NAME____________________________________________
Directions: Use the social studies text or a reliable resource to define each of the terms or people below. You will be
responsible to know these for a chapter 4 vocabulary quiz next week.
1. Magna Carta: 1215 “Constitution” in England, forced King John to sign and limited king’s power
2. Va. Statute for Religious Freedom: Thomas Jefferson document allowing all Christian religions or none at all
3. Articles of Confederation: first U.S. Constitution that limited power of national government;
4. Northwest Ordinance: created the Northwest Territory and separated land into what would become 5 states
5. Tariffs: taxes on imports or exports
6. Inflation: period of increased prices and decreased power of currency
7. Depression: an economic downturn usually involving high unemployment
8 .Shay’s Rebellion: 1787 Massachusetts rebellion involving farmers who couldn’t pay taxes
9. Constitutional Convention: Philadelphia meeting to amend the Articles of Confederation but actually wrote a new
Constitution
10. Virginia Plan: large state plan of Edmond Randolph, gave states representatives based on population
11. New Jersey Plan: small state plan of William Paterson, equal representation for each state
12. Great Compromise: CT plan by Roger Sherman, 1 house based on population, 1 house equal representation
13. 3/5 Compromise: fraction of slaves that counted toward representation in the House
14. Popular Sovereignty: will of the majority
15. Legislative: law making branch of govt; House and Senate
16. Executive: enforces the laws; headed by the President
17. Judicial: interprets the laws, headed by Supreme Court
18. Checks and Balances: system that keeps any one branch from having too much power
19. James Madison: Father of the Constitution and author of the Bill of Rights
20. Thomas Jefferson: author of the Declaration of Independence, and first Secretary of State