1.
amend: to change; to make better.
2.
Antifederalists: Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government generally.
3.
Articles of Confederation: First constitution of the United States that established a weak national government because it allowed the states to keep most of the power.
4.
Bill of Rights: The first 10 amendments to the Constitution
5.
cede: To give up
6.
compromise: agreement between two or more sides in which each side gives up some of what it wants
7.
constitution: the document setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
8.
Constitutional Convention: meeting of delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which produced the new U.S. Constitution
9.
currency: money
10.
depression: A period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises.
11.
Executive Branch: the branch of government that carries out laws
12.
Federalists: Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government
13.
Great Compromise: 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).
14.
Judicial Branch: branch of government that decides if laws are carried out fairly
15.
Land Ordinance of 1785: Law that established a plan for dividing the federally owned lands west of the Appalachian Mountains
16.
Legislative Branch: the branch of government that makes the laws.
17.
New Jersey Plan: New Jersey delegate William Paterson's plan of government, in which states got an equal number of representatives in Congress
18.
Northwest Ordinance: Law passed by Congress to set up government and prohibit slavery in the Northwest Territory
19.
Shays' Rebellion: A series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings on the farms they owned.
20.
The Federalists Papers: A series of essays by Federalists James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of ratifying the Constitution.
21.
three-fifths compromise: agreement at the constitutional Convention that 3/5 of the slaves in any state be counted in its population
22.
Virginia Plan: Virginia delegate James Madison's plan of government, in which states got a number of representatives in Congress based on their population
