1. Early Government Development
Nathan Soule
Stephanie Myall

2. Main Idea
After declaring independence, American political leaders created new constitutions and declarations of right that articulated the rule of the state, and federal governments while protecting individual liberties and limiting both centralized power and excessive popular influence.

3. Key Concepts
New constitutions placed power in the hands of states legislations.
State delegates negotiated a constitution which would create a government embodying federalism, and providing a separation of powers between its three branches
The constitutional convention regulated the slave trade and discussed the representation of slaves in congress
To make both the Federalists and the anti-federalists happy, the federalists included the bill of rights in the constitution, and restricted the power of the government

4. New constitutions placed power in the hands of states legislations
State Conventions- States individually met to determine their state constitution. Continually ratifying it.
Fundamental laws- were base laws for state constitutions
States had powerful legislations, but weak courts and governors

5. State delegates negotiated a constitution which would create a government embodying federalism, and providing a separation of powers between its three branches
Great (Connecticut) compromise- A plan to give equal representation in the senate for all states. Proposed on July 16, 1787 by Roger Sherman & Oliver Ellsworth
Separation of powers- The division of government responsibilities into three branches. (Executive, Judicial, Legislative)
Checks and balances- Gave each branch of the federal government power over the other branch ( limits government power)

6. …Continued
Electoral college- A process for voting that gives electors an equal amount of congressional delegation. Based off state population.
Supreme Court- Federal court with nine justices and holds power over other courts in the United States
Republicanism- A citizen in a country based on popular sovereignty
Federalism- A distribution of power between the federal government and state governments

7. The constitutional convention regulated the slave trade and discussed the representation of slaves in congress
Three-fifths Compromise- Allowed a state to count an African American for three-fifths a vote in political representation
Slave trade compromise- Allowed the south to continue slave trade, however forced them to pay a tax
Fugitive slave clause- would return runaway slaves to the state in which they came from

8. To make both the Federalists and the anti-federalists happy, the federalists included the bill of rights in the constitution, and restricted the power of the government
Federalist papers- Were 85 letters written in the newspaper in the late 1780's to convince people to ratify the constitution
Bill of rights- First ten amendments added to the constitution that would grant American citizens with basic freedoms
Federalists vs. anti-Federalists- Anti-Federalists believed that the executive government was getting too strong and opposed the ratification of the constitution where the Federalists felt we needed a strong executive power and was trying to convince the Anti- Federalists to get the constitution ratified.