Articles of Confederation and Constitutional Convention STAAR Facts
1. Articles of Confederation – First constitution for the United States in which the states
had more power than the federal government
2. Constitutional Convention – Held in Philadelphia in 1777 in which delegates from the
states gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation
3. Virginia Plan – Known as the large state plan; called for a bicameral legislature with
representation based on population
4. New Jersey Plan – Known as the small state plan; called for a unicameral legislature
with equal representation
5. Great Compromise – Created a bicameral legislature with representation in the House
being based on population, and equal representation in the Senate
6. Three fifths Compromise – Stated that slaves could be counted as three-fifths of a
person when determining a states' population
7. Federalists – Desired a strong national government and supported the U.S. Constitution
8. Federalist Papers – Written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay to encourage citizens to
support the U.S. Constitution
9. Anti-Federalist – Concerned that the national government would be too strong through
the Constitution, and demanded a Bill of Rights be added
10.James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
11.Alexander Hamilton – leader of the Federalists
12.George Mason – Anti-federalist
13.Ratify – to officially approve
14.Shay’s Rebellion – Proved the government was too weak under the Articles of
Confederation
15.Northwest Territory – Originally the Ohio River Valley that was renamed after the
American Revolution
16.Northwest Ordinance – Created the processes that led states to become territories;
60,000 population
17.Bill of Rights – 1st ten amendments to the Constitution; protects individual freedoms
18.Amend – change made to the Constitution
19.Legislative – makes laws; house of representatives and senate (congress)
20.Executive – carries out laws; president
21.Judicial – interprets laws; supreme court
22.Strengths of Article of Confederation – declare war and make peace, maintain an army
and navy, negotiate treaties, borrow money, establish a postal service
23.Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation – no president, no court system, couldn’t
regulate trade, couldn’t stop states from printing money, could not levy taxes