The Constitution of the US
History

A diverse group of Americans who opposed the ratification of the 1787 US Constitution
Antifederalists
A diverse group of Americans who opposed the ratification of the 1787 US Constitution. Antifederalists. They were people who feared that a strong central government would take away individual and state rights.

An agreement among the 13 original states of the US, that served as its first constitution
Articles of Confederation
An agreement among the 13 original states of the US, that served as its first constitution. Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation was the first governing document that loosely united the American states before the current US Constitution.

A system of government in which no branch has more power than any other
Checks and balances
A system of government in which no branch has more power than any other. Checks and balances. It is a way to ensure that no single part of the government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

A populist uprising against controversial debt collection and tax policies
Daniel Shays
A populist uprising against controversial debt collection and tax policies. Daniel Shays. Daniel Shays was a farmer and former soldier who led Shays' Rebellion against economic injustices in post-Revolutionary War America.

A combination of a general government with regional governments in a single political system
Federalism
A combination of a general government with regional governments in a single political system. Federalism. In history, federalism is a system where power is shared between a central government and individual states.

Statesmen and public figures supporting the proposed Constitution of the U. S.
Federalists
Statesmen and public figures supporting the proposed Constitution of the U.S. Federalists. Federalists were people who supported a strong national government and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in the late 18th century.

An American political leader, military general and the first president of the United States
George Washington
An American political leader, military general, and the first president of the United States. George Washington. He is often called the "Father of His Country" for leading the U.S. to independence.

An agreement that large and small states established a two-house legislature under the US Constitution
Great Compromise
An agreement that large and small states established a two-house legislature under the US Constitution. Great Compromise. The Great Compromise was a historic agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a two-house legislature, balancing the needs of both large and small states.

A plan that called for each state to have equal representation in the legislature
New Jersey Plan
A plan that called for each state to have equal representation in the legislature. New Jersey Plan. The New Jersey Plan was a proposal during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that suggested each state should have one vote in Congress, regardless of its population size, to ensure equal representation.

An act that created the Northwest Territory, the first organized integrated territory
Northwest Ordinance
An act that created the Northwest Territory, the first organized integrated territory. Northwest Ordinance. The Northwest Ordinance was a 1787 law that established a method for admitting new states to the United States from the Northwest Territory.

An organized group of people who have the same political ideology about government
Political party
An organized group of people who have the same political ideology about government. Political party. In History, a political party is a group that works together to influence government decisions and policies.

An introduction of the Constitution's purposes and guiding principles
Preamble
An introduction of the Constitution's purposes and guiding principles. Preamble. In history, the Preamble is the opening statement of the U.S. Constitution that outlines the fundamental goals and principles of the government.

An influential Black leader and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Richard Allen
An influential Black leader and founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Richard Allen. Richard Allen was a pioneering figure who established the first independent Black denomination in the United States, advocating for spiritual and social freedom.

An armed uprising in Western Massachusetts in opposition to a debt crisis
Shayss Rebellion
An armed uprising in Western Massachusetts in opposition to a debt crisis. Shays's Rebellion was a protest by American farmers in the 1780s against state and local enforcement of tax collections and judgments for debt.

Admiting new states into the Union beyond the thirteen already in existence
Statehood
Admitting new states into the Union beyond the thirteen already in existence. Statehood. Statehood is the process by which a U.S. territory becomes a full member of the United States with equal standing to the original thirteen states.

A proposal to the Constitutional Convention for the creation a government with 3 branches equal in power
Virginia Plan
A proposal to the Constitutional Convention for the creation a government with 3 branches equal in power. Virginia Plan. The Virginia Plan was a proposal to structure the U.S. government with three branches and proportional representation in Congress.