Chapter 9 Vocabulary

People~
Daniel Shays
A Massachusetts war veteran who led debt-ridden farmers in a violent protest against the growing
financial problems that the Articles of Confederation had caused. Though the rebellion was quickly
put down, it notified leaders that our country needed a strong government.
Alexander Hamilton
First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts
by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.
Lord Sheffield
Wrote a popular pamphlet in England that said Britain would win back America's trade and that
commerce would naturally follow old channels.
Patrick Henry
a leader of the American Revolution and a famous orator who spoke out against British rule of the
American colonies (1736-1799).
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States. He favored limited central government. He was chief drafter of
the Declaration of Independence; approved of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and promoted ideals of
republicanism. Sent out the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore this territory.
James Madison
"Father of the Constitution". His proposals for an effective government became the Virginia Plan,
which was the basis for the Constitution.
Terms~
Society of the Cincinnati
A society established by former officers of the Revolutionary war as a sort of aristocracy in which
traditionalism and social status was important. Thomas Jefferson and other civilians thought that this
movement threatened the newly formed republic and feared it could turn into an aristocracy so they
worked to disband it.
Great Compromise
Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in
one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house.
Articles of Confederation
This document, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in
1781 during the Revolution. The document was limited because states held most of the power, and
Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage.
Land Ordinance of 1785
A law that divided much of the United States into a system of townships to facilitate the sale of land
to settlers.
Three-fifths Compromise
The agreement by which the number of each state's representatives in Congress would be based on a
count of all the free people plus three-fifths of the slaves.
Northwest Ordinance
Enacted in 1787, it is considered one of the most significant achievements of the Articles of
Confederation. It established a system for setting up governments in the western territories so they
could eventually join the Union on an equal footing with the original 13 states
Antifederalists
Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.
Shay's Rebellion
Rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a
result of high interest rates and taxes.
Civil Law
In other countries: constitutions were very lengthy and detailed
Common Law
Legal tradition that made it unnecessary to be specific about every conceivable detail (Const. is
short)
Federalists
A term used to describe supporters of the Constitution during ratification debates in state legislatures.
The Federalists
A series of eighty-five political essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
in support of ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Republican Motherhood
Selfless devotion of a mother to her family was often cited as the very model of proper republican
behavior; elevated women to a newly prestigious role as the special keepers of the nation's
conscience.
Virginia (large-state) plan
Representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress should be based on population.
Civic Virtue
Democracy depended on the unselfish commitment of each citizen to the public good; part of
republican ideology.
New Jersey (small-state) Plan
Equal representation in a unicameral Congress by states, regardless of size and population.
Disestablished
(18th century) to separate an official state church from its connection with the government; following
the Revolution, all states disestablished the Anglican Church, though some New England states
maintained established Congregational Churches well into the 19th century.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
(1786) measure enacted by the Virginia legislature prohibiting state support for religious institutions
and recognizing freedom of worship; served as a model for the religion clause of the first amendment
to the Constitution.
Old Northwest
(1785-1787) territories acquired by the federal government from the states, encompassing land
northwest of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the Great Lakes; the well
organized management and the sale of the land in the territories under the land ordinances of 1785
and 1787 established a precedent for handling future land acquisition