1. Chapter 02: Birth of a Nation 2.3 Establishing a Government
(32 Note Cards Required)
SSUSH4
The student will identify the ideological, military, and diplomatic aspects of the American Revolution.
SSUSH5
The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution.

2. Articles of Confederation
First national body of laws adopted by the US following its declaration of independence.
It proved ineffective because it did not give enough power to the national government.

3. Daniel Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts which
arose in protest to state taxes in the midst of a
national financial crisis.
It demonstrated the need to revise the Articles of
Confederation.

4. Constitutional Convention
In 1787, a delegation met in Philadelphia to
revise the Articles of Confederation.
All the delegates in attendance (only Rhode
Island did not send representatives.

5. United States Constitution
National body of laws adopted in 1787 that gave
more power to the national government and the
Articles of Confederation.

6. Virginia Plan Proposed a federal government made up of three branches.
It called for two houses with representatives
from each state.
In each house, the number of representatives
per state would be determined by population.
The greater a state's population, the more
representatives it would have.

7. New Jersey Plan Called for three branches of government, but it
wanted the legislative branch to consist of only
one house with each state getting a single
vote.

8. Great Compromise Established a legislative branch with two houses.
The two houses would comprise Congress.
One house, called the House of Representatives,
would be elected directly by the people and each state granted a certain number of seats based on population.
The other house, called the Senate, would be elected by state legislatures with each state having two senators, regardless of population.

9. Three-Fifths Compromise
Stated that each slave would count as 3/5 of a
person when considering representation.

10. Slave Trade Compromise
Northerners who opposed the slave trade agreed
to allow it to continue for twenty years, after
which time Congress could impose regulations.
This was important to the South who insisted that
their economy could not survive without the slave
trade.

11. Limited Government The principle that even governments must obey
a set of laws and respect the rights of citizens.

12. Separation of Powers Divides authority to govern between different
branches of government.

13. Checks and Balances Powers given to each branch that allow each
branch to check the powers of the other two.

14. Legislative Branch
Responsible for making the laws of the country.

15. Executive Branch Responsible for enforcing the laws and is
headed by the president of the United States.

16. Judicial Branch The federal court system.
Its role is to make sure the laws are applied
fairly and appropriately.

17. Serves as the highest court in the land.
U.S. Supreme Court
Serves as the highest court in the land.

18. Federalists Political faction and eventually a political party
that favored a strong central government,
supported ratification of the Constitution, and
held to a "loose interpretation" of the
Constitution.

19. Alexander Hamilton Major leader of the Federalist Party who served
as President Washington's secretary of the
treasury and introduced an economic plan for
dealing with the nation's economic crisis during
Washington's first term.

20. James Madison Federalist leader who played a key role in
drafting the Constitution and is often referred
to as the "Father of the Constitution."

21. Anti-Federalists Political faction and eventually a political party
That opposed a strong central government, did
Not support ratification of the Constitution, and
held to a "strict interpretation" of the
Constitution.

22. Federalist Papers Essays that were written to persuade New York's
legislature to ratify the Constitution by easing fears
that the document left the government susceptible
to any one faction seizing too much power.

23. Bill of Rights The first ten amendments (additions) to the
Constitution and its purpose is to protect citizens'
rights and maintain limited government

24. First Amendment Guarantees citizens' rights for: Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
Freedom to petition the government
Freedom to assemble
Freedom of religion.

25. Guarantees the right to bear arms.
Second Amendment
Guarantees the right to bear arms.

26. Third Amendment Restricts quartering (housing) of federal troops
in the homes of U.S. citizens.

27. Fourth Amendment Protects citizens against unreasonable searches
and seizures.

28. Fifth Amendment Ensures that no person shall be imprisoned or
deprived of their property without due process.
Double Jeopardy
A person cannot be tried for the same crime more than once.
Self-Incrimination
Defendants cannot be forced to testify against themselves in court.
Eminent domain
The government cannot take a citizen's property without paying "just compensation"

29. Sixth Amendment The right to a public and speedy trial by jury:
Trial by jury simply means that a group of an
accused person's peers decides his or her guilt or innocence, rather than a single government
official.
This amendment also guarantees the right to legal representation (a lawyer) and the right to call and confront witnesses.

30. Seventh Amendment
Right to a trial by jury to civil cases as well (i.e.,
when one person sues another for money).

31. Eighth Amendment Prohibits the government from imposing excessive
bail or fines.
Bail- Money an arrested person must pay to get out of
jail until the date of his/her trial.
Fines- Amounts of money imposed as punishment for
a crime one has been found guilty.

32. Ninth Amendment States that the rights specifically mentioned in
the Bill of Rights are not necessarily the only
ones enjoyed by the people.

33. Tenth Amendment Those powers not restricted by the Constitution,
nor delegated to the US government, are reserved
for the states.