Articles of Confederation- first constitution of the United States that created a weak national government
Constitution- document that sets out the laws and principles of a government
Northwest Ordinance- law passed in 1787 that set up a government for the Northwest Territory and provided a way for territories to enter the Union
as a state once the territory had a population of 60,000 free settlers.
Ordinance- a law
Shays’ Rebel1ion- rebellion of Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shay that proved to many Americans that a new constitution was needed
Economic Depression- period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises
Constitutional Convention- meeting of delegates from 12 states who wrote the United States Constitution
Legislative Branch- branch of government that makes and passes laws
Executive Branch- branch of government that carries out (or executes) the laws
Judicial Branch- branch of government that decides whether laws are carried out fairly
Compromise- a settlement in which each side agrees to give up some of its demands
Virginia Plan- James Madison’s plan for a new government that called for a two house legislature; seats in both houses would be awarded to each
state on the basis of population (larger states would have more representatives then smaller states)
New Jersey Plan- William Patterson’s plan of government that called for a one house legislature; each state, regardless of size, would have one seat
(one vote) in the legislature.
Great Compromise- A plan for government developed by Roger Sherman that called for a two house legislature; each state, regardless of size,
would have two seats in the upper house of the legislature (the Senate) and seats in the lower house (House of Representatives) would be awarded
based on a state’s population.
Three Fifths Compromise- Agreement that said three fifths of the slaves in any state would be counted in its population; determining a state’’s
population was important for determining how many seats in would receive in the House of Representatives