1. Chapter 7: Creating a Republic
U.S. History
Chapter 7: Creating a Republic

2. Uniting the Colonies States wrote Constitutions:
to set limits of government powers
and to spell out the rights of citizens.

3. Constitution
Document that sets out laws, principles, organization, and processes of government

4. EXECUTE Carry out; do what is required
New state governments had legislatures to pass laws; governors would execute the laws.

5. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Articles were weak because no court system existed to settle disputes between states.
Also, there was no executive to carry out the laws.

6. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
After Shay’s Rebellion, George Washington and others thought the Articles should be revised.
They believed the government failed to solve the nation’s economic problems

7. Depression
A period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises.

8. Noah Webster
He believed the nation needs a strong central government to be effective.
No real power rests with the federal government in a “pretend union.”

9. Noah Webster
He believed that individual states have too much power to form a true union.
Alexander Hamilton agreed.

10. Constitutional Convention
Goal to revise the Articles of Confederation.

11. Constitutional Convention
George Washington and Alexander Hamilton were two of the leading delegates
Benjamin Franklin and James Madison were also delegates

12. Two Rival Plans

13. VIRGINIA PLAN VS. NEW JERSEY PLAN
Both advocated three branches of government
Small states favored the New Jersey Plan because it proposed that all states have equal representation in the legislature
The New Jersey Plan could have proposed “one vote per state.”

14. COMPROMISE Agreement in which each side give up some demands
The Great Compromise: Constitutional Convention agreed to create a two-house legislature.

15. GREAT COMPROMISE
Seats in the House of Representatives would be awarded according to population
Every state would have two seats in the Senate

16. GREAT COMPROMISE
3/5ths of the slaves in a state were included to determine state representation
Resolved the conflict between Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan

17. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
9 out of 13 states had to ratify the Constitution before it could become law

18. Ratification & Bill of Rights
In key states, the tide slowly turned in favor of ratification of the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution through the amendment process.

19. Bill of Rights
List of freedoms that the government promises to protect.

20. AMEND Make changes to a document
Bill of Rights: Ten amendments to the Constitution

21. ROMAN REPUBLIC
Convention delegates wanted to create a republic, a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives.

22. ROMAN REPUBLIC
Convention delegates patterned this idea after the Roman Republic
Romans valued public service

23. MAGNA CARTA 1215 English document helped shape new American government
Basic idea that people have certain guaranteed rights

24. JOHN LOCKE
Enlightenment writer who said that the relationship between government and the people it governs is a social contract.

25. SEPARATION OF POWERS
Division of the responsibilities of government branches to keep any person or group from gaining too much power.

26. BARON DE MONTESQUIEU
Enlightenment writer who stressed that government powers should be clearly defined and divided

27. SEPARATION OF POWERS
Montesquieu suggested 3 separate branches of power be created: legislative, executive, and judicial

28. FEDERALISTS
Argued that a strong national government could be effective and protect states’ rights

29. ANTIFEDERALISTS
Argued that the Constitution must spell out ways to protect people’s basic rights

30. Admitting New States
1787: Northwest Ordinance set up government for Northwest Territory, guaranteed basic right to settlers, and outlawed slavery there.

31. NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
A territory had to have a population of 60,000 free settlers
A territory could ask Congress to admit it as a new state

32. CEDE
To give up any claim to territories

33. GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!