| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Constitution | document that sets up the laws, principles, organizations, and processes of a government |
| The Articles of Confederation | the U.S.'s first constitution that was very weak (it could not tax or print money and for changes to be made needed all 13 colonies to agree) |
| The Land Ordinance of 1785 | set up a system for settling Northwest territory |
| The Northwest Ordinance | set up a system of how to govern Northwest territory (WI, IL, MI, OH, and IN) |
| depression | a period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment increases |
| Shay's Rebellion | a farmers' revolt in the colonies to protest the government's right to tax |
| Constitutional Convention | a meeting where the U.S. set up a new constitution (the original plan for the meeting was to revise the Art. of Con.) |
| Philadelphia | where the convention was held (55 delegates attended: the oldest person- Ben Franklin, 82: the youngest person- John Dayton, 24) |
| James Madison | "The Father of Our Constitution" |
| Virginia Plan | set up by Edmund Randolph, called the Large States' Plan, called for 2-house Congress based on population |
| New Jersey Plan | introduced by William Patterson, called the Small States' Plan, called for one-house Congress with equal representation |
| The Great Compromise | combined the VA and NJ plans, called for an upper-house Senate (equal representation) and a lower House of Representatives (based on population) |
| The 3/5's Compromise | said for every 5 slaves, 3 would be counted for the purpose of representation and taxation |
| slave trade | ended in 1807 in Washington D.C. |
| 3 | the number of people that DID NOT sign the Constitution |
| The Founding Fathers | those who laid the groundwork for our country |
| dictatorship | government in which one person or small group holds complete authority |
| Magna Carta | basis of 2 major premises: the king or president was NOT above the law and all people had basic rights |
| habeas corpus | the idea that no person could be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime |
| John Locke | wrote "Two Treatises of Government" which said: all people had natural rights and the government is an agreement between the governor and the governed |
| separation of powers | principle that helps keep one branch of government from getting too powerful |
| checks and balances | methods for the 3 branches of government to check on one another |
| Federalists | favored the new constitution (wanted a strong federal government) |
| Anti-Federalists | against the new constitution (wanted strong state governments) |
| The Federalist Papers | series of essays that encouraged people to accept the Constitution, written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay |
| Massachusetts | first state to accept the Constitution |
| New Hampshire | ninth state to accept the Constitution |
| Rhode Island | thirteenth state to accept the Constitution |
| New York City | our first capitol |
| George Washington | our first president |
| amendment | a change in the Constitution |
| The Green Mountain Boys | group of colonists led by Ethan Allen who attacked Fort Ticonderoga in Vermont |
| The Continental Army | colonial army led by Washington |
| The Patriots | Americans who favored war against the British |
| loyalists | Americans who remained loyal to the British |
| Bunker Hill | first major battle of the revolution; actually fought on Breed's Hill; the British won a close victory but lost many more men |
| mercenaries | foreign troops for hire |
| General Howe | led his troops out of New England after he was pushed back at Bunker Hill |
| Common Sense | a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine advocating the American Revolution |
| Declaration of Independence | document that said the U.S. was to be free and independent |
| preamble | introduction (of the Declaration of Independence for example) |
| natural rights | rights that belong to all people from birth |
| John Hancock | president of the Continental Congress; signed the Dec. of Ind. big enough for the king to clearly see |
| redcoat | name given to British soldiers due to their clothing |
| Battle of Trenton | first battle the colonists won in the East; Washington surprised the Hessians on Christmas Eve |
| Battle of Saratoga | major battle of the revolution because the U.S. proved we could defeat a major British force in battle and the French joined our side |
| General Burgoyne | British general captured at Saratoga |
| Lafayette von Steuben, Pulaski, and Kosciusko | valuable foreign generals who helped defeat the British |
| Valley Forge | where Washington and his men held up during the winter (it was cold and miserable with barely any food) |
| Molly Pitcher | real name was Mary Hays; brought colonial soldiers water |
| Joseph Brand | an Iroquois Indian who fought against the colonists during the war |
| George Rogers Clark | American leader who captured the western forts of Kaskaskia and Cahokia |
| Capitan John Paul Jones | colonial leader who captured the famous British ship the "Serapis" |
| King's Mountain and Cowpens | 2 valuable military battles the colonists won in the South under the colonial leaders Green and Morgan |
| Benedict Arnold | infamous American traitor during the war |
| Yorktown | famous last battle of the revolution; where Washington (with Lafayette's help) defeated Cornwallis |
| The Treaty of Paris of 1783 | ended the American Revolution |
Combine with other sets
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