Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the constitution, guarantee specific rights to the citizen.
Constitution: a basic set of principles that set the powers and duties of government
republicanism: support for a representative form of government
limited government: all leaders and citizens are subjects to the laws, no one has absolute power
Virgnia Statute of Religious Freedom: drafted by Thomas Jefferson, gave freedom of worship, 1786, by 1833 all other colonies adopt
suffrage: voting rights
Articles of Confederation: failed first version of U.S. government, had no power to raise an army or secure taxes.
ratification: to make official approval, amendments were ratified
Land Ordinance of 1785: Confederation Congress sells land to individuals in order to raise funds
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: created the Northwest Territory, work of the Confederation Congress
Northwest Territories: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
tariff: taxes on imports and exports
interstate commerce: trade between 2 or more states, early U.S. allowed interstate tariffs.
inflation: decrease in value of currency
debtor: a person who owes money
creditor: people who lend money, providing a line of credit
depression: a steep drop in economic activity combined with unemployment rates
Shay's Rebellion: a farmer revolt in Western Massachusettes, shut down the government, led by Daniel Shay.
Constitutional Convention: Philadelphia meeting of colonial delegates to form a Constitution
James Madison: considered to be the father of the Constitution
Virginia Plan: 1787 designed 3 branches with a legislative branch determined by population.
New Jersey Plan: legislative branch with set equal numbers.
The Great Compromise: modern U.S. Congress with 2 houses, one of population and one of guaranteed numbers.
3/5th's Compromise: a slave accounts for 3/5ths of a person in obtained congressional delegates.
Popular Sovereignty: the political authority is derived from the people
Federalism: system of government where power rests in a central authority
leglislative branch: law making body of government, composed of 2 houses.
executive branch: President and all law-enforcement.
judicial branch: interpret the law.
checks and balances: keeps any one branch from assuming too much power.
Federalists: supported the ratification of the Constitution, loose construction
Antifederalists: people who opposed the Constitution, strict construction
Loose vs Strict Construction: rights of the individual or the powers of the government
