permits. It is the basis for the exercise of judicial review under Article III of the US Constitution.
Massachusetts Compromise
The compromise that lead the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.
National Archives, Washington, DC
The agency of the United States Government responsible for preserving the government and historical documents, including the copy of the Bill of Rights retained by the First Congress.
