Forming a Government 1780-1790
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 believed the new Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states and individual 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 constitution of the United States, creating a loose alliance of the states with a weak central government.

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. This means each branch of government can limit the powers of the others to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

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 a leader of Shays' Rebellion, an armed protest in 1786-1787 against economic injustices in Massachusetts.

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 national government and smaller regional governments.

Statesmen and public figures supporting the proposed Constitution of the US
Federalists
Statesmen and public figures supporting the proposed Constitution of the US. Federalists. Federalists were people who supported the creation of a strong central government in the United States during its early years.

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 an agreement reached in 1787 that created a two-house Congress, balancing the interests of both large and small states.

A federal law that was designed to regulate the railroad industry
Interstate Commerce Act
A federal law that was designed to regulate the railroad industry. Interstate Commerce Act. The Interstate Commerce Act was a law passed in 1887 to ensure fair rates and to regulate the monopolistic practices of railroads in the U.S.

A system where settlers could purchase title to farmland in the undeveloped west
Land Ordinance of 1785
A system where settlers could purchase title to farmland in the undeveloped west. Land Ordinance of 1785. The Land Ordinance of 1785 was a policy to organize and sell land in the western territories of the United 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 equal representation in Congress, regardless of its population size.

Was formed from unorganized western territory of the US, Northwest of the River Ohio
Northwest Territory
Was formed from unorganized western territory of the US, Northwest of the River Ohio. Northwest Territory. The Northwest Territory was a large area of land that became the first organized region of the United States beyond the Appalachian Mountains.

The authority of a government is created and sustained by its people through elected representatives
Popular sovereignty
The authority of a government is created and sustained by its people through elected representatives. Popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty is the idea that the power of a government comes from the consent of its people, who express their will through voting.

The compromise counted 3/5 of each state's slaves toward that state's total population
Three-Fifths Compromise
The compromise counted 35 of each state's slaves toward that state's total population. Three-Fifths Compromise. The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement in the U.S. Constitution where three out of every five slaves were counted for state representation and taxation.

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 for a new U.S. government structure with three branches and representation based on state population.

Statute that disestablished the Church of England in Virginia and guaranteed freedom of religions
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Statute that disestablished the Church of England in Virginia and guaranteed freedom of religions. Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This document, written by Thomas Jefferson in 1786, ensured the separation of church and state and protected individual religious beliefs.