This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage.

An economic slowdown of the economy which results in rising unemployment, increased business failures, declining economic growth and higher personal bankruptcies.

money or goods or services owed by one person to another

this conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the Articles of Confederation and admit the weak central government was not working; uprising led by Daniel Shays in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay the taxes

a nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations

negotiation between nations

The meeting of state delegates in 1787 in Philadelphia called to revise the Articles of Confederation. It instead designed a new plan of government, the US Constitution.

a detailed, written plan for government for our nation

the concept that political power rests with the people who can create, alter, and abolish government. People express themselves through voting and free participation in government

a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

the Enlighenment writer who believed in seperation of powers

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

the power or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act (especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature)

A change to the Constitution

Father of the Constitution

It favored large states and how many people in congress should be based on population by

equal representation, each state had one vote, favored by small states

the agreement by which Congress would have two houses, the Senate (where each state gets equal representation-two senators) and the House of Representatives (where representation is based on population).

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators

He helped draft the Great Compromise that determined how states would be represented in Congress

A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.

the decision at the Constitutional convention to count slaves as 3/5 of a person for the purpose of deciding the population and determining how many seats each state would have in Congress

Group of delegates who drafted the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in 1787

conflicting groups

groups of people who organize to help elect government officials and influence government policies

supporters of the Constitution and strong central govt

opponents of a strong central government who campaigned against the ratification of the Constitution in favor of a confederation of independant states

This collection of essays by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, explained the importance of a strong central government. It was published to convince New York to ratify the Constitution.

Delegate to the Constitutional Convention and leader of the Federalists; first secretary of the treasury.

approve formally; confirm; verify

The branch of the government that makes the nation's laws, Congress

the branch of government, headed by the president, that carries out the nation's laws and policies

the branch of government, including the federal court system, that interprets the nation's laws

freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

right to bear arms

No quartering of Soldiers

No unreasonable searches or siezures

Due process of law

Right to a fair, speedy trial

Right to a trial by jury

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

rights not mentioned in the constitution belong to the people

states retain powers not delegated under the Constitution and not prohibited by it to the states

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.