abolish
to put an end to.
American Revolution
The war fought by the
American colonists from
1775-1781 to gain
independence from Great
Britain.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of
the US. Adopted in 1781
and replaced in 1788 by
our present Constitution.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the
Constitution. It lists some basic
rights of the people that the federal
government may not interfere with
and must protect.
checks and balances
The sharing and balancing of
power among the three
branches of government so no
one branch can completely
control the others.
Civil War
The war between the Northern
and Southern states. It took
place from 1861 to 1865 and
ended slavery in the US.
Continental Congress
The national legislature which
governed the American
colonies from 1774-1781 until
the adoption of the Articles of
Confederation.
Declaration of
Independence
Statement that listed the basic
principles of democratic government
and gave reasons why the colonists
wanted to free themselves from
British rule. It was signed by the
members of Congress on July 4, 1776.
delegate
A person picked to act for
you or represent you,
usually at a convention or
a meeting.
Executive Branch
The branch of government
that carries out the laws
made by the legislative
branch.
Framers
Great Compromise
The delegates to the
Philadelphia Convention of
1787.
The plan accepted at the Philadelphia
Convention that called for Congress to
have two houses. The Senate would have
two senators from each state. The House
of Representatives would have
representatives from each state based on
population.
higher law
A set of laws that are superior
to all other laws. For example,
the US Constitution is a higher
law that any federal or state
law.
House of Representatives
One house of Congress. The
number of representatives
each state has is based on
its population.
Judicial Branch
The branch of government
that interprets and applies
the laws and settles
disputes.
Legislative Branch
The branch of government
that makes the laws.
Loyalists
Americans who supported
Great Britain during the
American Revolution.
Northwest Ordinance of
1787
A law passed by Congress
under the Articles of
Confederation that provided
for settling the western lands
and organizing new states.
Patriots
Americans who supported
the war for independence
from Great Britain.
Philadelphia Convention
The meeting held in
Philadelphia in 1787 at
which the US Constitution
was written.
principles
rules or standards of
behavior.
Senate
One house of Congress.
Each state has two
members in the Senate.
separation of powers
The division of powers
among the legislative,
executive, and judicial
branches of government.
Shay's Rebellion
In 1786 farmers rioted against the
Massachusetts government for taking away
their property and jailing them for not
paying their bills. State troops stopped the
fight, but Americans were worried that there
wasn't any national army or courts to keep
order under the Articles of Confederation.
three-fifths clause
The Framers' compromise about
slavery that became part of the
Constitution. It counted each slave as
three-fifths of a person to determine
how many representatives a state
would have in Congress.